How to get free Windows 10 security patches until October 2027 - and avoid the $30 fee

Key Points:

• Microsoft has extended free Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 PCs until October 12, 2027, two years beyond the original end-of-support date, allowing users to continue receiving critical security updates without upgrading to Windows 11.
• To qualify for free personal ESU updates, users must enroll with a Microsoft account on Windows 10 version 22H2 Home, Professional, Pro Education, or Workstation editions; Enterprise and Education editions, as well as domain-joined or managed devices, are not eligible.
• European Economic Area (EEA) customers automatically qualify for free ESU subscriptions without needing a Microsoft account, while users outside Europe can activate free ESU by syncing Windows Backup settings to the cloud or redeeming Microsoft Rewards points, otherwise a $30 fee applies.
• Once activated, the ESU subscription remains valid on a PC even if the Microsoft account used for enrollment is changed or removed, and users can apply the subscription to up to 10 devices using the same account.
• Business and enterprise customers must pay for commercial ESU subscriptions starting at $61 per device per year, with prices increasing annually, as free personal ESU options are not available for managed business environments.