Overview
- Microsoft updated its ESU support pages on Thursday, June 25, 2026, to extend the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program and automatically roll existing enrollments forward to Oct. 12, 2027.
- The ESU extension delivers only security patches on a monthly cadence and does not include new features or general technical support for Windows 10.
- Consumers can enroll for free by signing in with a Microsoft account and syncing settings, or by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or paying a one-time $30 fee, and one ESU license can cover up to 10 personal devices.
- Eligibility is limited to personal Windows 10 devices running version 22H2 with current updates and an administrator Microsoft account, and devices joined to corporate domains or managed by MDM are not eligible for the consumer track.
- Reporting and analysts link the quiet extension to persistent upgrade barriers — strict Windows 11 hardware rules and higher component prices — and Microsoft keeps paid, multi-year ESU options separate for enterprise customers through 2028.