Windows 10 security updates won't stop Oct. 13: Microsoft extended consumer coverage to Oct. 12, 2027

Windows 10 PCs enrolled in Microsoft's consumer Extended Security Updates program will not stop getting security fixes this week. Microsoft has extended the program, which was originally set to run one year and end Oct. 13, 2026, so that coverage now lasts through Oct. 12, 2027, according to its ESU page. If you are already enrolled, the page says your coverage "will automatically continue through that date" with "no action needed."

Microsoft disclosed the change in an editor's note dated June 25, 2026, on its Windows Experience Blog. The note says the program for personal-use devices "is being provided for an additional year" to give customers more time to move to a new Windows 11 PC.

What changed, and what did not

Windows 10 itself reached end of support on Oct. 14, 2025. Outside the ESU program, Microsoft "no longer provides software updates, security fixes, or technical assistance" to Windows 10 PCs, according to its end-of-support page. A Windows 10 computer keeps working after that date. It simply stops receiving fixes for newly found security flaws unless it is enrolled.

ESU is a bridge, not a full support plan. It delivers critical and important security updates only. Microsoft says enrollment "does not provide other types of fixes, feature improvements, or product enhancements" and "does not come with technical support."

The new end date is fixed. Microsoft says ESU updates will be provided through Oct. 12, 2027, "regardless of when you enroll." Its ESU page does not describe any consumer coverage after that date.

Who can still enroll, and what it costs

Enrollment remains open until the program ends. Microsoft notes that a device is more vulnerable to viruses and malware until it is enrolled, so waiting has a cost.

To qualify, the PC must be running Windows 10, version 22H2, in the Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations edition. You need to sign in with a Microsoft account that is an administrator on the PC. If you use a local account, Windows will prompt you to sign in to a Microsoft account. The consumer program cannot be used in commercial settings, and it is not offered on devices in kiosk mode or devices joined to a work domain or managed by an organization's device management system.

Microsoft lists three ways to enroll:

• At no additional cost, if you are syncing your PC settings.
• By redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
• With a one-time purchase of $30, or the local currency equivalent, plus applicable tax.

Microsoft says one ESU license can be used on up to 10 devices, and that enrollment options and timing may vary by region, such as in the European Economic Area. To enroll, open Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update. If your device meets the requirements, you will see a link to enroll.

Check whether your PC can run Windows 11

Microsoft's main recommendation is still to move to Windows 11. The upgrade is free for eligible Windows 10 PCs running version 22H2 that meet the minimum hardware requirements, according to Microsoft's support page on the end of Windows 10. If your PC qualifies, you should see an upgrade option in Windows Update.

To find out where your PC stands, use Microsoft's free PC Health Check app. Select Check now, and it reports whether your device meets the Windows 11 minimum requirements and what you can do if it does not.

Microsoft's Windows 11 specifications include a compatible 64-bit processor with two or more cores running at 1 GHz or faster, 4 GB of memory, 64 GB of storage, firmware that is UEFI and Secure Boot capable, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. A PC that falls short on any one of these will not get the free upgrade offer, so the app's result is the quickest answer.

If your PC cannot upgrade

• Stay on ESU through Oct. 12, 2027. This buys time to save for a replacement or wait for a sale. Treat it as a deadline, not a fix.
• Replace the PC. Microsoft suggests buying a Windows 11 PC if yours is not eligible or you are ready for a new device.
• Trade in or recycle the old one. Microsoft points to its trade-in program in qualifying markets and to its device recycling programs. Check your city or county's rules before putting electronics in the trash.

Back up first, and wipe before you let go

Before you upgrade, replace or recycle a PC, back up anything you want to keep. Microsoft says Windows Backup can bring your files and photos to a new PC. A second copy on an external drive or a cloud service you control is a sensible extra step.

Before you give away, sell or recycle a Windows 10 PC, reset it. Microsoft's reset instructions start at Start, then Settings, then Update & Security, then Recovery, then Get started under Reset this PC. Choose to remove everything, and Microsoft recommends its Clean data option if you plan to donate, recycle or sell the PC. Microsoft also notes that this built-in erasure does not meet government and industry data erasure standards.

What about Microsoft 365 and other apps

Microsoft says it will keep providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 until Oct. 10, 2028, though those devices stop getting feature updates after Version 2608. It also warns that running the apps on an unsupported operating system can cause performance and reliability problems. Other software companies set their own schedules, so check with the makers of your browser, security software and any apps you rely on.

What to do now

1. Open Windows Update and confirm whether your PC is enrolled in ESU or offered Windows 11.
2. If it is not enrolled and cannot upgrade yet, enroll in ESU.
3. Run PC Health Check to see whether an upgrade is possible.
4. Back up your files, and set a reminder well before Oct. 12, 2027.

Program details can change, as this extension shows. Check Microsoft's ESU page and the settings on your own device for the terms that apply to you.