RECAP: Windows 10 technically reached end-of-life last October, and analysts say users have been migrating to Windows 11 in large numbers – but potentially millions are stubbornly holding on to the older OS. Microsoft appears to have quietly acknowledged that reality by tacking on another year to Windows 10's critical security support window.
Microsoft's support page explaining how to continue receiving security updates on Windows 10 now states that the company will continue providing patches through October 12, 2027 – a change made without a formal announcement. The update gives Windows 10 users exactly one additional year to decide whether to upgrade to Windows 11, accept the risks of an unsupported OS, or look elsewhere.
Official support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, but Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program gives some users a way to keep receiving the most critical security patches.
Non-business devices with Microsoft accounts can either redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, make a one-time $30 purchase, or sync their PC settings to their Microsoft account via the Windows Backup app for free access. Devices in the European Economic Area gained free access to ESU after Euroconsumers, an international consumer advocacy organization, pushed back on Microsoft's original enrollment requirements.
