Still on Windows 10? The Security Update Date Moved to 2027
Microsoft extended consumer Windows 10 security updates to October 12, 2027. Who is covered, how to enroll and how to ignore pop-ups and upgrade sellers.
If you read last year that Windows 10 security updates would end in October 2026, you may be surprised your PC is still patching. Microsoft moved the date. The real risk now is a machine that never enrolled, and strangers who exploit the confusion.
What changed, and when
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 14, 2025 | Windows 10 reached end of support |
| October 2026 (original plan) | The first consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) period was due to end |
| June 25, 2026 | Microsoft updated its documentation to extend the program, as BleepingComputer reported |
| October 12, 2027 | New end date for consumer ESU |
Microsoft’s ESU page now says, “You can enroll in ESU any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027.” It adds that enrolled devices keep coverage through that date automatically. If you enrolled last year, there is nothing to do.
Check your own PC
On the PC, go to Settings, Update and Security, Windows Update. Microsoft says the enroll option appears there for eligible machines. Read what the page says. Do this on the computer itself, not through a link that someone sent you.
What you need to qualify
From Microsoft’s ESU page:
- Windows 10, version 22H2, in the Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations edition
- The latest Windows update installed, including the licensing preparation package named on the page
- A Microsoft account with administrator rights on the device (a child account can’t be used)
Kiosk-mode devices, PCs joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra, and devices enrolled in mobile device management are not offered this consumer route. If your laptop belongs to an employer, ask its IT team.
Three ways to enroll, all from Microsoft
Sync settings
Free, if you sync your PC settings to your Microsoft account.
Rewards points
Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
One-time purchase
$30 USD or the local equivalent, plus tax. One license can cover up to 10 devices.
The important limit: ESU supplies only “critical and important security updates.” It doesn’t add features or technical support. So a Microsoft support agent won’t be helping you with Windows 10 problems, and anyone who says otherwise is making it up.
What to do with those pop-ups and calls
An unsupported system is a useful excuse for a scammer: “Your Windows has expired, call this number.” Microsoft’s scam guidance gives two statements you can rely on:
- “Unless you contact us first, Microsoft won’t call you to offer tech support.”
- “Real error messages from Microsoft, or other big tech companies, never include phone numbers for you to call them.”
If a browser window fills the screen with a warning and a number, close it with Alt+F4 or restart the computer. Microsoft lets you report the attempt at microsoft.com/reportascam. Our laptop setup guide shows how to reduce those pop-ups on a relative’s machine, and our piece on fake browser updates covers a similar trap.
Should you upgrade instead?
ESU buys time. It doesn’t change the fact that Windows 10 is out of support. Microsoft’s support page lists three paths:
| Your PC | Path | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Meets Windows 11 requirements | Free upgrade, offered through Windows Update on 22H2 | Back up first; check under Settings, Update and Security |
| Doesn’t meet requirements but works fine | Enroll in ESU, plan a replacement before October 2027 | A year’s breathing room; don’t let it slide |
| Old, slow or failing | Replace it; check Microsoft’s trade-in and recycling options on its support page | Wipe it before it leaves your hands |
Holiday sales make this a reasonable time to shop, if you buy from a store you trust. Our guide to vetting an unfamiliar store is worth a look before you chase a deal on a laptop.
For the older relative you check on
Many of the people most likely to still be running Windows 10 also get the most scam calls. At your next visit, confirm enrollment, confirm the PC is installing updates, and leave a note by the computer: “Microsoft will not call you. Don’t call a number on the screen. Call me.” It’s plain, and it works better than a lecture.
What we could not confirm
Microsoft’s own pages show the October 12, 2027 date. We could not find a formal press announcement of the change; the June 25, 2026 date comes from reporting on Microsoft’s documentation. Microsoft’s terms can change again, so check the ESU page near the time you make any decision.
Before you click anything labeled “enroll”
Scam sites like to borrow the words people are already searching for, so expect ads and emails using “ESU” and “Windows 10 extension.” Three checks settle almost all of them. The enrollment option lives in Windows Update on your own PC, so a website isn’t needed. The free route needs only a Microsoft account and settings sync, so a demand for a card number on an unknown page is wrong. And Microsoft’s own page lists the only paid option as a one-time purchase of $30, so anything sold as a monthly plan or a remote “installation service” isn’t what Microsoft describes.
If you do choose the $30 option, complete it from the enrollment screen in Windows Update, then confirm on that same screen that the PC shows as enrolled. Screenshots of a receipt from a third-party site don’t enroll a computer.
Keep backing up in the meantime. Security updates don’t protect against hardware failure, and a backup also makes the eventual move to a new PC far easier. Whichever path you pick, write the October 12, 2027 date on the calendar with a reminder for the preceding summer, so that the next deadline doesn’t arrive as a surprise.