Microsoft throws an unexpected lifeline to loyal | Tech News

If you’re nonetheless utilizing Windows 10 then an irritating deadline is fast approaching. Microsoft will finish its official help for the working system on October 14, 2025, a decade after its launch. But in accordance to the most recent stats, the bulk of Windows customers globally are on Windows 10, and Microsoft is exhibiting indicators it may be nervous about that.

The firm has tried for a lot of months to persuade Windows 10 people to improve to Windows 11. This could be carried out totally free by downloading the new OS to your PC, but when your machine doesn’t meet the minimal system necessities, you run the risk of rendering it unusable.

Unfortunately, the one different option Microsoft presents is shopping for a model new PC that comes with Windows 11. Understandably, many Windows 10 customers aren’t thrilled by this prospect. Windows 10 features completely positive in 2025, and Microsoft ending help is seen by some as a cynical transfer to push people in direction of Windows 11, an working system that has struggled to entice mass adoption since its release in 2021.

Now, Microsoft has revealed a weblog post that would throw loyal Windows 10 customers a lifeline. The firm has stated it should offer one yr of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) in exchange for 1,000 Microsoft Rewards factors with no further prices concerned.

Microsoft beforehand stated it should offer Windows 10 customers these ESUs for a yr at a value of $30 USD.

Microsoft Rewards is a scheme the place Microsoft service customers can accrue factors by taking part in Xbox video games, shopping for apps and merchandise from the Microsoft Store and even simply looking utilizing Microsoft Bing. If you’re signed into your Microsoft account, you possibly can see how many factors you’ve gotten on the official Rewards web page.

I checked out mine and have a paltry 61 factors that I’m not even sure how I earned. Guess I’ll need to do a truthful few Bing searches if I would like to redeem a free yr of Windows 10 updates.

These updates will present common security and software program patches to Windows 10 that you just’ll in any other case not get after October.

“Once you select an option and follow the on-screen steps, your PC will automatically be enrolled,” Microsoft stated in a weblog post on June 24. “ESU coverage for personal devices runs from Oct. 15, 2025, through Oct. 13, 2026. Starting today, the enrollment wizard is available in the Windows Insider Program and will begin rolling out as an option to Windows 10 customers in July, with broad availability expected by mid-August.”