Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027
Home<br>News<br>Microsoft<br>Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027
Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027
By Lawrence Abrams
June 25, 2026
02:29 PM
Microsoft has quietly extended its free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers by an additional year, allowing enrolled devices to continue receiving security updates until October 12, 2027.
The change was made without a formal announcement and instead appeared in updates to Microsoft's Windows 10 ESU documentation and as an "Editor's note" to a Windows Experience Blog post published yesterday.
"Editor's note – June 25, 2026 – This post has been updated to reflect that the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for personal use devices is being provided for an additional year, with coverage now available through Oct. 12, 2027," reads the updated blog post.
"This extension provides customers with more time to transition to a new Windows 11 PC while continuing to receive critical security updates."
On October 14, 2025, Windows 10 reached the end of support, and Microsoft no longer provides technical support, feature updates, or security updates for the operating system unless you are running a Windows LTSC version.
For those who are unable to upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft originally offered consumers an extra year of security updates if they enrolled in a free extended security updates (ESUs) program that would expire on October 12, 2026.
Enterprise customers could also enroll in the ESU program for up to three years, bringing the total cost per device to $427 over that period.
With today's quiet update, Microsoft has now extended the free consumer ESU program to October 12, 2027, giving users an additional year to upgrade to a newer operating system.
For consumers, you can continue to receive extended security for free using one of these methods:
Paying $30.
Backing up your Windows settings to your Microsoft account.
Redeeming 1,000 Microsoft reward points.
Users in the European Economic Area can receive ESU for free by logging in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account.
Microsoft says an ESU license can be used on up to 10 devices associated with the same Microsoft account, and users already enrolled will automatically remain covered until the new October 2027 end date.
The company notes that the consumer ESU program is only for personal devices and is not available for systems joined to Active Directory domains, Microsoft Entra, or managed through Mobile Device Management (MDM). However, Microsoft Entra-registered devices are eligible.
The extension gives Windows 10 users another year of security updates as Microsoft continues encouraging customers to upgrade to Windows 11 or purchase new Copilot+ PCs.
BleepingComputer contacted Microsoft with questions as to why they extended the program and will update the story if we receive a response.
Test every layer before attackers do
Security teams log 54% of successful attacks and alert on just 14%. The rest move through your environment unseen.<br>The Picus whitepaper shows how breach and attack simulation tests your SIEM and EDR rules so threats stop slipping by detection.
Get the whitepaper
Related Articles:
Microsoft releases Windows 10 KB5094127 extended security update<br>Microsoft releases Windows 10 KB5087544 extended security update<br>Microsoft June 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 6 zero-days, 200 flaws<br>Microsoft fixes KB5089549 Windows security update install issues<br>Microsoft May 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 120 flaws, no zero-days
End of Support
Extended Security Updates
Microsoft
Security Update
Windows 10
Windows Update
Lawrence Abrams
Lawrence Abrams is the owner and Editor in Chief of BleepingComputer.com. Lawrence's area of expertise includes Windows, malware removal, and computer forensics. Lawrence Abrams is a co-author of the Winternals Defragmentation, Recovery, and Administration Field Guide and the technical editor for Rootkits for Dummies.
Previous Article
Comments
redwolfe_98 - 41 minutes ago
thank you, microsoft.
Post a Comment Community Rules
You need to login in order to post a comment
Not a member yet? Register Now
You may also like:
Upcoming Webinar
Popular Stories
LastPass confirms data breach in Klue supply chain attack
CISA warns of max severity Ubiquiti flaws exploited in attacks
Windows 11 KB5095093 update rolls out new Point-in-Time restore feature
Sponsor Posts
Don't just map the problem with AI agent sprawl, fix it.
CTI Starter Kit + 2026 SANS CTI Survey
Prove any CVE is exploitable without firing an exploit. Read the TTP-chaining guide.
VOIP Detection with Phone.com and IPQS
Overdue a password health-check? Audit your Active Directory for free
Upcoming Webinar
Login
Username
Password
Remember Me
Sign in anonymously
Sign in with Twitter
Not a member yet? Register...