Microsoft quietly extended Windows 10 security updates for another year at no extra charge

Microsoft will extend its support for Windows 10 by providing an additional year of security updates under the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Customers can now receive updates until October 2027, giving users 15 more months of protection beyond the previous cutoff date. The extra coverage is available for free (as long as you're willing to sync your PC settings to OneDrive), or you can pay $30, making it accessible for individuals and organizations that need more time before transitioning to Windows 11.

Under this program, users will continue to receive both critical and important security updates, which help protect against malware and cyberattacks when using Windows 10 after its standard support that ended in October 2025. Enrollment in the ESU program is flexible: users can join at any time until October 12, 2027, and those who are already enrolled will have their security coverage automatically extended without any additional steps.

While security updates will be available through October 2027, Microsoft will cease providing both feature enhancements and regular bug fixes for Windows 10 in August 2026. This means that ongoing security improvements will continue for the extra year, but users should plan their long-term migration strategies accordingly.