Checked October 2, 2026 against Microsoft’s consumer ESU pages. We did not enroll or test a device; this is a decision guide built only from Microsoft’s published terms.
Short answer
Windows 10 support has ended, but a PC enrolled in consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) keeps receiving critical and important security updates through October 12, 2027. Before you buy a replacement because of an older deadline you remember, find out which of three cases your PC is in.
You can check your enrollment status anytime in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If you purchased ESU, your order also appears in your Order History.
Three cases
1. Already enrolled. Coverage continues automatically through October 12, 2027. Nothing to do.
2. Not enrolled, but eligible. You can enroll any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027, but Microsoft notes that devices are more vulnerable to viruses and malware until they are enrolled. On an eligible PC, Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update shows an enrollment link. There are three ways to enroll:
| Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| You sync your PC Settings | no additional cost |
| Microsoft Rewards | 1,000 points |
| One-time purchase | $30 USD or the local-currency equivalent, plus applicable tax |
3. Not eligible. Consumer ESU can’t be used in commercial scenarios, so enrollment is not offered for devices in kiosk mode or devices joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra, or enrolled in mobile device management. Options and timing can also vary by region — Microsoft names the European Economic Area as an example. For a device managed by an organization, ESU is a matter for its IT team; Microsoft points IT professionals to a separate guide, "Enable Extended Security Updates (ESU)." If consumer ESU isn’t available in your area, Microsoft’s first suggestion is to check whether the PC can upgrade to Windows 11.
Eligibility checklist
- Windows 10, version 22H2 (Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations)
- The latest Windows updates installed
- The ESU Licensing Preparation Package (KB5126256)
- The Microsoft account used to sign in to the device is an administrator account (the ESU license is tied to the account used to enroll)
- Not a child account
If you normally sign in with a local account, you may be prompted to sign in with a Microsoft account during enrollment.
What ESU does not give you
ESU delivers critical and important security updates as defined by the Microsoft Security Response Center. It does not include other fixes, feature improvements or technical support. What it buys is time: enrolling turns "replace now" into "replace on your own schedule before October 2027", and the replacement budget can be planned separately.
Sources (read October 2, 2026): Microsoft, Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates — https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates · Korean version — https://www.microsoft.com/ko-kr/windows/extended-security-updates