Eagle-eyed users have discovered that Microsoft has quietly increased its Windows 10 ESU (Extended Security Updates) program for a further 12 months, until October 2027.
Microsoft provided a free ESU program for home users for the first time following Windows 10’s official end-of-support date in October 2025, but that initial program was originally set to expire in October 2026. Now, Microsoft has quietly extended that date until October 2027:
Windows 10 support has ended. You can enroll in ESU any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027. If you’re already enrolled, your coverage will automatically continue through that date—no action needed ~ <source>
Microsoft’s reputation has taken a battering over the past few years, and Windows 11’s uptake has not lived up to the company’s expectations. Microsoft has been making an effort recently to win back favor among home users, and I suspect this decision forms part of that effort.
With rising hardware costs, new PCs have become more and more expensive, and I’m guessing the decision to extend Windows 10 ESU for a further 12 months will be appreciated by many users who cannot afford to replace a perfectly working PC.
It’s not often lately that we have something positive to report with regard to Microsoft’s decision-making, but I suspect this news will please many home users.
As always, your thoughts via the comments are most welcome.
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Microsoft seems to have, again, disabled Win 10 ESU for local accounts. Since I’ve no need or desire to link Windows 10 to a Microsoft account, and ESU is a temporary patch, expiring in ~15 months from now, and leaving PC’s no better off than now, I use Win 10 only for a single application that does not have a Linux version and does not run in wine on Linux. Those Win 10 PC’s dual boot to Ubuntu, and all other PC’s I manage have been switched to Linux-only.
Side-effects of switching to Linux is that boot time is about a third that of Windows, and apps start and run more quickly.
Hi Jim. This is indeed welcome news. I have just one desktop using 10 which does not meet the 11 specs, and it was already replaced. BuI I still make some use of it. Enjoy having spare computers. No need to scrap it as it can be used as an offline computer for many years. Hope 10 users are aware that when 10 expires next year (here’s wishing it gets another year) , older computers can be safely used as offline units, Mindblower!
I have a laptop with W11 and a desktop with w10. The desktop is set up with all my printers and when it is no longer covered by the ESU service will revert to a local LAN only device. This will allow me to keep my network configuration and peripherals connected without exposing it to the WAN. I do a lot of video editing on the PC and it will continue to serve that purpose. I may eventually configure the PC on a LINUX distro as long as I can link from my laptop to the PC.
Just received the official notice from Microsoft about the extended ESU program. Very nice of them to inform those who do not have or know how to receive this welcome information. Mindblower!