Good news for Windows 10 holdouts: free security updates now run to October 2027

If you're still on Windows 10, you just got breathing room. Microsoft has quietly extended its consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program by an extra year — enrolled PCs now receive security updates until October 2027, instead of being cut off in 2025.

There are three ways for home users to enroll, and two of them are free: turn on Windows Backup / settings sync, redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or pay a one-time $30. Your PC must be on Windows 10 version 22H2 to qualify.

One important caveat: ESU delivers only critical and important security updates. You won't get new features, and you won't get general bug fixes or technical support. It's a safety extension, not a way to avoid moving on forever.

What to do: enroll so you keep getting patches, then keep the rest of your PC current — third-party apps and drivers are the most common way home machines get compromised, ESU or not. Tendvane's security-posture check confirms your antivirus, firewall and update status at a glance, and its app-update tool keeps everything else patched while you plan an eventual move to Windows 11 (see our guide on checking upgrade eligibility).