The clock is ticking on the Windows 10 free upgrade that Microsoft offers. Starting next month, it won’t be so easy to avoid a forced upgrade for users of any version of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.
The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program was always meant for businesses, but for the first time, individual users can get in on it, and not just one way but three: a couple of free avenues and a smaller paid version. If you want those improvements, you’re going to have to jump in fast.
- What ESU Really Gets You on Windows 10 This Year
- Who’s Eligible — and How Enrollment Works
- Three Roads to Extended Security Updates
- Why Are So Many PCs Still Running Windows 10?
- What About Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10?
- Security Reality Check for Staying on Windows 10
- The Smart Next Step Before You Upgrade Windows 10
What ESU Really Gets You on Windows 10 This Year
ESU provides only crucial or important security updates. That is: no new features, no non-security bug fixes, and no free (read: “phone”) support from Microsoft. Consider it a safety net, and not a second life for Windows 10. Coverage continues for one more year beyond the expiration, and if you wait until after that period to register, your system will be naked until your enrollment is finalized.
Who’s Eligible — and How Enrollment Works
It’s all dependent on running Windows 10 version 22H2. The ESU enrollment wizard will pop up as notifications and in the Settings app of eligible devices, Microsoft says. The program was previously limited to Windows Insiders, but is now open to anyone who doesn’t want to upgrade yet.
You can technically get enrolled after support ends, but doing so leaves a gap during which your PC will not be shielded behind new protections. If you have a mission-critical machine — or a family PC that you’d prefer didn’t become a vector for malware — get this one out of the way before everyone floods to Microsoft’s servers.
Three Roads to Extended Security Updates
- Option 1: Use Microsoft Rewards points. ESU will be safe for a year by paying 1,000 points. If you’re a user of Bing, Xbox services, or the Microsoft Store, there’s a good chance you’re already well on your way; installing the Bing app alone knocks off 148 points. Keep in mind that this is a per-device deal — for multiple PCs within your household.
- Method 2: Sync Windows Backup to OneDrive. If you back up your PC to Microsoft’s cloud service, the company will give you ESU access. Note that by default OneDrive only comes with a small amount of free space, so backing up lots of files might require a storage upgrade.
- Option 3: Pay a $30 charge for each device. In case you’d prefer to steer clear of Rewards points and cloud backups, you can also buy ESU for one year outright. That means you receive the same security updates as if you had traveled via more subtle routes for no cost.
Why Are So Many PCs Still Running Windows 10?
Windows 11’s more rigorous hardware baseline — TPM 2.0, newer processors, certain security features — cuts out a larger swath of older-but-still-reliable PCs. According to tracking from outfits such as StatCounter, Windows 10 still drives significant numbers of active Windows systems across the globe, particularly in price-stingy markets and small businesses resisting refresh cycles.
That makes ESU more than just a convenience; it acts as a useful bridge for people who can’t or won’t update their hardware at this point. IDC and Canalys analysts in recent weeks have observed that post-pandemic PC refreshes are slowing down, as many organizations focus on swapping new systems only after a piece of hardware fails rather than making fleetwide changes.
What About Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10?
Microsoft says its Office apps will still work on Windows 10 for years after the OS hits end-of-support, but they’ll be security-update-only — no new features or regular bug fixes. That’s enough for most to still be compatible with their colleagues and clients while they develop a longer-term move to Windows 11 hardware.
Security Reality Check for Staying on Windows 10
Agencies like CISA regularly caution that unsupported operating systems turn into prime shooting galleries for ransomware and spyware. ESU limits exposure, but it’s not a free pass. You still need the fundamentals: a modern browser, reliable antivirus, limited admin accounts, and backups. If you’re going the OneDrive for ESU path, confirm that your backup job actually succeeds and that you can restore files.
The Smart Next Step Before You Upgrade Windows 10
If you’re likely to be a short-timer with Windows 10, then go ahead and enroll now for the rewards side option that works best for you — Rewards points, OneDrive backup, or direct $30 payment. Then set a hardware timeline. The deep-security stuff in Windows 11 — virtualization-based security, Smart App Control, and so forth — isn’t even on my radar at the moment, but you’re going to want that someday.
At least for today, the message is clear: if you’re not quite ready to move on to Windows 11, you still have a lifeline. Just don’t be tardy in picking it up after support ends.