Microsoft extends free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates to October 2027
Anyone still on Windows 10 just got a reprieve. Microsoft $MSFT quietly extended free security updates to October 2027, a year past the prior cutoff. Eligible 22H2 PCs can enroll via Windows Backup, 1,000 Rewards points, or a $30 license, dodging a near-term patch cliff.
Anyone still running Windows 10 just got an unexpected extra year of protection. Microsoft $MSFT has extended its free Extended Security Updates program for the operating system through October 12, 2027, pushing the deadline a full year beyond the previous October 2026 cutoff. The change surfaced quietly, through an update to Microsoft's support documentation and an editor's note on a company blog post, rather than a formal announcement. For consumers, enrollment remains free for eligible devices running Windows 10 version 22H2. Users can qualify by syncing their PC settings with Windows Backup at no cost, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or by paying $30 for a one-year license. The extension matters because a large share of PCs worldwide still run Windows 10, and many cannot upgrade to Windows 11 due to its stricter hardware requirements. Without continued security patches, those machines would face a growing risk of unpatched vulnerabilities. The extra year gives households, schools, and IT departments more breathing room to plan hardware replacements instead of confronting a sudden security cliff. According to reporting from BleepingComputer and Help Net Security.