Microsoft makes Windows 10 extended security updates free
Ammon News - Microsoft revealed last year that it will charge consumers $30 for a year of extra security updates to Windows 10. Now, it's allowing consumers to enroll into its Extended Security Updates (ESU) free of charge ahead of the Windows 10 end of support on October 14th. But there's a catch.
Consumers will have three options to get ESU on their personal Windows 10 PCs, and the free option involves enabling Windows Backup to sync your settings and folders to the cloud. Windows Backup uses OneDrive, so while it's possible to stay below the 5GB of free storage, if you have a lot of files stored locally in the Documents folder then you'd need to purchase additional space for Windows Backup to work fully. That's the catch for free extended updates on Windows 10.
The other two options to get ESU on Windows 10 involve paying the $30 fee for a year of updates, or redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Reward points. Microsoft is adding an enrollment wizard to Windows 10 in July that will have these three options. 'Once you select an option and follow the on-screen steps, your PC will automatically be enrolled,' says Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft.
Consumers will only get extended security updates for Windows 10 until October 13th, 2026, but businesses have the option to purchase up to three years of important security updates. Microsoft is also making ESU free for Windows 10 devices that are accessing Windows 11 Cloud PCs through its Windows 365 and Virtual Machines.
Microsoft really wants people to stop using Windows 10, and has already called 2025 'the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh.' Windows 11 became the most popular OS for PC gaming late last year, but 37 percent of Steam users are still using Windows 10 right now. Microsoft only has a few months left to convince Windows 10 users to upgrade or switch PCs, so I'd expect to see more full-screen prompts to alert consumers about the end of support cutoff. The Verge
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Microsoft Offers Free Windows 10 Updates — But With a Hidden Catch! - Jordan News
In a surprising move, Microsoft has announced that it will offer free Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 users ahead of the official end-of-support deadline on October 14, 2025. This marks a reversal of its earlier plan, which required users to pay $30 annually for the updates. اضافة اعلان However, the new 'free' offer comes with a significant condition: users must activate the Windows Backup tool to back up their settings and folders using Microsoft's OneDrive cloud service. This is where the potential 'hidden cost' lies—OneDrive offers only 5 GB of free storage. As a result, users with a large amount of local data—especially in the "Documents" folder—may need to purchase additional cloud storage to ensure smooth operation of the backup feature. This could turn the free updates into an indirect cost. Microsoft now offers three ways for personal Windows 10 device users to access the Extended Security Updates (ESU): Free Option: By activating Windows Backup and using OneDrive for backup. Direct Payment: Pay $30 per year for updates. Rewards Program: Redeem 1,000 points from the Microsoft Rewards program. The company plans to roll out a dedicated tool in July to help users choose one of these options and register for the program automatically. It's worth noting that consumer ESU updates will continue until October 13, 2026, while organizations can extend updates for up to three more years for a fee. Devices running Windows 10 that are used to access cloud-based Windows 11 environments (like Windows 365 and Virtual Machines) will also receive these updates for free. Clearly, Microsoft is pushing hard for users to transition to Windows 11, calling 2025 the 'Windows 11 PC Refresh Year,' despite the current global dominance of Windows 10.
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Microsoft makes Windows 10 extended security updates free
Ammon News - Microsoft revealed last year that it will charge consumers $30 for a year of extra security updates to Windows 10. Now, it's allowing consumers to enroll into its Extended Security Updates (ESU) free of charge ahead of the Windows 10 end of support on October 14th. But there's a catch. Consumers will have three options to get ESU on their personal Windows 10 PCs, and the free option involves enabling Windows Backup to sync your settings and folders to the cloud. Windows Backup uses OneDrive, so while it's possible to stay below the 5GB of free storage, if you have a lot of files stored locally in the Documents folder then you'd need to purchase additional space for Windows Backup to work fully. That's the catch for free extended updates on Windows 10. The other two options to get ESU on Windows 10 involve paying the $30 fee for a year of updates, or redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Reward points. Microsoft is adding an enrollment wizard to Windows 10 in July that will have these three options. 'Once you select an option and follow the on-screen steps, your PC will automatically be enrolled,' says Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft. Consumers will only get extended security updates for Windows 10 until October 13th, 2026, but businesses have the option to purchase up to three years of important security updates. Microsoft is also making ESU free for Windows 10 devices that are accessing Windows 11 Cloud PCs through its Windows 365 and Virtual Machines. Microsoft really wants people to stop using Windows 10, and has already called 2025 'the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh.' Windows 11 became the most popular OS for PC gaming late last year, but 37 percent of Steam users are still using Windows 10 right now. Microsoft only has a few months left to convince Windows 10 users to upgrade or switch PCs, so I'd expect to see more full-screen prompts to alert consumers about the end of support cutoff. The Verge
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