In October 2025, Microsoft is officially ending support for Windows 10. Feature updates will stop, and only those enrolled in the Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESU) scheme will continue to receive security updates.
Microsoft is clear: it’s time to move on.
However, one company is taking matters into its own hands, offering five years of Windows 10 security patches compared to Microsoft’s one, and all you need to do is sign up and download its software.
0patch is your ticket to keep using Windows 10
At least, that’s how it seems
The big problem with Microsoft ending Windows 10 support is the lack of security updates. Windows 10 feature updates slowed to a crawl throughout 2024 as Microsoft switched full-time focus to Windows 11. But the security patches kept coming, making sure that all of us Windows 10 users remain safe.
0patch is stepping into this void with its “micropatch” approach, targeting the vulnerabilities and issues that appear on Windows 10 after Microsoft abandons ship.
The goal of 0patch is not to micropatch every vulnerability but the important ones, such as those exploited in the wild or those without official vendor patches.
0patch is free for personal use. You install its software, 0patch Agent, from which you can apply specific patches to Windows 10. The company is aiming to provide micropatches to Windows 10 for up to five years, which is a huge lifeline for the many people who can’t leave Windows 10 (or just don’t want to).
A recent 0patch update also brought more good news: the tool will also patch and secure Office 2016 and Office 2019, as Microsoft is also dropping support for these tools in October 2025. In both cases, 0patch will offer three more years of support, which is great if you don’t want to move to Microsoft 365 just yet.
Install 0patch and sign in
It’s a simple installation process
Installing 0patch is a straightforward process, similar to installing any other Windows software.
- You’ll first need to make a 0patch account.
- Once you’re registered, download 0patch Agent.
- Follow the installation instructions on the screen. It’s a standard installation process.
- After the installation finishes, 0patch Agent should open automatically.
You’ll need to sign in to 0patch Agent with the account credentials you created.
0patch Agent automatically starts patching Windows 10
So many patches
After you sign in, 0patch Agent gets to work immediately, “fixing what’s really important.”
The 0patch Agent dashboard gives you a good overview of the vulnerabilities and programs being patched, too. On my dashboard, it shows that 58 applications were patched, with 49 patches applied. I should note that this is on a fresh Windows 10 installation in a virtual machine, without any other software installed.
So, once installed on a full-time Windows 10 installation, the results from the dashboard may vary, as 0patch finds more programs and tools to secure.
What I like about 0patch Agent, though, is that it applies the patches to Windows 10 without dallying about. The patches apply almost instantly, and you don’t need to restart your machine for them to take effect.
Now, I’d still advise restarting your PC after installing patches, as that’s the best course of action. But the 0patch documentation says you don’t have to.
Should you use 0patch or Microsoft’s ESU?
Or, can you choose both?
The countdown to the end of Windows 10 has brought patching processes to the fore, as many people wish to keep using the now decade-old operating system. Doing so does come with some considerable risks, specifically around security, as Microsoft withdraws its support. Well, mostly withdraws it.
As is, joining Microsoft’s Extended Security Update program is one of the most popular ways to keep using Windows 10, especially now that the company has made it essentially free until October 2026. You just need to remember to sign up to the scheme before October 14, 2025, or you won’t be able to at all.
However, that’s the beauty and power of 0patch and 0patch Agent. If you miss that October 14 deadline, you can opt for 0patch and its micropatches instead, which the company will deliver until the end of the decade.
Furthermore, as 0patch is free for personal use, there really isn’t any harm in signing up and seeing if it’s the right method for you, or if it really is time for you to jump ship to Windows 11 at long last.
