The short answer
Home users on Windows 10 can keep receiving security patches until 12 October 2027 via Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme. Plenty of websites still quote 13 October 2026, but that date no longer applies. Signing up costs nothing as long as you let Windows back up your PC settings to a Microsoft account. To do it, open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Enroll now. Signed up earlier? You don’t have to do anything more.
In this article9 sections
The new deadline and other key dates
Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. A Windows 10 machine still runs normally after that, but unless it is enrolled in ESU, it stops receiving security fixes. When Microsoft launched the consumer ESU programme, the plan was a single year of cover, up to October 2026. Then, in June 2026, Microsoft added a second year without much fanfare, and its ESU page now states that protection continues through 12 October 2027.
| End of Windows 10 support | 14 October 2025 |
| Last day of consumer ESU cover (free or paid) | 12 October 2027 (pushed back from October 2026) |
| Security patches for Microsoft 365 apps running on Windows 10 | Continue until 10 October 2028 |
| Updates for the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows 10 22H2 | October 2028 at the earliest |
| Security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus | Continue through October 2028 |
Note: Signed up for ESU already? According to Microsoft’s ESU page, existing enrolments roll over to 12 October 2027 on their own, so there is no step for you to take.
Does your PC qualify for ESU?
- The PC has to be on Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations) and fully patched. That includes the Windows 10 ESU Licensing Preparation Package (KB5126256), which Microsoft names as a requirement. You can see which version you have under Settings → System → About.
- You need to be logged in with a Microsoft account that has administrator rights. A child account can’t sign up, though a parent can enrol the child’s machine by switching to their own admin account on it.
- A single ESU licence works on up to 10 PCs, as long as they all use the same Microsoft account.
- Work PCs that a company manages are left out, whether they are joined to a domain or to Microsoft Entra or controlled through device management. So are PCs set up in kiosk mode. For those, speak to your IT team about business ESU. A machine that is merely Microsoft Entra registered (rather than joined) can still use the consumer version.
Signing up for ESU: the steps
- Begin by clearing all waiting updates via Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for updates, and reboot afterwards.
- Back on that Windows Update screen, click Enroll now.
- When prompted, log in with your Microsoft account.
- If your settings are already being backed up, Windows simply asks you to confirm. If not, you get three choices: turn on backup of your PC settings (free), spend 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or pay for the licence.
- Follow the remaining prompts. Once you’re done, the Windows Update screen shows that the machine is enrolled.
- Want a second PC covered? Log in on it using the same Microsoft account, open Windows Update and pick Enroll now (or Add device, if you see that option).
Free, Rewards points or paid: choosing your route
| Route | Price | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Sync your PC settings using Windows Backup | Free | The majority of people at home. Your settings get synced to your Microsoft account. |
| Spend Microsoft Rewards points | 1,000 points | Anyone with Rewards points already saved up. A redemption is final and can’t be returned. |
| Pay once | US$30 (or the equivalent in local currency), plus applicable tax | Those who would rather not sync settings. Microsoft hasn’t published a price in rupees; you’ll see the exact figure, GST included, at checkout. |
The 1,000-point route shows up on Microsoft’s ESU page for India, though Rewards offers differ from region to region. If you can’t find it, simply go with the free settings-backup route.
No “Enroll now” link? Things to check
The only explanation Microsoft gives is that the link turns up once your PC meets the requirements. Working through this list may help:
- Get the newest updates (KB5126256 included) and reboot. If updates are on pause, resume them.
- Make sure the machine is on version 22H2. It’s also a good idea to confirm Windows is activated, under Settings → Update & Security → Activation.
- Log in with an administrator account rather than a child account. Using a local account? Once you click Enroll now, Windows will prompt you to sign in with a Microsoft account.
- Machines joined to a domain or Microsoft Entra, managed via device management, or running in kiosk mode won’t show the link at all.
- Open Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters, run the Windows Update troubleshooter, and look again.
What you do and don’t get with ESU
ESU delivers critical and important security updates, and nothing beyond that. You won’t get new features, fixes for other bugs, or technical support from Microsoft. Signing up also leaves you free to move to Windows 11 at a later stage.
Warning: ESU or not, an ageing Windows 10 machine remains less safe than a Windows 11 PC that’s still supported. Keep your antivirus and browser up to date, and don’t install programs from sites you don’t know.
Is moving to Windows 11 the smarter option?
If your PC is capable of running Windows 11, the upgrade remains free via Windows Update, and over the long run it’s the wiser path. Here’s what Windows 11 asks for:
- 64-bit CPU on the supported list, 2+ cores
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of storage
- UEFI firmware that supports Secure Boot
- TPM 2.0
- Graphics: DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver
- Screen bigger than 9 inches, 720p
To find out fast, run Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app, or open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update, which tells you whether the machine qualifies. Bear in mind that PC Health Check skips the graphics card and display, so verify those yourself.
Our pick
- Clears the Windows 11 check? Make a backup of your files, then take the free upgrade.
- Doesn’t clear it? Sign up for free ESU today, and start planning for a new laptop before October 2027.
Your questions, answered
Does a Windows 10 PC stop working once 12 October 2027 passes?
No, it carries on running. What ends is security patching for Windows itself, which makes going online with it riskier. According to Microsoft, Defender security intelligence, Edge and Microsoft 365 apps will still be updated on Windows 10 until October 2028.
Can people in India actually get ESU at no cost?
They can, by picking the route that backs up PC settings to a Microsoft account. The alternatives are spending 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or making a one-time payment.
I signed up back in 2025. Must I sign up a second time?
There’s no need. Microsoft’s ESU page states that enrolments now include security updates through 12 October 2027, so no further step is required.
Can I use ESU on my work laptop?
Not the consumer edition. Company-managed PCs, whether through a domain, Microsoft Entra or device management, fall under the business ESU programme, and your IT team takes care of that.
Sources we checked
- Microsoft: Windows 10 Extended Security Updates
- Microsoft Support: Windows 10 support has ended on October 14, 2025
- Microsoft: Windows 11 specifications and system requirements
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Edge support lifecycle
- Windows Experience Blog: Stay secure before support ends (editor’s note, 25 June 2026)
- BleepingComputer: Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027
