Windows 10 ESU Now Runs to October 2027 — What to Check

Windows 10 security updates for home users do not stop on October 13, 2026. Microsoft extended the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program by a year, and it now ends on October 12, 2027. If your PC is already enrolled, you don't need to do anything: Microsoft's ESU page (opens in a new tab) says coverage "will automatically continue through that date—no action needed." If it isn't enrolled, you can still enroll today, for free or for a one-time $30.

Many guides and some forum answers still say the program ends in October 2026. Those were written before the change. Everything below was checked against Microsoft's own pages on October 11, 2026.

What changed and when

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Since then, the only way for a home PC to keep getting security fixes has been the consumer ESU program, which originally covered one year.

Microsoft has since moved the end date. Its consumer ESU page (opens in a new tab) now says:

You can enroll "any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027."
Devices that are already enrolled keep receiving updates through that date with no action needed.
The ways to enroll are the same as before (see below).

Microsoft made the change on its support pages rather than in a big announcement, which is why many articles and answers you will find still use the old October 2026 deadline.

ESU only covers security. Microsoft's page is explicit that enrollment "does not provide other types of fixes, feature improvements, or product enhancements" and "does not come with technical support."

How to check if your PC is enrolled

There are two quick checks. Do both if you are unsure.

1. Look at Windows Update

Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
If your PC is enrolled, Windows Update shows your ESU status there. Microsoft's page says this is where you can "check your enrollment status anytime."
If you see an Enroll now link instead, your PC is not enrolled yet. Skip to How to enroll.

If you paid the $30, the purchase also appears in your Microsoft Store order history (opens in a new tab).

2. Check your Windows build number

The monthly updates released after October 2025 only install on enrolled PCs; Microsoft lists them as applying to "Windows 10 ESU." So your build number shows whether ESU updates are actually arriving.

Right-click Start, choose Settings, select System, then About (Microsoft's instructions (opens in a new tab)).
Under Windows specifications, read the Version and OS build.

OS Build you see	What it means
19045.7725 or higher	You have the September 2026 ESU update (KB5122878 (opens in a new tab)) or its September 14 fix (opens in a new tab) (19045.7727). ESU is working.
19045.6575 to 19045.7663	You have some ESU updates, but not the latest. Open Windows Update and select Check for updates.
19045.6466 or lower	No ESU update has installed. Your PC is likely not enrolled, or enrollment failed.

Build numbers are from Microsoft's Windows 10, version 22H2 update history (opens in a new tab) as of October 11, 2026. A new update is due each month, so the "latest" number will go up. Microsoft releases each update with a matching 19044 build for version 21H2, so the number after the dot is what to compare.

How to enroll in Windows 10 ESU

Requirements

According to Microsoft's ESU page (opens in a new tab), your PC needs:

Windows 10, version 22H2 in the Home, Pro, Pro Education, or Pro for Workstations edition
The latest Windows updates installed
The ESU Licensing Preparation Package, KB5126256 (opens in a new tab), released September 8, 2026
An administrator account signed in with a Microsoft account that is not a child account

Enrollment is not offered on PCs in kiosk mode, PCs joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra, or PCs managed by work or school device management (MDM). PCs that are only "Microsoft Entra registered" can still use the consumer program.

Steps

Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install everything offered. Restart if asked.
Select Enroll now.
If you normally sign in with a local account, Windows asks you to sign in with a Microsoft account. The ESU license is tied to that account.
Pick one of the three ways to enroll:
- Free: back up your PC settings to your Microsoft account. If you already back up settings, you only need to confirm.
- 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
- One-time purchase of $30 (or the local equivalent, plus tax)
After enrollment, go back to Windows Update and select Check for updates to pull down the ESU updates you missed.

Every option covers you through October 12, 2027. One license covers up to 10 PCs: on each extra PC, sign in with the same Microsoft account, open Windows Update, select Enroll now, then Add device.

Which option should you pick?

Option	Cost	What you give up
Back up PC settings	Free	Your Windows settings sync to your Microsoft account
Rewards points	1,000 points	Points that could go toward other rewards; Rewards orders are final
One-time purchase	$30 plus tax	Money; refunds follow Microsoft's digital purchase policy for your country

If you are happy using a Microsoft account, the free settings backup is the obvious choice. If you want to keep a local account, the $30 purchase is the option designed for that, at least in Europe (see below).

Can you enroll with a local account?

Not completely. Every option requires signing in with a Microsoft account at least once, because the ESU license is tied to the account you enroll with. If you use a local account, Windows asks you to sign in during enrollment.

What happens after that depends on where you live. In Europe, Microsoft says the $30 purchase "allows continued use of a local account (no sign in with a Microsoft account required other than to make the purchase)," while the free option requires you to stay signed in. Microsoft's U.S. page doesn't say whether you can switch back to a local account after enrolling.

If you live in Europe

Enrollment options differ in the European Economic Area. On Microsoft's Irish ESU page (opens in a new tab), enrollment is free as long as you stay signed in to the PC with the Microsoft account you enrolled with. If you stop signing in with it, "ESU updates will be discontinued for your device after a period of time, up to 60 days," and you have to enroll again. The $30 purchase lets you keep using a local account. Microsoft's U.S. page doesn't mention the 60-day rule.

When "Enroll now" is not showing or enrollment fails

Microsoft's page says the Enroll now link appears in Windows Update only "if your device meets the prerequisites." So a missing link almost always means one requirement isn't met yet. Work through these in order.

Check your version. Open Settings > System > About. ESU only works on version 22H2, so update to 22H2 first if you are on an older version.
Install all updates, then restart. The preparation package KB5126256 installs only after an October 14, 2025 or later security update, such as KB5066791 (Microsoft's KB5126256 page (opens in a new tab)). Microsoft notes the PC restarts automatically after the package installs. If you can see "Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package for Windows 10 (KB5126256)" under View update history, that step is done.
Use an administrator account. Microsoft requires the signed-in Microsoft account to be an administrator.
A child's PC. A child account can't enroll. Microsoft's page says the parent has to be a user on that PC, set up as an administrator, and enroll it from their own account.
Work or school management. If the PC is joined to a company domain or managed by a company's device management (MDM), the consumer program won't be offered. A personal PC that is only "Entra registered" is still eligible.
The enrollment wizard fails partway. In November 2025, Microsoft released KB5071959 (opens in a new tab) because "the enrollment wizard may fail during enrollment." It is offered to PCs that are not enrolled. Install it from Windows Update, restart, and run Enroll now again.

If none of this works, contact Microsoft Support (opens in a new tab).

Should you enroll or move to Windows 11?

ESU buys time, not a fix. After October 12, 2027, enrolled PCs stop receiving security updates too, and no further consumer extension has been announced.

Enrolling doesn't block an upgrade. Microsoft's FAQ says you can still move to Windows 11 later if your PC meets the requirements. If your PC can't run Windows 11, ESU is the only way to keep it patched until October 2027. If it can, enrolling now still makes sense: it costs nothing with the settings backup and protects you until you are ready to upgrade.

FAQ

Do I need to re-enroll in Windows 10 ESU for 2027?

No. Microsoft's ESU page says that if you are already enrolled, "your coverage will automatically continue through that date—no action needed." In Europe, keep signing in with the Microsoft account you enrolled with, or updates can stop after up to 60 days.

Is Windows 10 ESU still free?

Yes, as of October 2026. The free route is backing up your PC settings to your Microsoft account. The other routes are 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time $30 purchase.

Can I still enroll after October 13, 2026?

Yes. Enrollment stays open until the program ends on October 12, 2027. Once enrolled, your PC receives all the critical and important security updates released since October 14, 2025.

How many PCs does one ESU license cover?

Up to 10 Windows 10 PCs using the same Microsoft account. Each PC still has to meet the requirements and be enrolled from its own Windows Update page.

Does every user on the PC need to enroll?

No. Microsoft's FAQ says that once any user on a Windows 10 PC enrolls, the other users on that PC are covered too.

Does this extension apply to businesses?

No. The change covers the consumer program for personal devices. Organizations use the separate commercial ESU program, which Microsoft documents for IT administrators.