I’m still rocking Windows 10, and was planning to keep using it until the very last minute. It’s not entirely due to stubbornness or a strong desire to continue using the operating system I’ve called home for ten years. A combination of muddled BIOS and drive configurations means that upgrading to Windows 11 is a pain, one that I’ve been ignoring for so long.
And now, with the crunch moment swerving strongly into view as we approach the end of Windows 10, Microsoft has thrown me a giant bone.
If you’re like me and want to continue using Windows 10 for a bit longer, you need to act now to guarantee another year of Windows 10 support, keeping Windows 11 from the proverbial operating system upgrade door for a while longer.
You have less than a month to claim more Windows 10 support
Join the Microsoft ESU scheme now
That’s right, folks: act now, or lose it for good. Windows 10 support officially ends on October 14, 2025. However, Microsoft has apparently recognized that many folks aren’t quite ready to leave Windows 10 behind, and is giving us the opportunity to grab an extra year of support.
That is, so long as you claim the year of support before October 14.
Microsoft first announced its extra year of support would cost $30. To me, that didn’t actually sound all that bad, and it was one of the main options to keep using Windows 10 safely. But others were definitely not so keen on this, and Microsoft backtracked.
Now, we have a new Windows 10 support program that delivers security updates for another year, giving us time to get our houses in order. It’s not like we’ve had years of notifications or anything. It’s worth noting that this is just a security update; Microsoft won’t suddenly unveil a new Windows 10 feature it has kept up its sleeve until now.
It only takes a few clicks
The process of claiming the extra year of Windows 10 support is straightforward. You need to join the Microsoft Extended Security Update scheme.
- Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
- Head to Updates & Security > Windows Update.
- Under the Windows 10 support ends in October 2025 header, select Enrol now.
- In the new window, select Next.
- Now, you’ll be presented with the option to enroll in the scheme at “no extra cost.” Select Enrol.
Once complete, your Windows 10 installation will receive protection until October 13, 2026. You’ll continue to receive Windows security updates through that period, the same as usual.
If you don’t see the option to join the Microsoft Extended Security Update scheme, make sure Windows 10 is completely updated. You’ll need the August 2025 KB5063709 update installed to see the new enrolment options.
Microsoft still wants something in exchange
You may end up paying the 30 bucks anyway
Now, here’s the rub. Once you enrol, Microsoft will present you with some options to “pay” for your year of additional support. At least, it should do. The option didn’t appear in my enrolment process, and I can’t see that I’ve paid elsewhere. However, I’m enrolled in the scheme, so good times for me, I suppose. The confirmation message “Your PC is enrolled to get Extended Security Updates” is present in the corner of Windows Update, which is a good sign.
Otherwise, Microsoft asks for 1,000 Microsoft Reward points, which you can pick up by using Edge, Copilot, and completing tasks on your Microsoft Reward account. Alternatively, you can opt to sync Windows Backup with OneDrive, a move that will likely mean you need to extend your OneDrive storage.
Alternatively, if you’d rather not do either, you can still pay the $30 to join the ESU scheme and be done with it all. If you don’t want to muck around earning Microsoft Reward points, it’s a quick option that removes the hassle.
It’s time to move on from Windows 10
In 2026, I mean
Just remember that it’s only for one year. It seems unlikely that Microsoft will offer another extended year of support for regular folks in 2026. While the company does offer support to large businesses stuck using older Windows versions, this support doesn’t extend to those that could move but choose not to do so.
So, from here, it’s time to start tidying up your Windows 10 installation and finally get ready to upgrade to Windows 11!
