Windows 10 ESU: Any Activated PC Can Get Extended Security Updates, No Windows 11 Hardware Needed
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This week, Microsoft began testing the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 within the Windows Insider Preview framework. Aimed at home users, the ESU program is priced at $30 per PC per year; however, users may alternatively redeem one year of updates by utilizing Windows Backup or Microsoft Rewards points.
Some users mistakenly believed that only PCs meeting Windows 11 hardware requirements would be eligible for Windows 10 ESU updates—a misconception that prompted Microsoft to issue a formal clarification.
Microsoft has confirmed that the eligibility for Windows 10 ESU is entirely independent of Windows 11 hardware compliance. Any PC can register for and receive ESU updates, provided the system is genuinely activated—either through a valid digital license or OEM preactivation.
In essence, the ESU program solely extends the delivery of security updates for an additional year. It does not modify or upgrade other aspects of the operating system. Therefore, systems lacking proper activation are inherently ineligible for ESU registration or updates.
Following the completion of testing, Microsoft plans to open ESU enrollment to all remaining Windows 10 users, allowing them to maintain a secure environment until October 2026.
It is worth noting that this extension applies to personal and home users for only one year. After October 2026, Microsoft will continue offering security updates to enterprise customers under paid agreements, but personal and home users will no longer receive official security support.
Related Posts:
- Windows 10 ESU Program: A Lifeline for Holdouts, But at What Cost?
- Microsoft Pushes Windows 11 Upgrade Over ESU: Highlighting AI, Security, & Speed Ahead of Win10 EOL
- Windows 10 Users Get Free ESU: Microsoft Offers 1 Year of Security Updates via Backup or Rewards
- Microsoft Extends Microsoft 365 Support on Windows 10 Until 2028
- Windows 10 ESU Cracked: Free Security Updates on the Horizon?
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