You can stay on Windows 10 for another year for free

It’s no secret that Microsoft is ending official support for Windows 10 in October. The tech giant has been chomping at the bit to get users to upgrade to Windows 11, and even allows Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 for free.

However, some folks really want to stay on Windows 10, be it for upgrade compatibility reasons or just to avoid the increasingly AI-forward Windows 11. They may also be stuck running a laptop that doesn't meet the system requirements for Windows 11.

If you fall into that group, you have two ways to get another year’s worth of updates for Windows 10 for free via Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. This will grant guaranteed security updates until October 2026, giving you another year to either upgrade to Windows 11 or buy yourself a new PC.

Microsoft initially planned to charge users $30 to enroll in this program, but backtracked on that idea after user backlash. So, take advantage of the offer while you can.

But don't forget: If you want to stay on Windows 10 for free, you have to take action before Oct. 14.

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How to find Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates

You may get a notification from Microsoft to enroll. If you don’t, here’s how to find the offer in your settings menu.

Open your Settings.
Navigate to Updates & Security and then Windows Update.
There, you should see a header stating that Windows 10 support is ending on October 14, 2025.
Underneath it is a link to “enroll now” in the ESU program.
A box should pop up with further instructions.

If the ability to enroll is not available, make sure your PC is entirely up to date, reboot, and then try again. Microsoft launched this feature in August 2025, so it is fairly new to the menu, and people without the latest updates may not see it.

How to get Windows 10 security updates for free

Once you access the ESU within Windows 10, you should be presented with three options to “pay” for the next year of updates.

Cash in 1,000 Microsoft Reward points - This is the easiest option. You can learn more about how to accumulate points at the Microsoft website.
Sync your Windows Backup with OneDrive - Per our sister site PCMag, you can upgrade for free by syncing your Windows Backup with Microsoft OneDrive, though you will probably need to purchase additional cloud storage space.

Microsoft also allows users to pay $30 for the extended Windows 10 updates, as originally planned. So, if you want to keep this simple, just pay $30 and you’re set for another year.

Once you access the ESU, you’ll be able to choose the one that works for you. Since you still have a month, attempting to accumulate the Microsoft Rewards points is arguably your best option.

How long do the extended security updates last?

Exactly one year. Microsoft says that the updates will continue through October 13, 2026, and then Windows 10 users are entirely on their own. There are some additional rules to consider as well. The ESU updates will be only security updates, and therefore will not contain any new features or what Microsoft refers to as “customer-requested non-security updates.” Technical support will also be unavailable except for license activation and installation.

So, in short, you’ll get the security updates and quite literally nothing else unless you upgrade to Windows 11, but at least you’ll have another year to make that choice.