- Windows 10’s schedule for extended updates is now open
- You can sign up using your Microsoft account and get free updates (if you sync your PC settings to OneDrive)
- The registration guide to access the scheme seems to still roll out but you need to see it very soon
Windows 10 users can now sign up for extended updates, which means security fixes delivered past the end of the support deadline to keep the PC secure.
As you are undoubtedly aware of, it’s not long before Windows 10’s life arrives when Microsoft officially stops providing security updates (or functional updates for that matter). This happens on October 14, 2025, and after this date a PC without updates is then potentially open for exploitation.
The program Extended Security Updates (ESU) allows Windows 10 users to sign up for another year of updates, all the way through to October 2026, and registration for this scheme has now been opened to consumers.
In a blog post (mostly regarding the latest update to Windows 11, and the pile of new AI features therein) explains Microsoft that: “From today, individuals will start to see a registration guide through messages and in settings, making it easy to choose the best option for you and sign up for ESU directly from your personal Windows 10 -PC.”
To sign up for the program extended security updates
At this point, you might be scraping upside down and asking: So where is this registration guide?
As Microsoft observes above, you can see that a review will appear in Windows 10 that offers a link to sign up for the ESU scheme – and you can of course use it if you see it. Otherwise, go to Windows Update (in Settings) where you need to find a link to the same end – even if you may need to bite your time.
In the Windows Update panel you can see a link to ‘Sign Up Now’ for extended security updates either under where you check for updates (top) or with the links over to the right. I can’t see this on my Windows 10 -PC yet, but this YouTube video (from Thiojoe) shows where the links should be visible.
The reason I can’t see this is presumably because the rollout is not fully started yet. As Microsoft says in the blog post, consumers will “start seeing the” registration guide, which means the rollout has not reached everyone yet. You might not see it either, and it’s just a coincidence of being patient – nobody should have long to wait at this point.
Whatever is the case when you click to sign up, if you are not logged into a Microsoft account, do so. This is because you have to sign up for the scheme and also if you want to get the year with extra updates for free, you must be logged in to check that you have synchronized your PC settings using the Windows Backup app.
It’s the alternative way of signing up for ESU as opposed to paying a $ 30 fee (or using Microsoft Rewards -Point, which is a third option). Note that you do not need to use Windows security copy to actually make a full backup of your system for free updates, just sync your PC settings to OneDrive using this app -which seems a relatively small price to pay (compared to $ 30, determined). Those who have already synchronized settings in this way will be able to click straight through and get the ESU offer free without fuss.
According to YouTuber Thiojoe, it is possible to log in to a Microsoft account to get the ESU on your PC and then switch to a local account afterwards – and you will still receive the extra updates in the entire 2026 on that computer. Just in case you were curious about that tactics, it works anyway, or that’s how we are told anyway.
