Overview
- Windows 10 is now out of mainstream support, with post‑EOL protection hinging on enrollment in Extended Security Updates.
- Microsoft is offering a one‑year free Consumer ESU to home users who sign in with a Microsoft account, with critical updates available through Oct. 13, 2026.
- Enterprises can purchase up to three years of coverage, whereas consumers are limited to a single 12‑month extension before needing to move to Windows 11.
- November’s Windows 10 security update, which addressed active zero‑day threats, was delivered only to devices enrolled in ESU.
- Roughly 550 million PCs still run Windows 10, and users are being urged to upgrade to Windows 11, enroll in ESU, or move to new hardware via trade‑in and recycling programs.