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How to Enroll Windows 10 in Extended Security Updates

By PcFixin' · July 17, 2026 · Windows · Windows 10, Extended Security Updates, Windows Update

Check your PC’s eligibility, enroll through Windows Update, and keep receiving critical Windows 10 security fixes through October 2026.

What Windows 10 ESU does

Regular support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. That does not make your computer stop working, but without new security patches, newly discovered weaknesses can remain open for malware and attackers to exploit.

Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates program, usually shortened to ESU, gives eligible Windows 10 PCs critical and important security updates through October 13, 2026. It is a one-year safety bridge for people who need more time before replacing their computer or moving to Windows 11.

ESU does not include new features, general technical support, or most non-security fixes. You should still keep your web browser, antivirus software, and other programs updated. Think of ESU as continued repair work on Windows’ most serious security holes—not a full extension of normal Windows 10 support.

Check whether your PC is eligible

These instructions assume you have a personal PC running Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro Education, or Pro for Workstations, version 22H2. Business-managed computers may use a separate commercial ESU program, while Enterprise LTSC editions follow their own support schedule.

1. Press Windows key + R, type winver, and select OK.
2. In the window that appears, look for “Version 22H2.” The OS build should begin with 19045. Select OK when you are finished.
3. Open Settings, choose Update & Security, and then select Windows Update.
4. Install every available update, including any restart Windows requests. Return to Windows Update afterward and check again until no required updates remain.
5. Make sure you can use an administrator account on the PC. The consumer enrollment process also uses a Microsoft account, which is an online account associated with an email address rather than a local account that exists only on the computer.

Enroll through Windows Update

On an eligible, fully updated PC, Windows Update displays an ESU enrollment option. Microsoft has adjusted the wording during the program’s rollout, so the button may say “Enroll now,” “Enroll in Extended Security Updates,” or something similar.

Depending on your region and account, you may be offered one or more enrollment choices: pay a one-time fee of $30 or the local equivalent, redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or enroll at no additional cost by using Windows Backup to sync eligible PC settings to your Microsoft account. Taxes and availability can vary by location.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Find the Extended Security Updates message and select the enrollment link or button.
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account if Windows asks. Use an account you control and expect to keep, because the ESU enrollment is associated with it.
4. Choose one of the enrollment options shown on your PC. If you select the Windows Backup option, follow the prompts to sync the requested settings. If you choose payment or Rewards points, review and complete the on-screen transaction.
5. Continue through the wizard until Windows reports that enrollment is complete. Restart the PC if requested.

If the enrollment option is missing

First, confirm that winver shows Windows 10 version 22H2 and that Windows Update has installed everything available. The ESU offer may not appear if an update is waiting for a restart, the PC is managed by an employer or school, or your account lacks administrator permission.

Also check Settings > Update & Security > Activation and confirm that Windows is activated. If Windows Update reports an error, fix that problem before looking for ESU again. Do not buy unofficial “ESU keys” from marketplace sellers; the reliable consumer enrollment path is the offer built into Windows Update.

If your PC supports Windows 11, Windows Update may promote that upgrade prominently. You can still look through the page for the Windows 10 ESU enrollment message if you prefer to remain on Windows 10 temporarily.

Confirm that protection is active

Return to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update after enrollment. The page should show that the PC is enrolled in Extended Security Updates or otherwise confirm ESU status. The precise wording can differ as Microsoft updates the page.

Select Check for updates and install anything offered. Later, you can select View update history and look under Quality Updates for monthly security updates installed after October 14, 2025. ESU does not deliver every fix immediately upon enrollment; updates arrive through the normal monthly Windows Update schedule.

Keep automatic updates enabled and leave enough free storage for installations. If your Microsoft account covers multiple eligible personal PCs, repeat the enrollment steps on each computer; Microsoft allows the consumer ESU benefit to be used on up to ten devices linked to the same account.

Bottom line

If your Windows 10 PC is on version 22H2, fully updated, activated, and successfully enrolled through Windows Update, it can continue receiving critical security fixes until October 13, 2026. ESU buys useful time, but start planning your eventual move to Windows 11 or a newer PC now.