Microsoft Offers One Year of Free Windows 10 Security Updates But There's A Catch
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Microsoft confirmed it will keep pushing security updates to Windows 10 through October 13, 2026, well past the official support cut-off date of October 14, 2025. But there’s a catch: users have to give something back.
Microsoft now offers three ways to keep Windows 10 secure for another year. First, users can enable the Windows Backup feature, which syncs settings and key folders to OneDrive. That only works if the backup stays within the 5GB free tier, as extra data means paying for more storage.
Second, Microsoft Rewards members can trade in 1,000 points to enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Those points accumulate from using Bing or shopping through Microsoft’s ecosystem.
Third, users can pay $30 per device for one year of updates.
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An enrollment tool launches in July and will roll out to all Windows 10 devices by mid-August. It will guide users through the process, with Microsoft accounts required for participation.
For businesses, nothing changes: they’ll have to pay for the ESU regardless. Organizations running Windows 10 on Cloud PCs or in virtual machines also qualify for the updates, but under enterprise pricing plans.
Microsoft still insists that 2025 is the year for Windows 11 adoption. But many users haven’t budged. Steam’s June survey shows over 36% still use Windows 10. That number is even higher among general desktop users.
This move is clearly meant to buy time for both users and Microsoft. But it also pushes more people into its cloud ecosystem, one sync at a time.
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