Does Windows 10 stop getting security updates in October 2026?
Many articles written in 2025 say that free Windows 10 security updates end on October 13, 2026. That was the original end date of Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. In June 2026, Microsoft moved that date back by a year. Its ESU page now says enrolled devices are covered through October 12, 2027.
If you already enrolled, you do not need to do anything. Microsoft states that existing enrollments continue automatically to the new date. You do not need to re-enroll or pay again.
If you never enrolled, do that now. A Windows 10 PC that is not enrolled stopped receiving security fixes after October 14, 2025, which is when Windows 10 support ended. That is a far bigger risk than any privacy setting. ESU needs Windows 10 version 22H2. Microsoft offers three ways to enroll:
- Free: sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account with Windows Backup.
- Microsoft Rewards: redeem 1,000 points.
- One-time payment: $30 USD, or the local equivalent plus tax.
How to check. Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update. An enrolled PC shows a message saying it is enrolled in Extended Security Updates. A PC that is not enrolled but is eligible shows an Enroll now link on the same screen.
What ESU does not cover. ESU delivers security fixes only. You get no new features and no general technical support. Some apps and browsers set their own support dates for Windows 10, independent of Microsoft’s. If your PC can run Windows 11, upgrading is still the longer-term option. If it cannot, ESU buys a year to plan a replacement.
For the privacy settings worth checking while you are in there, see the Windows 10 privacy guide.