Windows 10 End of Support: Security Updates Now Run to October 2027

Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 now ends on October 12, 2027, and PCs that are already enrolled stay covered through that date with no action needed. That pushes the October 2026 cutoff in older guides out by a year, so security updates on enrolled PCs did not stop this month. Windows 10 end of support itself still happened on October 14, 2025, when technical assistance, feature updates and security updates stopped.

So the real question for a Windows 10 PC today is which path its owner takes before the new date. You can enroll at no additional cost by syncing your PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time purchase of $30. The other routes are an upgrade to Windows 11, if the hardware qualifies, or a different operating system on the same machine. Each route has its own cost, deadline and hardware test.

Key Takeaways

• Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025; the PC keeps working, but security updates stopped for PCs outside ESU.
• Consumer ESU now runs to October 12, 2027, and enrolled PCs carry over automatically with no action needed.
• Enrollment is free with PC settings sync, or costs 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time $30, and one license covers up to 10 devices.
• Businesses pay $61 per device for Year One, and the price doubles every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years.
• Microsoft keeps providing security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028.
• StatCounter puts Windows 10 at 27.77% of worldwide Windows usage in September 2026, down from 41.71% in October 2025.

When was Windows 10 end of support?

Microsoft’s lifecycle listing has the Windows 10 dates. Windows 10 Home and Pro reached end of support on Oct 14, 2025, after a run that started on Jul 29, 2015. Version 22H2 is the final version of Windows 10, and the date applies to the Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations editions.

If you are not sure which of the Windows 10 editions your PC runs, that page breaks down every version and its support date. After the end-of-support date, Microsoft no longer provides technical support of any issue, software updates, or security updates or fixes.

Will my Windows 10 PC stop working?

No. Support for Windows 10 is discontinued, but the software will continue to function. What changes is that the PC no longer receives security updates, and Microsoft customer service no longer provides Windows 10 technical support. Nothing is deleted or locked on the deadline; the exposure grows as unpatched flaws pile up.

That security gap is what the paid and free extension programs fill.

Did Windows 10 security updates end on October 13, 2026?

No. Microsoft’s consumer ESU page says you can enroll any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027, and that coverage for PCs already enrolled automatically continues through that date. Microsoft’s support article on Windows 10 end of support gives the same date, saying the consumer ESU program can protect a Windows 10 device till October 12, 2027.

Microsoft also states that ESU updates will only be provided through October 12, 2027, regardless of when you enroll. A late enrollment gets the same end date as an early one. ESU gives access to critical and important security updates, as defined by the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2. It does not provide other types of fixes or feature improvements, and it does not come with technical support.

The new end date only helps an enrolled PC. Enrollment starts with the price.

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?

Microsoft offers three ways into consumer ESU: at no additional cost if you are syncing your PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time purchase of $30 or the local currency equivalent plus applicable tax. Each enrollment option provides extended security updates through October 12, 2027.

You can use one existing ESU license for up to 10 devices, which makes the paid route cheap for a household with several older PCs.

Source: Microsoft Windows, Windows 10 Extended Security Updates, October 2026

Is Windows 10 ESU free?

It often is. You can enroll at no additional cost if you are syncing your PC settings. Separately, in the European Economic Area you are eligible at no additional cost so long as you remain signed in to the PC with the same Microsoft account. The paid option exists for people who want neither condition.

The European rules carry one catch worth knowing before choosing that route.

Windows 10 ESU in the European Economic Area

Microsoft’s Irish ESU page sets separate terms for this region. Consumers in the European Economic Area can enroll after signing in with a Microsoft account, and ESU stays enabled on the device through October 12, 2027 as long as they continue signing in to Windows with that account.

If you do not continue to sign in with your Microsoft account, ESU updates are discontinued after a period of time, up to 60 days, and you need to re-enroll to resume them. A one-time purchase of $30 or the local currency equivalent allows continued use of a local account.

For a PC that a family member rarely signs in to, the purchase is the safer EEA route, because a lapsed sign-in quietly ends the updates.

Who can enroll in Windows 10 consumer ESU?

Microsoft limits consumer ESU to devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations edition, with the latest Windows update and the ESU Licensing Preparation Package, KB5126256, installed. The Microsoft account used to sign in must be an administrator account, and it can’t be a child account.

Enrollment won’t be offered for devices in kiosk mode, devices joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra, or devices enrolled in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution. Devices that are Microsoft Entra registered can still use the consumer program.

Version check: ESU is available for eligible devices running Windows 10, version 22H2. A PC on an older version needs the 22H2 update first, because the enroll link only shows on a device that meets every prerequisite.

Once those boxes are ticked, the enrollment itself takes a few clicks.

How to Enroll in Windows 10 ESU

Enrollment runs from Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update, where a device that meets the prerequisites shows a link to enroll in ESU. Once you select Enroll now, the ESU enrollment starts, and a PC signed in with a local account prompts you to sign in to your Microsoft account.

1. Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and select Enroll now.
2. If you already back up your PC settings, accept the prompt to enroll your device.
3. If you do not back up your settings, choose between starting a settings backup, redeeming Rewards, or making a one-time purchase.
4. On each additional PC, up to 10 devices, select Enroll now, or Add device if you are signed in with the same Microsoft account used to enroll your first device.

Businesses go through a different program with a very different price.

Windows 10 ESU for Businesses

Organizations buy Windows 10 ESU through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program at $61 per device for Year One, and the price doubles every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years, according to Microsoft Learn. Year One starts in November 2025, and an organization that buys in Year Two has to pay for Year One too, as ESUs are cumulative.

By the numbers: A business pays $61 per device for Year One, and with the price doubling, Year Two costs $122 per device and the third year costs $244. All three years on one PC add up to $427, against a $30 one-time consumer purchase.

Windows 10 endpoints connecting to Windows 365 Cloud PCs are entitled to ESU for up to three years with an active Windows 365 subscription license. Commercial devices need Windows 10, version 22H2 with KB5066791 or a later update, and the ESU Licensing Preparation Package KB5072653 installed after it. Windows 10 Long Term Servicing releases (LTSB/LTSC) have their own lifecycles and are not covered via the Windows 10 ESU program.

Those separate lifecycles are where Windows 10 support runs longest.

Which Windows 10 versions and apps still get updates?

Microsoft lists Jan 9, 2029 as the extended end date for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019. It lists Jan 13, 2032 as the extended end date for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 has a mainstream end date of Jan 12, 2027.

Microsoft says it will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 for a total of three years after end of support, ending on October 10, 2028. Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 support ends one year after Windows 10, in October 2026, while support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 ended on October 14, 2025 across all operating systems.

Why it matters: Microsoft Edge and the Microsoft WebView2 Runtime will continue to receive updates on Windows 10 22H2 until at least October 2028, and the ESU program won’t be required for those updates. The browser keeps getting patched on an unenrolled PC, but Windows underneath it does not, so a current browser is no substitute for ESU.

Source: Microsoft Lifecycle, Microsoft Learn, Microsoft Support, October 2026

How many PCs still run Windows 10?

Windows 10 accounted for 27.77% of Windows usage worldwide in September 2026, down from 41.71% in October 2025, according to StatCounter’s monthly Windows version data. Windows 11 rose to 71.5% over the same period, from 55.18%.

That is a drop of 13.94 ppt from October 2025, the month support ended, to September 2026. And yet more than a quarter of Windows page views in StatCounter’s sample still come from Windows 10. The share also differs sharply by region.

Key finding: StatCounter’s September 2026 data puts Windows 10 at 15.47% of Windows usage in the United Kingdom and 18.93% in the United States, against 41.17% in India. Windows 10 keeps its highest share of the listed regions in India and the wider Asia region, where the ESU date matters most.

For many of those PCs, the deciding factor is whether the hardware can take Windows 11.

Can your PC upgrade to Windows 11?

Windows 11 needs a 1 GHz or faster processor with 2 cores or more, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage or more. Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications page adds two firmware features: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). The minimums list UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability and TPM version 2.0.

Microsoft also lists a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card and a display larger than 9 inches diagonally with HD resolution (720p). For a PC that passes, the Windows 11 editions guide explains which edition your Windows 10 license maps to.

Is the Windows 11 upgrade free?

Yes. Microsoft says the upgrade is free, but only Windows 10 PCs running version 22H2 that meet the minimum hardware specifications will be able to upgrade. To check, go to Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and select Check for updates. A PC that fails the check needs a different plan, and our Windows vs Linux comparison covers one of them.

Options for PCs That Cannot Run Windows 11

For a PC that does not meet the Windows 11 technical requirements, Microsoft recommends enrolling in the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program or replacing the device with one that supports Windows 11. ESU buys time and a replacement ends the question; a third route is a different operating system on the same hardware.

Google’s ChromeOS Flex needs an Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible device with 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage and the ability to boot from a USB drive. Google only guarantees ChromeOS Flex functionality on certified models, so the certified list is worth checking before wiping a Windows 10 PC.

Source: Microsoft Windows 11 specifications, Google ChromeOS Flex Help, October 2026

Linux distributions are the other common route for hardware Windows 11 rejects, and our roundup of alternative operating systems for Windows users compares the main options.

Is it safe to keep using Windows 10 without updates?

Microsoft says antivirus software, like Microsoft Defender or third-party tools, can help but is not enough on its own, because without regular security updates the operating system remains exposed to new threats. As Microsoft’s end-of-support page puts it, “Think of antivirus as a lock on a door, but without ongoing security updates, the doorframe itself may be weak.”

You can enroll in ESU any time until the program ends, but Microsoft notes that devices will be more vulnerable and susceptible to viruses and malware before enrollment. Enrolling now costs nothing extra in coverage, because every enrollment ends on the same date. Our Windows 10 tips and tricks help keep an enrolled PC in shape until then.

Unpatched risk: Without continued software and security updates, Microsoft says a PC running Windows 10 will be at a greater risk for viruses and malware. If a PC can neither enroll nor upgrade, keep sensitive accounts off it until it moves to a supported system.

What happens when Windows 10 ESU ends in October 2027?

Consumer ESU updates are only provided through October 12, 2027, regardless of when you enroll. After that date, a home PC still on Windows 10 is where unenrolled PCs are today, with no Windows security fixes, unless Microsoft extends the program again.

Enrolled PCs that belong to a commercial or educational organization can receive security updates for a maximum of three years after end of support for Windows 10. Microsoft Edge updates on Windows 10 22H2 continue until at least October 2028.

Conclusion

Consumer ESU for Windows 10 now runs to October 12, 2027. That gives Windows 10 owners one more year to decide. StatCounter’s data showed Windows 10 still at 27.77% of worldwide Windows usage in September 2026, more than a quarter of Windows page views in that sample.

For a PC that meets the Windows 11 minimums, the free upgrade is the cleaner fix. The history of Windows shows how often these transitions have come before. A PC that falls short is better off enrolled in ESU now, since coverage ends on the same day whenever it joins. That leaves time to plan the replacement, or the move to ChromeOS Flex or Linux, before that date.