Extended Security Support for Windows 10

TidBITS Talk
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The idea of extending the useful life of older Intel Macs by running Windows or Linux on them pops up from time to time, so I thought I’d share the news that Microsoft is opening the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to consumers for free or a nominal cost, with some caveats.

In short, standard support for Windows 10 ends in October 2025, but the new consumer ESU program will extend security updates through October 2026 under the following conditions:

  • Use Windows Backup to sync personal settings to the cloud. This appears to require at least a free OneDrive account.
  • Pay $30 USD (local pricing may vary).
  • Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.

Other options exist for businesses.

For more info, scroll down to the “Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: A bridge to your Windows 11 experience” section on the following page:

  • I guess Microsoft (quietly) announced some aspects of the consumer ESU program late last year, but it added more details and options yesterday.
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For anyone still running Windows 10, Microsoft has extended the Windows 10 security update program for another year until October 12, 2027. (Various Microsoft support pages and blog posts were updated quietly in June with the information.)

If you’re still running Windows 10, I strongly recommend signing up for the updates.

I also recommend ensuring that your system automatically saves a “restore point” before updates are installed so that you can back out in case anything goes wrong. One recent update caused repeatable freezes on a ten-year-old PC I have.

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