Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: Now Until Oct 2027
Microsoft originally said Windows 10 security updates for home users would stop on October 13, 2026. That date came and went two weeks ago, and a lot of people are now unsure whether their computer is covered. The short answer is that Microsoft added a year to the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for personal-use devices, so it now runs through October 12, 2027. The catch is that you have to enrol.
Microsoft made the change in an editor’s note dated June 25, 2026, rather than in a big announcement, which is probably why so many people missed it. This post covers what the program is, who can join, how to check your own computer and what to do with the extra year.
What the extra year gets you
ESU gives a Windows 10 computer security updates after normal support has ended. It does not add new features, and it does not mean Windows 10 is going to be supported forever. It buys time to move to Windows 11 or replace an older computer without leaving it exposed in the meantime.
Microsoft’s page lists these requirements for the personal-use program:
- Windows 10 version 22H2 in the Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations edition
- The latest Windows updates installed
- The Licensing Preparation Package (KB5126256)
- A Microsoft account with administrator rights on the computer (child accounts are not eligible)
- No existing ESU licence on the device
If you sign in with a local account, Windows will ask you to switch to a Microsoft account to enrol.
Step 1: Check which version of Windows you have
Press the Windows key and R together, type winver and press Enter. The window that opens shows the version. You want to see 22H2. If it shows something older, run Windows Update first and let it finish, including any restarts.
Step 2: Install all pending updates
Open Settings, then Windows Update, and select Check for updates. Install everything it finds and restart. The ESU enrolment will not go through on a computer that is behind on updates.
Step 3: Enrol in ESU
Once the computer is up to date, Windows Update should offer an enrolment option. Microsoft lists three ways to pay for the year:
- Sync your PC settings with Windows Backup, at no extra cost.
- Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
- Pay $30 USD, or the local currency equivalent, plus applicable tax.
Microsoft says one licence can cover up to 10 devices once you have enrolled, which helps a household with several older computers. Windows Backup syncs settings, so read what it will upload before you agree to it if you are particular about that.
Step 4: Decide what happens after October 2027
A year goes quickly. Use it to answer one question: will this computer run Windows 11?
Microsoft’s PC Health Check app will tell you. If the answer is yes, the upgrade is free through Windows Update and it is worth doing well before the deadline. We covered a similar update in our guide to moving up to Windows 11 25H2. If the answer is no, a newer computer is the usual route, and the ESU year gives you time to choose one without rushing.
Whichever way it goes, set aside time to move your files, email and saved passwords across and to keep a backup of everything before the old machine is retired. If you want a second pair of hands with that, our data recovery and backup service covers the backup side, and home tech support covers setting up the new computer.
Small offices and the business angle
The personal-use program has exclusions. Microsoft says it does not cover kiosk devices, computers joined to an Active Directory domain, computers joined to Microsoft Entra, or computers enrolled in mobile device management. Devices that are only Entra registered are allowed.
So a small office with a handful of ordinary Windows 10 laptops that sign in with Microsoft accounts may qualify, while a domain-joined or managed office probably does not. If you run a business in Victoria, Saanich or Langford and you are not sure which side you are on, make a list of your Windows 10 computers and their versions before you decide anything. The list is the first step toward a plan for the year.
When to call a technician
You do not have to do any of this alone. Call us if:
- Windows Update fails or keeps looping before you can enrol
- the enrolment option never appears on your computer
- you are not sure whether your business computers qualify
- you want to find out whether an older computer can run Windows 11
- you need to move files and settings to a new computer without losing anything
We work on-site across Victoria, Saanich and Langford and remotely anywhere else. The first step is usually a quick look at the version, the updates and the hardware, which tells us what makes sense for your computer.