If you are a home user running Windows 10 on a PC, you may know that support for the operating system is coming to an official end. While Microsoft ended support back in October 2025 officially, it introduced an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for home users for the first time.
Once joined, Windows 10 would get another year of security updates until October 2026. Now, with the deadline looming over the heads of millions, Microsoft announced an extension of support.
In short: Windows 10 machines that joined ESU will receive security updates until October 2027 now. That is valid for Home and Pro editions only, as Enterprise customers get other, mostly paid, options to extend support by up to three years.
If the Windows 10 PC receives security updates via ESU already, then it will continue to receive updates after October 2026.
Microsoft confirmed the extension on the official Windows blog. It updated the original article about Windows 10’s future with the information:
This post has been updated to reflect that the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for personal use devices is being provided for an additional year, with coverage now available through Oct. 12, 2027. This extension provides customers with more time to transition to a new Windows 11 PC while continuing to receive critical security updates.
The decision makes sense on several levels. While Microsoft claims that this is done to give Windows 10 customers more time to migrate, which it does, it is likely that other reasons have played a role.
For one, Microsoft has received some regulatory pressure to extend support for Windows 10, as millions of customers continue to use the operating system. Some, millions as well, can’t upgrade to Windows 11, which leaves them stranded on the older version of Windows.
While Microsoft hopes that these users will buy new PCs or components, the reality is that some won’t. They may continue to use Windows 10, even at the risk of running a system that has known security issues, or make the switch to Linux to continue using the PC and its components, which in many cases work just fine.
Maybe another reason is that computer components are getting more expensive.
This isn’t entirely accurate—there are at least 50 detailed guides online showing how to safely upgrade unsupported hardware to Windows 11.
And for those who prefer Windows 10, migrating to Windows 10 LTSC (supported until 2032) is a straightforward option.
Volume License Agreements for Windows 10 LTSC (2021) are even available for purchase online, with the only requirement being a minimum of five licenses. [That’s around $60/license.]
As for the “more time to migrate” argument, it often just translates to “more time to procrastinate.”
That said, it’s commendable that Microsoft has extended the ESU Agreement by another year for the small number of users who genuinely need it.
I’ve asked Duck.ai,
“What are the reasons invoked by users who stick to Windows 10 and refuse to upgrade to Windows 11?
Among these reasons what are those you consider as legitimate?”
Duck.ai’s answer using OpenAI’s GPT-5.4 nano Model was quite interesting.
When I evoked procrastination as being a reason for not upgrading to Windows 11, Duck.ai stated:
“- “Calling it procrastination ignores incentives. If Windows 10 support is extended, delaying can be rational risk management.”
– “Upgrading isn’t a moral duty; it’s a trade-off. If my system is stable and supported, there’s no reason to change just to change.”
– “Procrastination is avoiding decisions without a reason. I’m deferring because the cost/risk right now outweighs the benefits.”
– “I’ll upgrade when it’s necessary and when it’s likely to be painless—not on someone else’s timeline.”
For whom may be interested by the full conversation, it’s been copied and pasted here:
[https://paste.i2pd.xyz/?3b4df1e66932b9a4#Hn2KU556Ttn6H4zhKKn9YX57AzQRztjko9ySjkz43LT5]
Why did I ask Duck.ai instead of seasoning by myself?
1- I run Windows 7, never tasted 10 nor 11
2- English is not my mother-tongue.