Windows 10 Security Updates Extended to October 2027: How to Get Them Free (and When to Move to Windows 11)

Windows 10 home users get one more year of safety fixes. Microsoft's Extended Security Updates plan, called ESU, now runs until October 12, 2027. It was meant to end on October 13, 2026. You can still sign up for free. You just back up your PC settings to a Microsoft account. If you already signed up, you're covered. You don't need to do a thing. This gives you more time. But you should still plan your move to Windows 11.

What changed

Microsoft made the change quietly in late June 2026. It updated its ESU page and added a note to its blog. Many people missed it. So you may still read that Windows 10 updates ended in October 2026. That's no longer true if you sign up.

Three ways to sign up for ESU

1. Free: back up your PC settings to your Microsoft account with Windows Backup.
2. Points: use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
3. Pay: pay $30 one time, or the local amount, plus tax.

For most people, the free way is best. One ESU plan can cover up to 10 PCs on the same account.

Does your PC qualify?

Microsoft lists these rules:

• Windows 10 version 22H2: Home, Pro, Pro Education, or Workstations
• The latest Windows updates installed
• A Microsoft account with admin rights on the PC. A child account won't work.
• The PC isn't run by a school or a company

To check your version, press the Windows key, type winver, and press Enter. If it says 22H2, you're on the right version. If not, run Windows Update until you get 22H2.

How to sign up, step by step

1. Open Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update.
2. Install all updates first and restart if asked.
3. Look for the ESU link and click Enroll now.
4. If you use a local account, Windows will ask you to sign in with a Microsoft account.
5. Pick the free option to back up your settings, or one of the other two.
6. Finish the steps. Your PC will now keep getting safety fixes.

Don't see the link? Install every update first. One you need is called KB5126256. Also check that you're on 22H2 and signed in as an admin.

Your Microsoft account now protects your PC, so keep it safe. Turn on two-step sign-in with our 2FA guide.

What ESU does and doesn't do

• It does: send fixes for serious safety holes in Windows 10.
• It doesn't: add new features or fix normal bugs.
• It doesn't: stop apps and games from leaving Windows 10 over time.
• It ends: on October 12, 2027. Microsoft hasn't planned more time after that.

So ESU keeps your PC safe for now. It won't last forever.

Should you move to Windows 11 now?

If your PC can run Windows 11, moving is still the best plan. Windows 11 gets new features and full help from Microsoft. The basic rules are:

• A 64-bit processor from Microsoft's list, with 2 or more cores
• 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage
• UEFI with Secure Boot
• TPM 2.0

Install Microsoft's free PC Health Check app and click Check now. It tells you if your PC passes. Sometimes TPM or Secure Boot is just off in the BIOS.

Already on Windows 11? Keep it up to date too. Microsoft stopped fixing Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro on October 13, 2026. In Windows Update, turn on "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available." Then you'll move to a newer version.

Need a Windows key?

If you move to Windows 11 Pro, or your PC isn't activated, AroraShop sells Windows keys you can pay for with bKash, Nagad, Rocket, or Upay:

The difference is only ৳49. If your PC passes PC Health Check, the Windows 11 Pro key makes more sense. Check live prices on the Windows License Key page, and read our Windows 10 Pro vs Windows 11 Pro guide before you choose.

Quick plan for Windows 10 users

• PC can run Windows 11: move when you're ready. Sign up for ESU now so you're safe until then.
• PC can't run Windows 11: sign up for ESU for free. Use the extra year to save for a new PC.
• Already enrolled: do nothing. You're covered until October 12, 2027.

Want to test an unknown file on an old PC? Our Windows Sandbox guide shows a safer way.

Frequently asked questions

Is Windows 10 still getting security updates?

Yes, for PCs signed up for ESU. It now runs until October 12, 2027.

Is Windows 10 ESU free?

Yes. Back up your PC settings to a Microsoft account and it's free. You can also use 1,000 Rewards points or pay $30.

I signed up last year. Do I need to do anything?

No. Microsoft says those PCs stay covered until October 12, 2027 on their own.

Why can't I see the Enroll now link?

Install all updates. Make sure you're on 22H2 and signed in as an admin. School or work PCs can't join.

How many PCs does one ESU license cover?

Up to 10 PCs on the same Microsoft account.

Will ESU be extended again?

Microsoft hasn't said so. Plan as if October 12, 2027 is the last date.

Should I buy a Windows 10 or Windows 11 key?

Windows 11 Pro, if your PC passes PC Health Check. On AroraShop it costs only ৳49 more than Windows 10 Pro.

Conclusion

Windows 10 got a second free year of safety fixes for home users. Sign up for ESU today if you haven't. Then use the time to check if your PC can run Windows 11. When you're ready, a Windows 11 Pro key costs less than ৳1,500.

Get a Windows License Key on AroraShop with bKash. Our live chat team answers in Bangla and English.