Linux News for Users On October 14, 2025, Microsoft ended regular support for Windows 10. A year later, many PCs are still running Windows 10. Whether yours receives security updates depends on one thing: Is it registered for the ESU program or not?
What ESU Is and How Long It Lasts
ESU stands for Extended Security Updates. Through this program, Microsoft continues to deliver security patches for Windows 10. No new features are included.
Originally, the program was set to end for home users in October 2026. In June 2026, Microsoft quietly extended it by a year. The new end date is October 12, 2027. If you're already registered, no action is needed—the extension applies automatically. You can still register until this date.
A PC without registration has received no security updates since October 2025. It will keep running, but every newly discovered vulnerability will remain unpatched.
How to Check Your PC
- Press the Windows key, type
winver, and hit Enter. The window must show Version 22H2. Older versions don’t qualify for ESU. - Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- If you see a prompt about extended security updates with a Register Now button, your PC isn’t enrolled yet.
Microsoft’s requirements: Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro Education, or Workstations (Version 22H2), all current updates installed, and a Microsoft account with admin rights. Child accounts don’t qualify.
Registration Costs
Microsoft lists three options:
- Free, if you sync your PC settings with your Microsoft account (Windows Backup)
- Using 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
- A one-time fee of $30 USD (or local equivalent)
In Germany and the rest of the European Economic Area, ESU is free, but you still need a Microsoft account. Reports from Windows Central and Windows Latest suggest you must sign in with this account at least every 60 days. Otherwise, updates pause until you log in again.
Local accounts without Microsoft sign-in aren’t eligible.
Your Options Until October 2027
Use ESU and keep going. For a year, this is the easiest solution. You’re just delaying the decision, and by October 2027, you’ll face the same crossroads.
Windows 11. Many older PCs don’t meet Windows 11’s hardware requirements. The free Microsoft PC Health Check app will tell you if yours qualifies. If not, a new PC is your only option.
New PC. Costs money, and a working device ends up as e-waste.
Linux. Ubuntu is free, doesn’t need a Microsoft account, and runs on hardware too old for Windows 11. The current long-term release, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, receives updates for five years. For help choosing a Linux distro, see Which Linux Distribution Replaces Windows Best?.
Try Linux Without Touching Windows
The extra year is a great time to test. You don’t need to delete anything.
- Back up data. Copy documents, photos, and emails to an external drive. Always do this, no matter what.
- List your apps. Note which programs you actually use. Nearly all have free Linux alternatives, like LibreOffice instead of Word or Thunderbird instead of Outlook.
- Prep a USB stick. You’ll need one with at least 8 GB. Reliable options are listed in The Best Linux-Compatible USB Sticks of 2026.
- Boot a live system. Ubuntu runs directly from the stick. Windows stays untouched on your hard drive. Test Wi-Fi, printers, and audio.
- Decide. If you like Linux, install it. If not, remove the stick—you’ve lost nothing.
After installation, Ubuntu handles security updates automatically. Learn how in Enable Automatic Security Updates in Ubuntu.
Free Checklist for Switching
All steps, from backup to full installation, are in a free email checklist: Get the Linux Migration Checklist.
For a deep dive: The book Linux Instead of Windows explains the entire transition for beginners, updated for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.
More on ESU itself: Windows 10 ESU Program: Security Updates for Home Users Until October 2027.