Microsoft has announced a change of heart regarding its end-of-life plan for Windows 10, allowing users to continue using their operating system beyond October 2025. The company’s about-face offers relief for those who do not want to upgrade to Windows 11 and instead sign up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which will provide security updates for another year.
Under the new plan, Windows 10 users can enroll in ESU by navigating to Settings, Update & Security, and Windows Update on their PC. The program is only available to consumers, not commercial users, and does not include feature improvements or product enhancements. Users must take action to sign up for ESU, as security updates will not activate automatically.
The new expiration date for Windows 10 has been pushed back to October 13, 2026. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates, security fixes, or technical support for the operating system. This means that Windows 10 PCs used after the cut-off date will become increasingly vulnerable to hackers and less stable over time.
For now, users are advised to make every day count by taking their Windows 10 PC on outings, such as a trip to the park or ice cream, to prolong its lifespan.
Source: https://www.vice.com/en/article/microsoft-extends-security-updates-for-windows-10-to-2026