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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Microsoft offers eligible Windows 10 consumers a no-additional-cost route to Extended Security Updates (ESU) in the European Economic Area (EEA). The offer is not worldwide, does not restore full Windows support, and requires continued Microsoft-account sign-in. Outside the EEA, Microsoft lists different enrollment options, including settings sync, Rewards points or a one-time payment.
What Microsoft made free
Windows 10 reached the end of ordinary support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft’s consumer ESU program provides eligible PCs with critical and important security updates through Windows Update for a limited period. It is a security bridge, not a return to normal Windows 10 support. Microsoft’s end-of-support guidance says ESU does not include new features, customer-requested non-security updates, design changes or general technical support.
That distinction matters for a household budget: ESU can buy time to plan an upgrade or replacement, but it does not make an aging PC a permanently supported device or cover vulnerabilities in third-party software.
Which region gets the no-cost route?
The special regional terms apply to the European Economic Area, not to Europe as a whole. The EEA comprises the 27 European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Microsoft’s EEA ESU page describes an enrollment route at no additional cost for eligible consumers who sign in with a Microsoft account and keep using that account on the PC.
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“Free” therefore does not mean automatic or account-free. Users who stop signing in with the enrolled Microsoft account may have updates discontinued after up to 60 days; Microsoft says re-enrollment may be needed to resume them. The EEA page also lists a one-time $30 or local-currency-equivalent payment, plus applicable tax, for users who want to continue using a local Windows account.
How the enrollment options compare
| Route | What Microsoft lists | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| EEA account-linked enrollment | No additional cost for eligible consumers, according to Microsoft’s EEA page. | Requires Microsoft-account sign-in and continued use of that account; updates may stop after up to 60 days without sign-in. |
| EEA local-account option | One-time $30 or local-currency equivalent, plus applicable tax, according to Microsoft’s EEA page. | Costs money, but allows continued use of a local Windows account. |
| Settings sync | No additional cost, listed on Microsoft’s U.S. consumer page. | Requires Microsoft-account use and syncing PC settings. |
| Microsoft Rewards | 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, listed on Microsoft’s U.S. consumer page. | Requires enough points and availability of the program to the user. |
| One-time purchase | $30 plus applicable tax on Microsoft’s U.S. consumer page. | Regional prices and taxes may differ. |
Microsoft’s U.S. consumer page lists the latter three options. It says a license can be used on up to 10 devices, but each device must independently satisfy eligibility requirements. The page also says that, once a PC is enrolled, other users on that same PC are protected.
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Who can enroll
The consumer program is intended for personal-use PCs running Windows 10 version 22H2 in markets where the offer is available. Organization-managed devices and devices covered by enterprise licensing are not the consumer program’s intended audience. Check Microsoft’s eligibility guidance before treating ESU as an option for a work or school PC.
Commercial ESU is a separate licensing program, not the consumer offer described above. Microsoft’s commercial documentation lists a first-year price signal of $61 per device under Volume Licensing, subject to licensing conditions. See Microsoft’s commercial ESU documentation for the applicable terms.
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How to enroll and verify the PC
- Check the Windows version: Open Settings → System → About and confirm the PC is on Windows 10 version 22H2. Install pending Windows updates before trying to enroll.
- Open the enrollment prompt: Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and look for “Enroll now” or the Windows 10 ESU enrollment prompt.
- Sign in and choose an option: Follow the built-in tool. Depending on region and account state, it may offer settings synchronization, Rewards redemption, a purchase or the EEA account-linked route.
- Confirm enrollment: Return to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and look for confirmation that the device is enrolled. If you bought ESU, Microsoft also points users to order history for purchase confirmation.
The prompt’s wording and availability can vary by language, region, Windows build, account status and rollout stage. A PC continuing to boot—or receiving Microsoft Defender updates—does not by itself prove ESU enrollment.
If the enrollment option is missing
- Verify the PC is running Windows 10 22H2 and install all pending Windows updates.
- Check that it is a personal-use device rather than one managed by an organization or school.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account you intend to use for enrollment, then restart and revisit Windows Update.
- Consult the Microsoft ESU page for your region. Microsoft describes availability as a phased rollout through a built-in tool for eligible devices, so the option may not appear on every qualifying PC at once.
If the prompt still does not appear, use Microsoft’s official regional enrollment guidance rather than registry edits, unofficial activation tools or forced-enrollment scripts.
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The end date differs by region
Microsoft’s current regional pages do not show one universal consumer ESU end date. As of October 8, 2026, the U.S. ESU page and Microsoft’s general end-of-support page say the program runs through October 13, 2026. The EEA page currently says coverage continues through October 12, 2027. These dates are presented on different regional pages; do not assume the EEA date applies elsewhere. Check the page for your own region because Microsoft’s terms and dates can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.ESU or an upgrade: what makes sense?
ESU is most useful when a PC still meets a user’s needs but there is a short gap before migration. If the computer meets Windows 11’s hardware requirements, upgrading is the more durable path to ongoing feature and security updates. If it does not, compare the cost and practicality of replacing it or moving to another supported operating system. ESU enrollment does not bypass Windows 11 hardware requirements, and it does not solve compatibility or driver issues.
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Microsoft says users can enroll until the program ends, but a late enrollment does not protect the PC during the time before it is enrolled. Treat ESU as temporary coverage while deciding what to do with the computer, not as a reason to defer that decision indefinitely.
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