How to Get Free Windows 10 Security Updates Until 2026

Windows 10 support ends in October 2025, but eligible users can keep getting security fixes through October 13, 2026 with Microsoft's Consumer Extended Security Updates program. You may be able to enroll for free by using 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or by syncing Windows Backup. A paid option is also listed at $30.

The offer is meant to give you more time. It doesn't turn Windows 10 into a fully supported system forever, and it doesn't promise every type of update will continue. The key question is whether your PC shows the ESU enrollment option in Windows Update.

What free Windows 10 security updates are available until 2026

Microsoft's Consumer Extended Security Updates, usually called ESU, provide extra security coverage after normal Windows 10 support ends.

For eligible consumer devices, the free coverage runs through October 13, 2026. That is the date to plan around.

The program is focused on security updates. It shouldn't be treated as a promise of regular feature updates, new Windows 10 features, or unlimited support for every problem. It also doesn't mean that every Windows 10 computer automatically qualifies.

There are two free enrollment routes described for consumers:

• Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
• Sync Windows Backup as the qualifying action.

You should see the available choices through Windows Update rather than downloading a separate ESU installer. If a page tells you to search for a random Windows 10 security update download, be careful. The normal path starts inside Windows 10's Settings app.

Some search results claim that Windows 10 security coverage could continue into 2027. The information available here confirms coverage through October 13, 2026, not a guaranteed 2027 extension. If Microsoft later shows a different date on your enrollment screen or in current program documentation, use that information. Until then, don't plan on free ESU lasting past October 2026.

Check whether your Windows 10 device is eligible

The simplest eligibility check is to look in Windows Update. Microsoft may show the ESU offer only when the device meets the program's requirements.

Before you begin, make sure:

1. You're using the Windows 10 computer you want to keep covered.
2. Windows Update is available and working normally.
3. You can access the Microsoft account that may be requested during enrollment.
4. You have either 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or are willing to use the Windows Backup route, if that choice appears.

The exact offer may vary. One computer might show the Rewards option. Another might show the Windows Backup option. A device that doesn't meet the program's requirements may show neither.

Don't assume that being able to run Windows 10 is enough. The ESU offer has its own eligibility rules, and the enrollment screen is the practical place to check what applies to your PC.

Also keep the dates straight:

• October 2025: normal Windows 10 support ends, according to the offer information.
• October 13, 2026: the listed end date for the extra consumer security coverage.

That difference explains why your computer can still receive certain security fixes after regular Windows 10 support has ended.

Enroll through Settings and Windows Update

The enrollment link is shown in a specific place. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. Choose Update & Security.
4. Open Windows Update.
5. Look for an option related to Consumer Extended Security Updates or ESU.
6. Select the enrollment link and read the choices shown for your device.
7. Pick one of the available free routes, if offered.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish enrollment.

The important path is:

Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update

Don't confuse the ESU enrollment message with the normal Check for updates button. Checking for updates looks for updates your device can already receive. ESU enrollment is what connects an eligible Windows 10 device to the extra security coverage after normal support ends.

Once enrolled, future ESU security updates should be offered through Windows Update. You generally shouldn't need to hunt for a separate Windows 10 security update download from an unknown website.

If the screen offers only a paid option, don't immediately assume the free routes are impossible. Check whether the Rewards or Windows Backup choices appear elsewhere in the enrollment process. If the entire ESU message is missing, use the troubleshooting steps below.

Use Microsoft Rewards points for free ESU

The first free route uses 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.

If this choice appears in the ESU screen, select it and follow the prompts. You may be asked to sign in to your Microsoft account so Microsoft can confirm the Rewards balance and connect the enrollment to your device.

Before choosing this route, check that:

• You have at least 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points available.
• You're signed in to the Microsoft account connected to those points.
• You understand that the points are being used for the ESU enrollment option.
• You complete the process instead of closing the window halfway through.

The number matters. Having some Rewards points isn't necessarily enough if the screen specifically requires 1,000.

If the Rewards option doesn't appear, that doesn't prove your points are unusable. The option may depend on device eligibility, account status, the timing of the offer, or whether Windows Update is showing the correct enrollment screen. Look for the Windows Backup route before deciding that you need to pay.

Sync Windows Backup to qualify for free coverage

The second free route is to sync Windows Backup.

If Windows Update offers this choice, select it and follow Microsoft's prompts to sync the backup service. The exact screens may differ from the Rewards route, so read each message before confirming.

This option is useful if you don't have 1,000 Rewards points or would rather not spend them. It may still require a Microsoft account, and your computer may need to meet the program's other eligibility requirements.

A few points are easy to miss:

• Seeing Windows Backup on your PC doesn't automatically mean ESU enrollment is complete.
• You need to follow the enrollment prompts shown by Windows Update.
• The free offer applies only if the device qualifies.
• The coverage still has the listed end date of October 13, 2026.

After you finish, return to Windows Update and check that the ESU enrollment status has changed. If the page still asks you to enroll, the process may not have finished.

What to do when the ESU enrollment option is not showing

“Windows 10 Extended Security updates not showing” is a common concern because the enrollment link may not appear right away. Work through these checks in order.

1. Open the exact Windows Update page

Go back to:

Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update

Don't rely only on a shortcut or an old notification. The ESU message is expected to appear in the Windows Update area.

2. Install any ordinary Windows 10 updates shown

If Windows Update is offering normal updates, install them first. Then restart the computer and return to the same page.

Regular Windows 10 updates and ESU are different things, but an out-of-date device may not show the enrollment message clearly. Installing what is already offered is a sensible first check.

3. Look again after restarting

Close Settings, restart Windows, and check Windows Update again. A missing enrollment message doesn't always mean the device is permanently ineligible. The screen may need to refresh after updates or a restart.

4. Check for the free choices

If you see ESU but only see the $30 option, read the page closely. Look for a choice involving:

• 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
• Windows Backup

The free routes may not look identical on every device. Don't select the paid option until you've checked whether one of those free methods is available.

5. Check your account access

If Windows asks you to sign in, use the Microsoft account connected to the offer. An account prompt can be part of the enrollment process, especially for the Rewards route.

If you can't sign in or you're using a different account from the one that holds your Rewards points, the free option may not complete.

6. Don't assume missing means free support is guaranteed

Microsoft may limit the offer to eligible devices and accounts. If the enrollment link never appears after updates, a restart, and an account check, your device may not qualify or the offer may not yet be available to it.

The screen shown on your PC is more useful than a general claim that every Windows 10 computer gets ESU. If you're still unsure, record the exact message Windows Update displays before choosing a paid plan.

Microsoft account requirements and the $30 paid alternative

Can you get Windows 10 ESU without a Microsoft account? The available information doesn't confirm a reliable account-free enrollment path.

You may be asked for your Microsoft account email and password during enrollment. That is especially likely when the process needs to check Microsoft Rewards points or connect the free offer to a backup service. So, while the account requirement may vary by route, you should be prepared to use one.

If you don't want to use Rewards points and can't use the Windows Backup route, Microsoft lists a paid ESU option at $30. This is separate from the two free methods.

The choice looks like this:

• Rewards route: use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, if offered and available.
• Windows Backup route: sync Windows Backup, if offered and eligible.
• Paid route: pay the listed $30 price.

The $30 option isn't the same as ordinary Windows 10 updates. Normal updates are the updates your computer can receive under its usual support status. ESU is extra security coverage after the October 2025 support deadline.

Before paying, return to Windows Update and check the enrollment page carefully. If one of the free routes is present, you may not need the paid option.

What happens after October 2026

The confirmed date for the free consumer coverage described here is October 13, 2026. After that date, you shouldn't assume that ESU security fixes will continue.

Some online results mention coverage through 2027, but that claim conflicts with the confirmed 2026 date in the available program information. Treat 2027 as unconfirmed unless Microsoft shows a later date for your device or updates its official program details.

That gives you three practical choices before the 2026 coverage ends:

• Move to a supported version of Windows when your computer allows it.
• Keep checking Microsoft's current ESU terms for any new extension.
• Replace or upgrade the computer if it can't move forward and continued security support matters.

For now, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check the offer on your own PC. Compare the Rewards and Windows Backup routes before considering the $30 paid option, and do it before regular Windows 10 support ends in October 2025.