Microsoft extends Windows 10 security updates to October 2027

Microsoft has quietly extended its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 by one year. The new end‑date for free security patches is 12 October 2027, pushing back the previous deadline of 12 October 2026. The change was posted on Microsoft’s support pages and an editor’s note was added to a June 2025 blog entry, with no formal press release.

The extension applies to consumer devices that are still running Windows 10, which still accounts for roughly 26 percent of all PCs worldwide. Users already enrolled in ESU will receive the extra year automatically; new users can register until the 2027 deadline. Registration options include signing in with a Microsoft account (free in the European Economic Area), redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or paying $30 for a license that covers up to ten devices.

Microsoft has not given a detailed rationale, but analysts cite the large installed base, the hardware‑compatibility limits of Windows 11 (particularly the TPM 2.0 requirement), and the current RAM‑chip shortage that has driven PC prices up. By keeping Windows 10 protected, Microsoft aims to give consumers and OEM partners more time to transition to newer hardware while avoiding a sudden security risk for millions of still‑operational machines.