Windows 10 Extended Updates Now Run to 2027. What to Do With Your PC

Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 were due to end in October 2026, but they did not. Microsoft added a year for personal-use devices, and its ESU page now says coverage runs through October 12, 2027, which is 357 days from today (October 20, 2026). If your PC is already enrolled, nothing changes. If it isn't, you can still enroll and keep receiving security fixes while you decide what to do next.

Key takeaways

Microsoft's consumer ESU page lists three enrollment routes: free by syncing PC settings with Windows Backup, 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-time $30 plus tax. Existing enrollments continue automatically.
ESU delivers only critical and important security updates, with no feature updates or technical support, so it buys time rather than replacing a move to Windows 11.
Microsoft's end-of-support page says the free Windows 11 upgrade needs Windows 10 version 22H2 and a PC that meets the minimum hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot support.
Edge updates and Defender malware definitions continue on Windows 10 until at least October 2028, according to Microsoft. They do not replace operating system patches.
Before you sell, give away or recycle a PC, back it up and run Windows' Reset with the Clean data setting. Microsoft notes that this does not meet government erasure standards.

What it means for you

The right move depends on which of these describes you. Each line points to the section with the details.

PC eligible for Windows 11: the upgrade is free, so it is the default choice. See the Windows 11 eligibility section below.
PC not eligible: enroll in ESU to stay patched through October 12, 2027, then replace or repurpose the PC. See the options table.
Already enrolled in ESU: no action is needed to get the extra year, according to Microsoft. Use the time to plan the replacement.
Small home-business users: consumer ESU cannot be used in commercial scenarios, and Microsoft says enrollment is suspended if a device is used commercially.
Older relatives' PCs: enrollment needs a Microsoft account with administrator rights that is not a child account, and each PC is enrolled separately.
Gamers and people with specialized software: ESU is security-only, so check the software vendor's Windows 11 support before buying hardware. Microsoft's pages do not cover individual games or programs.

Can your PC run Windows 11?

Microsoft's Windows 11 specifications page sets the minimum requirements. The PC needs a compatible 64-bit processor at 1 GHz or faster with at least 2 cores, 4 GB of RAM, a 64 GB or larger drive, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot support, and TPM 2.0 (a security chip or firmware equivalent). It also needs DirectX 12 graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver and a display larger than 9 inches at 720p or higher.

The processor must also appear on Microsoft's supported CPU list. The quickest test is the PC Health Check app, which Microsoft recommends before upgrading. It does not check the graphics card or display, so verify those separately.

Microsoft's end-of-support page says the free upgrade applies to PCs running Windows 10 version 22H2 that meet the minimum hardware specifications. The specifications page cites version 2004 or later, but ESU also requires 22H2, so updating to 22H2 first covers both paths. To see whether the offer has reached your PC, open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

If the PC fails the check

Microsoft's install guidance says that when the Installation Assistant reports that a PC does not meet the minimum requirements, Microsoft recommends staying on Windows 10. If Windows 11 is already installed on an unsupported device, Microsoft recommends rolling back to Windows 10. This article does not cover workarounds, because Microsoft advises against them.

How consumer ESU works

ESU keeps a Windows 10 PC receiving security patches after regular support ended on October 14, 2025. The Microsoft ESU page describes the terms as follows.

Eligible editions: Windows 10 version 22H2 in Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations, with the latest Windows update and the ESU licensing preparation package (KB5126256) installed.
Account: a Microsoft account with administrator rights that is not a child account. Domain-joined, Entra-joined, MDM-enrolled and kiosk devices are not eligible, though Entra-registered devices are.
License: one ESU license can be used on up to 10 devices. Each PC must still be enrolled separately, and one enrolled user covers all users on that PC.
Upgrade later: enrolling does not block a later move to Windows 11.
European Economic Area: Microsoft's Ireland ESU page lists different terms. Enrollment is free for as long as you keep signing in to Windows with the Microsoft account used to enroll. Without that, updates stop after a period of up to 60 days and you must re-enroll. The $30 purchase allows a local account.

Microsoft's Windows Experience Blog carries an editor's note saying the personal-use program is being provided for an additional year. The same post says organizations subscribe per device through Microsoft's Volume Licensing Program, with a price that rises each year.

What keeps updating on any Windows 10 PC

Some software outside the operating system has its own end dates. Microsoft says security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 continue until October 10, 2028, 721 days from today. Edge and the WebView2 Runtime continue to receive updates on Windows 10 22H2 until at least October 2028, and ESU is not required for that. Microsoft also said it would provide Defender Antivirus security intelligence updates through at least October 2028.

These cover apps and malware definitions. Fixes to Windows itself stop when ESU does, and CISA's guidance on patches and software updates says continued use of end-of-life software poses consequential risk and recommends retiring end-of-life products.

Your options side by side

The table lists what each path costs and what Microsoft's pages say about it. Prices are as of October 2026.

Option	Cost	Security updates	Main condition
Upgrade to Windows 11	Free	Regular Windows 11 updates	Windows 10 22H2 and a PC that meets the minimum hardware requirements
Consumer ESU, Windows Backup sync	Free	Critical and important security updates to October 12, 2027	Microsoft account with administrator rights; personal use only
Consumer ESU, Rewards points	1,000 Microsoft Rewards points	Same	Redemptions are final
Consumer ESU, purchase	$30 plus tax, one time	Same	Refunds follow Microsoft's digital-purchase policy for your country
New Windows 11 PC	Varies by model	Regular Windows 11 updates	Windows Backup can transfer files, settings, apps and sign-in credentials

Paid in October 2026, the $30 option works out to about 8 cents a day over the 357 days left, and the sync and Rewards routes cost nothing. A PC that fails the Windows 11 check can use that window to plan a purchase.

Switching to another operating system

Google's ChromeOS Flex is a free operating system that can be installed on some existing Windows PCs. Google says official support is limited to a list of certified models, and Flex lacks the Google-designed security chips that ChromeOS devices include. Google's page does not say that Windows programs run on Flex, so check that what you use works in a browser before switching.

Staying on an unpatched PC

Microsoft says a Windows 10 PC without updates is at greater risk from viruses and malware. CISA's best-practice list goes further: do not use unsupported end-of-life software. For any PC that goes online, ESU or an upgrade is the lower-risk path.

Wiping and recycling an old PC

Back up anything you want to keep first, because a reset reinstalls Windows. On Windows 10, Microsoft's reset guide says to open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, select Get started under Reset this PC, and choose Remove everything. Turn on the Clean data setting if you plan to donate, recycle or sell the PC. Microsoft warns that this erasure does not meet government and industry data erasure standards, and that an encrypted device needs its BitLocker recovery key ready.

Microsoft's recycling program offers free recycling for Microsoft-branded devices, and in New York State and the District of Columbia it also accepts other brands on a one-to-one basis. Microsoft says devices should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. Its end-of-support page also mentions a trade-in program that Microsoft says can help you recycle a PC and get some extra cash.

State law also applies. Since January 1, 2015, New York bars consumers from putting covered electronics, including laptops, desktops and tablets, in landfills, the trash or curbside trash pickup. Manufacturers must offer free and convenient recycling to most consumers. For-profit businesses with 50 or more full-time employees and nonprofits with 75 or more may be charged, and anyone may be charged for premium services such as data wiping. Rules differ by state, so check your own state's environmental agency.

Frequently asked questions

Does enrolling in ESU stop me from upgrading to Windows 11 later?

No. Microsoft's ESU page says enrolling does not block a later upgrade to Windows 11. The upgrade still requires a PC that meets the hardware requirements.

Can I use consumer ESU on a PC I use for my small business?

Microsoft says consumer ESU cannot be used in commercial scenarios, and enrollment is suspended if a device is used commercially. Organizations use a separate paid program that Microsoft sells per device through volume licensing.

Can one ESU license cover my relatives' PCs?

One license can be used on up to 10 devices, but each PC must be enrolled separately. The person enrolling needs a Microsoft account with administrator rights on that PC. Child accounts are not eligible.

Do I need ESU to keep getting Edge updates?

No. Microsoft's Edge documentation says ESU is not required for Edge or the WebView2 Runtime to keep receiving updates on Windows 10 22H2. Those updates are promised until at least October 2028.

What share of US Windows PCs still run Windows 10?

StatCounter's traffic-based estimate for US desktop Windows in September 2026 put Windows 11 at about 80.51% and Windows 10 at about 18.93%. It measures web visits rather than counting installed PCs, so treat it as an approximation.

A checklist for this week

Run PC Health Check and note whether the PC passes. Verify the graphics card and display separately.
If it passes, open Windows Update and install Windows 11 when offered. Back up first.
If it fails or you are not ready, install the latest Windows update, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Enroll now. Choose the free sync option, Rewards points or the $30 purchase, and note the October 12, 2027 end date.
For each relative's PC, repeat the steps with an administrator Microsoft account.
If you retire a PC, back up, run Reset with Remove everything and Clean data, then use a manufacturer, retailer or state-approved recycling channel.