Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: What the 2027 Extension Means for Your PC

If you enrolled a Windows 10 PC in Microsoft's security update program last year, you were told the coverage would stop on October 13, 2026. That date has passed, and the updates are still arriving. Here is why, and what to plan for next.

The short answer: Windows 10 extended security updates (ESU) for home users now run until October 12, 2027. Microsoft extended the consumer program by one year in June 2026, and PCs already enrolled moved to the new date automatically. ESU delivers critical and important security patches only. Enrolment can be free, and it stays open until the program ends.

What Windows 10 Extended Security Updates Cover

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Since then, the only way for a home PC running Windows 10 to keep receiving security patches is the consumer ESU program.

ESU delivers the security updates Microsoft's Security Response Center rates as critical or important, through Windows Update as Microsoft releases them. It applies to Windows 10 version 22H2 in the Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations editions.

What ESU Does Not Include

ESU covers security only. It does not include:

• New features or design changes
• Non-security bug fixes
• Technical support from Microsoft

A PC on ESU is protected against newly discovered threats, but Windows 10 itself is no longer being improved.

Is Windows 10 Still Supported in 2026?

No, not in the full sense. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and that date did not move. What moved was the end of the consumer ESU program, from October 13, 2026 to October 12, 2027.

Some Microsoft software on Windows 10 runs on its own timeline. Microsoft has committed to security updates for Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, Outlook and the rest of the subscription) on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028. Feature updates for those apps on Windows 10 end with Version 2608, after which they receive security updates only.

What Happens to a Windows 10 PC That Isn't Enrolled

A Windows 10 PC that is not enrolled keeps working. It starts, runs your programs and opens your files as before. What it stops receiving is Windows security patches, and it has received none since October 2025.

That gap widens every month. Each Patch Tuesday, Microsoft publishes fixes for newly found Windows flaws, and an unenrolled PC stays exposed to every one of them. Microsoft's own guidance is that these PCs become more vulnerable to viruses and malware over time, and antivirus software cannot patch the operating system underneath it.

The risk falls hardest on the tasks most people use a home computer for: online banking, shopping, email and storing photos and documents. If your Windows 10 PC handles any of those, enrol it or replace it. Enrolment takes a few minutes and can cost nothing. Once enrolled, the PC receives every critical and important update released since support ended, so it catches up on everything it missed.

How to Enrol in Windows 10 ESU in Canada

Microsoft offers three ways to enrol, and all three give the same coverage through October 12, 2027:

1. Free: turn on Windows Backup so your PC settings sync to your Microsoft account.
2. Microsoft Rewards: redeem 1,000 points.
3. One-time purchase: US$30, or the local currency equivalent plus applicable tax.

One ESU licence covers up to 10 Windows 10 PCs signed in with the same Microsoft account.

Check the Requirements First

Before the enrolment option appears, the PC needs to:

• Run Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates installed
• Be signed in with a Microsoft account that has administrator rights (not a child account)
• Not be joined to a company domain or managed by an IT department

Then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Enroll now. If you enrolled before June 2026, you don't need to do anything. Your coverage carried over to October 2027 without re-enrolling or paying again.

If the Enroll Now Link Doesn't Appear

A missing link usually means one requirement isn't met. Run Windows Update until no updates remain, since Microsoft requires its ESU licensing preparation package (KB5126256) along with the latest update. Then confirm the Windows 10 version reads 22H2 under Settings > System > About, and that you are signed in with an administrator Microsoft account rather than a local account. If a child's PC can't enrol, a parent with an administrator account on that PC can enrol it for them.

Business PCs Use a Different Program

The consumer program is for personal devices. Computers that belong to an organization and are managed through a domain or device management system use Microsoft's separate commercial ESU program, which is paid per device each year.

Should You Enrol in ESU or Upgrade to Windows 11?

ESU buys time. Whether you need that time depends on one question: can your PC run Windows 11?

Check Whether Your PC Qualifies

Windows 11 requires a compatible 64-bit processor, 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. In practice, the processor is the deciding factor. Most PCs with an 8th-generation Intel Core processor or newer meet the requirement, and most older ones do not.

Microsoft's PC Health Check app gives a definite answer, and our Windows 11 compatibility check explains each requirement and what to do if one fails.

If Your PC Qualifies, Upgrade

Windows 11 is a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs, and it keeps your edition: Windows 10 Pro moves to Windows 11 Pro. Upgrading puts the PC back on a fully supported version of Windows, with feature updates as well as security patches. Enrolling in ESU does not block the upgrade, so you can enrol now and upgrade when it suits you.

If It Doesn't Qualify, Enrol and Plan Ahead

A PC that cannot run Windows 11 has a fixed horizon: security patches stop on October 12, 2027 unless Microsoft extends the program again, which it has not announced. Enrol now so the PC stays patched, and use the time before then to choose a replacement before the deadline forces the decision.

Running a Windows 10 Pro Computer Through 2027

Windows 10 Pro remains a capable, familiar system for office work, schoolwork and home use, and the extension makes it a sound choice for another year. A refurbished Windows 10 Pro computer from a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher comes with a genuine, activated Windows licence.

The practical plan for a Windows 10 Pro PC:

• Enrol in ESU so it receives every security patch through October 12, 2027.
• Check the processor. Most units with an 8th-generation Intel Core processor or newer can take the free upgrade to Windows 11 Pro whenever you choose.
• Keep Microsoft 365 apps updated. They receive security updates on Windows 10 until October 2028.

REFURB.io's range of Windows 10 Pro computers covers Dell, HP and Lenovo desktops, plus laptops and all-in-ones, each individually tested before it ships.

Replacing a Windows 10 PC This Holiday Season

For many households, the end of 2026 is a natural time to replace an older PC. Sale pricing runs from Black Friday through Boxing Day, and a new computer set up over the holidays is ready for work and school in January.

If your current PC cannot run Windows 11, a refurbished business computer that ships with it is the most direct fix. Business lines such as Dell Latitude and HP EliteBook laptops and Dell OptiPlex desktops were built for years of daily office use. Refurbished, they usually pair an Intel Core i5 or i7 with 16GB of memory and an SSD for the price of a new entry-level laptop.

Two places to start:

• Windows 11 Pro laptops and desktops ship with Windows 11 Pro already installed.
• Windows 11 compatible computers covers desktops, laptops and all-in-ones whose hardware meets Microsoft's requirements.

Why Buy From a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher

REFURB.io is a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, licensed by Microsoft to install genuine Windows on the computers it refurbishes. Every laptop and desktop is individually tested, comes with a one-year warranty, and ships free to every province.

Before You Retire the Old PC

Back up your files to OneDrive, Google Drive or an external drive before you switch. Then wipe the old computer before you sell, donate or recycle it, so your accounts and personal files leave with you.

Windows 10 Key Dates at a Glance

FAQ

How long will Windows 10 have extended security updates?

Consumer extended security updates for Windows 10 run until October 12, 2027. Microsoft extended the program by one year in June 2026; the original end date was October 13, 2026. Microsoft has not announced any further extension.

Can I get Windows 10 ESU for free?

Yes. Turning on Windows Backup so your PC settings sync to your Microsoft account enrols the PC at no cost. You can also redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or make a one-time purchase of US$30 or the local currency equivalent plus tax.

Do I need to re-enrol because of the extension?

No. PCs enrolled before the extension continue receiving updates through October 12, 2027 automatically. There is nothing to renew and nothing to pay again.

Is Windows 10 still safe to use?

It is safe to keep using if the PC is enrolled in ESU, because it still receives critical and important security updates. A Windows 10 PC that is not enrolled has received no Windows security patches since October 14, 2025, and becomes more vulnerable each month.

Can I upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free?

Yes, if your PC meets Windows 11's hardware requirements. The upgrade keeps your edition, so Windows 10 Pro moves to Windows 11 Pro. On older PCs, the processor, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are the usual blockers. Microsoft's PC Health Check app confirms whether a PC qualifies.

Will Microsoft Office keep working on Windows 10?

Yes. Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel and Outlook continue to receive security updates on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028. Their feature updates on Windows 10 end with Version 2608.