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Windows 10 ESU: Microsoft’s $30 Security Update Option—and Free Ways to Enroll

Windows 10 support has ended, but eligible consumers have three ESU enrollment routes: settings sync, 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or a one-time $30 purchase. Regional terms and eligibility apply.
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You do not necessarily have to pay for Windows 10 security updates. Microsoft lists a one-time $30 USD consumer enrollment option for Extended Security Updates (ESU), plus two no-additional-cost routes: syncing PC settings or redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Eligibility and available choices can vary by region. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and eligible consumer PCs enrolled in ESU can receive critical and important security updates through October 12, 2027.

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?

Microsoft’s current consumer guidance lists three enrollment methods. The $30 USD option is a one-time purchase, not an annual consumer fee; Microsoft also lists a local-currency equivalent plus applicable tax. The other routes are syncing PC settings at no additional cost or redeeming Microsoft Rewards points.

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Consumer enrollment route What Microsoft lists
Settings sync No additional cost; follow the on-device enrollment prompt.
Microsoft Rewards Redeem 1,000 points.
Purchase One-time $30 USD, or local-currency equivalent, plus applicable tax.

These are Microsoft’s stated consumer terms in its Windows 10 ESU enrollment guidance, accessed October 4, 2026. The page says one ESU license can cover up to 10 devices. Regional choices and timing may differ, so check the offer shown on the PC rather than assuming the same route is available everywhere.

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Who can enroll in consumer ESU?

The consumer offer is for eligible personal-use devices, not every Windows 10 installation. Microsoft requires Windows 10 version 22H2 in Home, Pro, Pro Education, or Pro for Workstations edition, the latest Windows update, and the Windows 10 ESU Licensing Preparation Package (KB5126256). The Microsoft account used for enrollment must be an administrator account and cannot be a child account.

Microsoft excludes commercial scenarios and lists kiosk-mode devices, devices joined to Active Directory or Microsoft Entra, and devices enrolled in mobile device management (MDM) as ineligible for the consumer program. Microsoft Entra-registered devices are an exception to that exclusion. Managed organizations should check commercial licensing terms instead.

How to find the enrollment offer

  1. On the Windows 10 PC, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
  2. Install the latest Windows update and confirm that the device meets the version and edition requirements.
  3. If the PC is eligible, look for the ESU enrollment link in Windows Update and follow the prompts. If you chose the settings-sync route, Microsoft says to use the on-device prompt.
  4. Complete the enrollment with the qualifying Microsoft account and choose an available route: settings sync, Rewards points, or purchase.

Microsoft says eligible devices will be offered the enrollment link. If it does not appear, check the edition, version, update status, account type, and management status before assuming that payment alone will make the PC eligible.

What the fee buys—and what it does not

Windows 10 support ended October 14, 2025. Without an applicable support arrangement, devices no longer receive regular Windows security updates. ESU is a limited security-maintenance program: Microsoft says enrolled consumer PCs can receive critical and important security updates through October 12, 2027, including if they enroll later. Microsoft’s Windows end-of-support guidance states that enrolled devices receive those updates through that date.

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ESU does not restore full Windows support. It does not include new features, customer-requested nonsecurity updates, design changes, or general Windows 10 technical support. Microsoft distinguishes these security updates from ongoing product support in its ESU program documentation.

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A PC will continue to function after support ends, but Microsoft says devices outside supported arrangements stop receiving ordinary feature and quality updates, including security and reliability fixes. Antivirus software is not a substitute for operating-system security updates, as Microsoft explains in its Windows 10 support guidance.

Consumer and business ESU are different offers

The $30 figure applies to the listed consumer purchase route; it is not the commercial rate. Microsoft Learn lists commercial ESU at $61 USD per device for year one, with the price doubling each consecutive year for up to three years. Commercial customers cannot buy a partial year. Microsoft says year one starts in November 2025, and enrolling in a later year requires buying missed earlier coverage because updates are cumulative. Consult Microsoft’s commercial ESU terms for organizational licensing conditions.

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Microsoft also describes no-additional-cost ESU in certain cloud and virtual-machine scenarios subject to service and license conditions. For example, Windows 10 endpoints connecting to Windows 365 Cloud PCs may be entitled to ESU for up to three years with an active Windows 365 subscription. These are organization-specific provisions, not another general free route for consumers.

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What about the European Economic Area?

Microsoft says consumer ESU choices and timing may vary by region, including the European Economic Area (EEA). Euroconsumers announced on September 22, 2025 that Microsoft would provide EEA consumers a free one-year ESU extension through October 13, 2026, following more than two years of advocacy. That account is specific to the EEA arrangement and should not be treated as a global consumer term. Check Microsoft’s local enrollment offer for your device.

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Should you enroll, upgrade, or replace the PC?

The practical choice depends on the computer’s eligibility and how long you plan to keep it. Microsoft’s end-of-support guidance points users to Windows 11 eligibility and replacement as alternatives; enrolling in ESU does not prevent a later Windows 11 upgrade.

  • Choose consumer ESU if you need more time with an eligible personal-use Windows 10 22H2 PC and the available enrollment route suits you. It provides security updates until a fixed endpoint, not full support.
  • Upgrade the existing PC if it meets Windows 11 requirements. Check the individual device’s eligibility and back up important files before changing operating systems.
  • Consider a Windows 11 PC if the current computer is not eligible or replacement makes sense for your needs. A new PC is not required to enroll in ESU.
  • Check commercial or cloud licensing if an organization manages the device; consumer pricing and enrollment rules do not apply automatically.

Windows app and antivirus updates are separate

Microsoft separately said Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 would receive security updates through October 10, 2028, with feature updates through August 2026, and that Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence updates would continue through October 2028. Those application and antivirus timelines do not extend general Windows 10 support or replace ESU for the operating system. Microsoft published those dates in its June 24, 2025 Windows Experience Blog announcement.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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