Free Windows 10 updates for another year in Europe | Tech News

Microsoft will finish software program assist for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. It’s a deadline we’ve recognized for some time now, however issues have just lately acquired a little more sophisticated.

With no security updates after October, Windows 10 customers have been confronted with 4 selections: Upgrade to Windows 11 with a free obtain, buy a new Windows 11 PC, do nothing, or declare one year of additional security updates.

It’s that final option the place issues get sophisticated. Microsoft determined to offer an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program with security updates for one year till October 2026 for Windows 10 customers. To declare, you must both pay USD $30, redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward factors or signal in with a Microsoft account and sync your PC’s settings to the cloud.

The probability of having to pay money or commit your information to Microsoft’s cloud server has brought about outcry amongst Windows 10 customers.

In the newest U-turn from Microsoft, the firm has determined it would offer the ESU program for free to anybody in the European Economic Area (EEA), however UK customers will miss out. The EEA consists of all EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

As reported by Windows Central, Microsoft had been below strain from shopper watchdog Euroconsumers, who argued Microsoft was unfairly financially benefitting from its ESU program.

As a consequence, and detailed right here by Euroconsumers, Microsoft has agreed to “a no-cost Extended Security Updates (ESU) option for Windows 10 consumer users in the European Economic Area … this option will not require users to back up settings, apps, or credentials, or use Microsoft Rewards.”

Here’s Microsoft’s full assertion given to Windows Central:

“In the European Economic Area, we’re making updates to the enrollment process to ensure it meets local expectations and delivers a secure, streamlined experience. Our goal is to support customers and provide them with options as they transition to Windows 11, with uninterrupted access to critical security updates.”

It means should you stay in a nation in the EEA, in case you have a Windows 10 PC it is best to be capable of go to the ESU setup web page through your pc’s settings and enroll for a additional free year of security patches to take you to October 2026.

It is known you’ll need to be logged into a Microsoft account, however is not going to be required to sync your settings to Microsoft OneDrive. The implication is that Microsoft’s cloud companies require a paid account, which means Microsoft can be financially benefitting from you enrolling in the ‘free’ ESU program, one thing Microsoft has deemed match to change for EEA nations after European pressures.

Given the UK’s exit from the EEA and EU in January 2021, British Windows 10 customers will nonetheless must signal up to the ESU program in one of the aforementioned methods.