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Not excited (or able) to upgrade from Windows 10 to 11? Microsoft officially ends support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, but those who don't want to make the move have a few ways to stay on the OS, and two of them are free.
The company's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program provides critical and important security updates for unsupported OSes, but does not include new features, bug fixes, or technical support. Initially, Microsoft planned to charge consumers $30 to enroll in the ESU program and keep Windows 10, but it recently announced two free options.
How to Enroll in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates
Previously limited to Insiders, the program is now open to all individual users with Windows 10 devices running 22H2. Look for an enrollment wizard through notifications and in Settings, Microsoft says. You can enroll in the ESU program after Oct. 14, 2025, but your computer will be unprotected, and Microsoft will only provide coverage through Oct. 13, 2026, for now.
Windows 10 users can get ESU through one of three available options.
- Cash in 1,000 points from Microsoft's Rewards program; you earn points by using Microsoft's services. Downloading the Bing app alone, for example, gets you 500 points.
- Sync your Windows Backup to Microsoft OneDrive. While Microsoft won't charge you anything extra for picking this option, you might need to buy extra OneDrive storage to fit your backup. By default, you only get 5GB for free.
- The third option is the original one: pay $30 to receive critical updates for one year.
Why Are People Sticking With Windows 10?
Stricter hardware requirements for Windows 11 mean some Windows 10 users can't upgrade their aging PCs to the newest OS. There's a workaround, though Microsoft doesn't (officially) support it. If you're looking for an affordable Windows 11 PC, we have a few suggestions.
The good news for Windows 10 users, however, is that they can continue using Office apps (Microsoft 365) for three additional years. But even during this period, they will only receive security updates instead of new features, bug fixes, or comprehensive tech support.