Windows 10 Security Updates Now Run to October 2027: What to Do
Microsoft extended free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates for home users to October 12, 2027. How to check you're enrolled, how to sign up, and when to upgrade.
If you're still on Windows 10, here's some good news: Microsoft has extended consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) to October 12, 2027. The old end date was October 13, 2026.
That means another year of security fixes, if your PC is enrolled.
Am I already enrolled?
Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
- If you see you're enrolled in Extended Security Updates, you're done. Coverage continues automatically to 2027, with no new sign-up or payment.
- If you see an Enroll now link, you're not enrolled yet.
How to enroll
You need:
- Windows 10 version 22H2 (check in Settings → System → About)
- All pending updates installed
- A Microsoft account with admin rights on the PC
Then click Enroll now and choose one of three ways to pay:
- Free: back up your PC settings with Windows Backup to your Microsoft account
- 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
- A one-time $30 payment (or local equivalent)
One enrollment covers up to 10 PCs on the same Microsoft account. Enroll each one from its own Windows Update page.
What about work PCs?
Businesses use a different, paid ESU program. Year one of that ended October 13, 2026, and companies can buy up to three years, through October 2028. Ask your IT team.
Should you upgrade instead?
ESU is a safety net, not a long-term plan. It only covers critical security fixes, with no new features.
- Run Microsoft's PC Health Check app to see if your PC can run Windows 11.
- If it can, the upgrade is usually offered in Windows Update, for free.
- If it can't, use the extra year to save up for a replacement. See how to set up a new laptop when you get there.
Before any upgrade, back up your files. Our 3-2-1 backup rule guide explains the simple way.
Watch out for scams
You'll see ads and calls for paid "Windows 10 security" products that claim to replace Microsoft's updates. Ignore them. Microsoft's ESU is the only real one, and it's enrolled from Windows Update.
