What is Windows ESU?

iGuRu.gr > What is Windows ESU?

The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 provides customers with a more secure option to continue using Windows 10 PCs after October 14, 2025, while they transition to Windows 11. The ESU program helps reduce the risk of malware and cyberattacks by providing access to critical and important security updates as determined by the Microsoft security response center (MSRC) for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2. Enrolling for ESU does not provide other types of fixes, feature enhancements, or product improvements. It also does not come with technical support.

The last day of support for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025. If you need more time to upgrade to Windows 11, we recommend enrolling your Windows 10 PC in ESU. You can enroll in ESU at any time until the program ends on October 13, 2026.

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Windows 10 ESU prerequisites

To enroll in the Windows 10 ESU for consumers program, make sure your device meets the following requirements:

Devices must be running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home, Professional, Pro Education, or Workstations edition.
Devices must have the latest Windows update installed. Learn how to install Windows updates.
The account used to log in to the device must be an administrator account.
- The ESU license will be associated with the Microsoft account used to register. To register, you will be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account if you usually sign in to Windows with a local account.
The Microsoft account cannot be a child account.

The Consumer ESU program cannot be used on commercial devices. Consumer ESU enrollment will not be offered on devices in the following cases:

Devices in information center mode.
Devices that are joined to an Active Directory domain or that are connected to Microsoft Entra.
- However, devices that are registered in Microsoft Entra can use the ESU program for consumers.
Devices enrolled in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
Devices that already have an ESU license.

If a device is enrolled in the Consumer ESU program and then participates in one of the Commercial ESU scenarios listed above, the device's Consumer ESU enrollment will be suspended until it is no longer used as a commercial device.

If you're an IT professional and need to enable ESU for your organization, see Enable Extended Security Updates (ESU).

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?

A Microsoft Account is required to enroll in ESU for consumers. If you are already signed in to your computer with a Microsoft account, you will be eligible to enroll in ESU at no additional cost as long as you remain signed in to your computer with the same account.

If you are signed in with a local account, you will be prompted to sign in with a Microsoft account. Once you are signed in, you will have the option during the sign-up process to remain signed in with your existing Microsoft account and sign up at no additional cost, or to make a one-time purchase to sign up without remaining signed in with your Microsoft account (as described below). Regardless of which option you choose, your ESU license will be associated with the Microsoft account used to sign up.

For more information, see What is a Microsoft account?

Consumers in the European Economic Area can enroll in ESU in one of the following ways: after signing in with a Microsoft Account :

Users who remain signed in to the appropriate computer with a Microsoft account
- The Microsoft account used to sign in to the ESU enrollment tool will enable Extended Security Updates on the device until October 13, 2026, as long as you continue to sign in to Windows with the Microsoft account you used to enroll.
- If you don't continue to sign in to your computer with your Microsoft account, ESU updates will stop for your device after a period of time, up to 60 days.
- If ESU updates are interrupted due to a Microsoft account sign-in failure, you will need to sign in again to resume updates.
Users with a local account who don't want to stay signed in to the appropriate computer with a Microsoft account
- One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax.
- Allows continued use of a local account (no Microsoft account sign-in required except to make the purchase).
- It will enable Extended Security Updates on the device until October 13, 2026.

Both enrollment options provide extended security updates through October 13, 2026. You can enroll in ESU at any time until the program ends on October 13, 2026, but devices will be more vulnerable and susceptible to viruses and malware before enrollment. You will need to sign in to your Microsoft account to enroll in ESU. You will be given these options to choose from when you enroll in the ESU program. You can use your existing ESU license on up to 10 devices.

How to get Windows 10 ESU

ESU is available on eligible devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 before the end of support date of October 14, 2025, with availability gradually expanding as the phased rollout progresses.

To get ESU on your Windows 10 device:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows UpdateIf your device is eligible, you will see a link to enroll in ESU.
Once you choose Sign up now, you will start ESU enrollment. If you are signed in to Windows with a local account, you will be prompted to sign in to your Microsoft account.

You can use your existing ESU license on up to 10 devices once you enroll in ESU. Simply go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Enroll now on these additional devices. If you are already signed in to the device with the same Microsoft account that you used to enroll your first device, select Add a device . If you are not signed in to the computer with a Microsoft account, you will be prompted to sign in to the Microsoft account that was used to enroll the first computer.

If you enrolled your first device by choosing to stay signed in to your PC to receive ESU at no additional cost, you will need to stay signed in to this additional device with the same Microsoft account to continue receiving ESU.
If you registered your first device by choosing to make a one-time payment and not stay signed in to the computer, the Microsoft account used for registration will not be associated with that computer.