With Windows 10 officially reaching out-of-support status on October 14, that leaves an estimated 400 million people without software updates, technical assistance, or, most critically, security fixes. Why is this so problematic? Really, you need to ask that question when faced with ongoing attacks a lack of appetite to adopt passkeys any time soon, and hackers continually evolving their tactics? Security has always been, and will continue to be, key to your safe usage of Windows 10 should you opt not to update to Windows 11. The good news is that Microsoft has now confirmed that users can continue to get those all-important security updates, for free, at least for another year. Here’s what you have to do, step-by-step, to ensure your Windows 10 computer is still protected by Microsoft security fixes.
How To Continue Getting Official Microsoft Security Updates For Windows 10
Windows users are, understandably, given the size of the operating system market share, a prime target for attackers of all kinds, from nation-state espionage actors to hackers and scammers. Windows zero-day attacks are not going away, but for hundreds of millions of people who have not, or cannot, move away from the now unsupported Windows 10 platform, security updates have. Although some might look back on incidents such as the infamous startup loop of death and think good riddance, that is cyber masochism at its most brazen. When security updates stop, as they will for some Windows 11 users (yes, you read that right) on November 11, the only people who are happy are the attackers.
The good news is that Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 users can continue to get security updates until October 13, 2026, without having to pay the $30 fee to enroll in the Extended Security Updates programme. Here’s what you need to do.
- Check that you are eligible. You must be running Microsoft Windows 10, version 22H2 Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations edition. You must have the latest Windows update installed. You must be signed in as an administrator. The account cannot be a child one.
- Redeem 1,000 Microsoft reward points if you use that scheme.
- Or, simply ensure that you are syncing your PC settings using backup with Windows to a Microsoft OneDrive account.
“You can enroll in ESU any time until the programme ends on 13 October, 2026,” Microsoft said. ”You will need to sign into your Microsoft account in order to enroll in ESU. You’ll be given these options to choose from when you enroll in the ESU programme. You can use your existing ESU license on up to 10 devices.”