Microsoft keeps saying that Windows 10 is on borrowed time — support officially ends this October — but it also keeps finding ways to let people stay on it. The latest move? Making it far easier (and cheaper) for households to keep using Windows 10 for a couple more years.
As Windows Central spotted, Microsoft quietly updated its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumers: one signup now covers up to ten devices. That’s a big jump from what was assumed to be a one-PC license. If you’re the “IT person” for your whole family, this essentially buys everyone another year of security updates for free — or for not much money.
The ESU program stretches Windows 10’s lifespan until October 13, 2026 and can be joined in three ways:
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Free, if you’re using Windows Backup to sync your settings.
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$30/year, paid directly to Microsoft.
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1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, which is about as close to free as you can get if you already rack them up.
You’ll only see the option if your PC is running Windows 10 22H2, fully updated, and signed into a Microsoft account. That last part is new — local account users will be nudged (or pushed) into signing in with a Microsoft account to enroll.
The takeaway? Microsoft is still eager to move people to Windows 11, but it also knows millions aren’t ready or able to make the jump. So, it’s offering a longer runway — just one that keeps you tethered to its account ecosystem.