Windows 10 support ends October 14, but here's how to get an extra year for free

[ad_1] You've got identified it for some time: Microsoft has decided that it is transferring Home windows 10 to "finish of life" standing beginning on October 14. Meaning whereas Home windows 10 PCs will proceed to work after that date, they will cease getting essential safety updates by default. That leaves you with three selections if you wish to make certain your laptop stays safe:

You'll be able to select to improve to Home windows 11 without spending a dime in case your laptop is appropriate.

You should buy a brand new PC that already has Home windows 11 pre-installed (or go for another, like a Mac or a Chromebook).

Neglect about Home windows 11 proper now and join the Prolonged Safety Updates (ESU), which helps you to kick the can down the highway for a 12 months.

Because the final one is straightforward — and might now be achieved without spending a dime in lots of instances — that is what we're specializing in right here. We'll stroll you thru the steps of maintaining Home windows 10 in your PC… for now, at the least.

How to enroll in Home windows 10 Prolonged Safety Updates in your laptop We are able to query Microsoft's motives for killing off Home windows 10, regardless that it really works completely effectively on most older PCs. However with out these periodic safety updates, your PC will change into more and more prone to malware with every passing week. To that finish, enrolling in Prolonged Safety Updates (ESU) provides you with one other 12 months of utilizing Home windows 10 securely.

At one level, Microsoft steered the 12-month extension would require a $30 price. Whereas that is nonetheless an choice, there's now a free path for Home windows 10 customers within the US. This is easy methods to make it occur.

Step 1: Be certain that your PC is updated You will discover out in case your laptop is up-to-date by going into your Settings > System > About, then scroll all the way down to see what model you are working. If not, you may wish to be sure you additionally set up all of the Home windows 10 updates accessible.

Step 2: Be sure you're utilizing an administrator account In case you share a pc with a number of folks in your family, be sure you're signed in to the administrator account. Sometimes, it is the primary account created on the pc. You will know it is the suitable one while you see "Administrator" underneath the title. (You'll be able to double-check underneath Settings > Your Data.)

Step 3: Confirm in case your PC is eligible to improve to Home windows 11 (or not) In case you see an choice to improve to Home windows 11, simply try this. It is free and it retains you within the Home windows loop. In any other case, proceed following the steps beneath so you'll be able to preserve your laptop protected with safety updates.

Step 4: Enroll in Prolonged Safety Updates Join ESU by deciding on Replace & Safety from the Settings menu. Click on the "Enroll Now" sign-up hyperlink, as pictured beneath. Once more, you might even see an choice to obtain Home windows 11 in case your laptop meets the necessities (once more, positively try this for those who see it).

Discover out if you should replace your laptop. (Screenshot/Engadget)

In case you're not seeing the "Enroll now" hyperlink, you in all probability have to replace and set up the newest Home windows 10 updates (as famous above).

<img alt="By enrolling in Extended Security Updates, you'll have another year before you need to upgrade to Windows 11. (Screenshots/Engadget)" loading="lazy" width="960" height="1161" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="fig-image-round" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/C2o0N1FokAr9ieTlhsEbEg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTExNjE-/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/bb9c0550-a60f-11f0-b7ed-52b616ac3b09"/> By enrolling in Prolonged Safety Updates, you may have one other 12 months earlier than you should improve to Home windows 11. (Screenshots/Engadget)

Step 5: Select your improve methodology Subsequent up is selecting the way you wish to enroll, and you've got just a few choices. The simplest means is to again up your PC settings. It is free, nevertheless it takes just a little little bit of time since you may have to again up your information. Once more, you may should be utilizing your administrator account to get began.

<img alt="Back up your PC before you enroll in ESU. (ExplainingComputers via YouTube)" loading="lazy" width="960" height="540" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="fig-image-round" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IGffcleL3eSW0Z9PyKfKVw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/e52590d0-a60f-11f0-96ff-415266e25201"/> Again up your PC earlier than you enroll in ESU. (ExplainingComputers by way of YouTube)

That stated, the free choice right here comes with two catches, at the least for customers within the US. (European customers will get the free choice with no strings connected.) The primary is that you will be linking your Home windows login to Microsoft's cloud-based on-line service. Most customers have seemingly already achieved this (in the event that they're utilizing CoPilot, Workplace 365, GamePass, OneDrive or certainly one of Microsoft's different varied on-line providers). However for those who've particularly opted for an area login to Home windows, the worth you are paying for this "free" extension is becoming a member of the cloud-connected Microsoft universe.

The opposite potential situation is that the free backup solely applies to the primary 5 GB of storage. Something extra, and also you’ll have to pay up for Microsoft's OneDrive providers. However fortunately, you'll be able to flip off something you do not wish to again up by going to Settings > OneDrive and toggling off choices like Paperwork, Footage and Movies to get in underneath the free threshold to begin.

When you're signed in, a window will pop up that claims "Add this gadget to obtain Prolonged Safety Updates." Click on Add Gadget to enroll it. Click on Completed.

A notice: Because of YouTube's Explaining Computer systems channel, the place we grabbed the screenshot above (since our check PC was already signed up for cloud backups, and did not present the splash display to decide on choices). You'll be able to watch their full video if you would like a deeper dive into the method.

That is it, you are achieved! (Till subsequent 12 months) You've got bought 12 extra months to determine another improve path to Home windows 11. If something adjustments subsequent 12 months, we'll replace this story with what your subsequent steps are.

<img alt="This confirms you've enrolled in ESU through October next year. (Screenshot/Engadget)" loading="lazy" width="960" height="1201" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="fig-image-round" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/MtaqhvD.AujxoGlmgML4Lw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyMDE-/https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-10/2bfb6a70-a610-11f0-bdff-705bbe2f0f40"/> You probably did it proper for those who see this window. (Screenshot/Engadget)