If You’re Still Running Windows 10, You Need to Do This One Thing Before Oct. 14
Microsoft is about to withdraw the socket on Windows 10. Support for the operating system that is a decade of a decade should end on October 14, and users are encouraged to go to Windows 11.
However, we are less than two months before this end of support date, and almost 43% of PC owners still run Windows 10.
To give its users more time to upgrade their software and hardware at Windows 11, Microsoft has promised to continue to support Windows 10 with a year of more security updates. Anyone with Windows 10 can register for the extended security updates program and continue to receive updates until October 13, 2026.
Microsoft says that the ESU program is “not intended for a long-term solution, but rather as a temporary bridge to stay safe while migrating to a more recent and supported platform”.
Windows security vulnerabilities are serious business, so the ESU program is necessary for all users who cannot or want to go to Windows 11. You can register for the Microsoft ESU program for $ 30, or take advantage of two free registration options. You can either use Windows backup and synchronize your settings on your OneDrive account or exchange 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
How can I register for Microsoft Extended Safety Updates for Windows 10?
You will need to make sure you are running the latest version of Windows 10, version 10:2 p.m.. You can check your Windows version in Parameters. Then you click Windows updateAfter that, you select Show the update history. You will also need to have administrative privileges on your PC.
Once you are sure you are up to date, visit Parameters And Windows update Again and look for the links in the upper right corner of the interface. He should read “The management of Windows 10 ends in October 2025” and “register for extensive security updates to help keep your device safe”.
Below, this messaging is a link to registration, which will appear by the registration assistant for security updates. You will have to decide if you want to synchronize your settings with OneDrive, pay $ 30 or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points for the ESU program.
You can register for the ESU program at any time until before the end of the program on October 13, 2026. The ESU program is only a temporary solution designed to give users more time to upgrade, although companies can buy up to three additional years of updates.
Microsoft provides detailed instructions on how to activate extended security updates for Windows 10, but the program registration option may not yet be available for all eligible users.
Microsoft seems to be always deploying the registration assistant to all locations and devices. We could not get the link or messaging “register now” on our CNET test computer running Windows 10, even if we had installed the necessary update (the August 2025 KB5063709) update.
We contacted Microsoft to clarify the chronology of the ESU program. A spokesperson said: “We are working to restore the availability of the Windows 10 extended security update program in a market subset.”
How to get free Windows 10 security updates?
There are two ways to register for free in the Windows Extended Security updates program. You can synchronize your Windows settings with a OneDrive account connected to your PC or exchange 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
Unless you have a microsoft seated reward points surfing, you will need to save your PC data with Windows backup for free security updates for Windows 10. Normally, this feature is intended to help you save your files when you transfer them from one PC to another.
In the ESU registration assistant, you will see the three choices. To register for free, select the first option, Save your PC settingsand click Following To start the synchronization process of your settings with OneDrive using your Microsoft account.
There is a possible drawback for synchronization with OneDrive to obtain free security updates – you may not have enough storage space. Microsoft only provides 5 GB of free storage. If you have a lot of settings of parameters to save, you could eventually pay more.
Windows 10 has experienced an impressive execution over 10 years, but the operating system cannot receive updates beyond 2026. However, for many users who are not yet ready to dive into Windows 11, the free ESU program of Microsoft is a welcome stopgap.
