With Windows 10 ESU (Extended Security Updates), your PC continues to receive security updates from Microsoft even after the end of support – for home users until 12 October 2027. In this guide, you will learn which requirements apply, which enrolment options are available and how to register your PC step by step.
Key points at a glance
- ESU provides critical and important security updates for Windows 10 22H2 until 12 October 2027.
- In the European Economic Area, you can take part with a Microsoft account at no extra cost.
- You enrol directly in Windows Update via the “Enrol now” link.
- ESU brings no new features and no technical support. It is a transitional solution.
What Windows 10 ESU is and what it is not
Since the end of support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025, Microsoft only distributes security updates for Windows 10 to devices enrolled in ESU. The programme therefore continues to close security vulnerabilities that Microsoft rates as critical or important.
What ESU does not do is just as important. There are no new features, no general bug fixes and no technical support from Microsoft. Windows 10 stays at version 22H2 and will not be developed any further.
Microsoft therefore explicitly sees ESU as a bridge. It is meant to give you time to prepare calmly for the move to Windows 11 or a new device.
Requirements for enrolment
Before the enrolment link appears, your PC must meet a number of conditions. According to Microsoft, these are:
- Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations)
- all current updates installed, including the licensing package for ESU
- a user account with administrator rights
- a Microsoft account that is not a child account
- private use, as the consumer programme is not intended for business use
To check your Windows version, press the Windows key + R and enter the command winver. If the window shows a version older than 22H2, first install the feature update via Windows Update.
The enrolment options at a glance
Microsoft offers different options depending on the region. Simplified conditions apply to Germany and the other countries of the European Economic Area.
| Option | Region | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-in with a Microsoft account | EEA | none | sign in with the account regularly |
| Backing up PC settings | outside the EEA | none | via Windows Backup |
| 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points | outside the EEA | points | Rewards account required |
| One-off purchase | all regions | one-off fee | enrolment with a Microsoft account, local account possible afterwards |
Important for the free option in the EEA: you must continue to sign in to the PC regularly with your Microsoft account. If you do not sign in for a longer period, Microsoft stops ESU updates for the device after up to 60 days. If you would rather use a local account afterwards, you can opt for the one-off purchase instead; even then, the enrolment itself is carried out with a Microsoft account. One ESU licence covers up to ten devices.
You can find the current conditions on Microsoft's ESU page.
How to enrol step by step
- Sign in to Windows 10 with an administrator account.
- Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
- Click “Check for updates” and install all updates offered. Restart the PC if necessary.
- In the Windows 10 end of support section, click “Enrol now”.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account if Windows asks you to.
- Choose your preferred enrolment option and confirm the enrolment.
- Once enrolment is successful, Windows Update shows that your PC is enrolled in Extended Security Updates.
The ESU updates then arrive via Windows Update as usual. Keep automatic updates switched on and restart the PC regularly.
If “Enrol now” does not appear
If the link is missing, this is usually due to one of the requirements. Work through the following points in order:
- Is Windows 10 22H2 installed? Older versions are not eligible.
- Are all updates installed? The licensing package is distributed via Windows Update.
- Are you using an administrator account? Standard accounts do not see the option.
- Is the device joined to a company domain or centrally managed? In that case, the consumer programme does not apply.
After a clean installation of Windows 10, check in Windows Update whether the PC is still shown as enrolled. If not, enrol it again.
ESU for businesses
Businesses cannot use the consumer programme. For them, Microsoft offers a separate, paid ESU programme that can be purchased for up to three years after the end of support. The price rises from year to year.
It is purchased via volume licensing or a Cloud Solution Provider, and activation on the devices is usually handled by the IT department. For small businesses, switching to Windows 11 is usually the simpler route.
Making good use of the time until October 2027
ESU only postpones the problem. These updates will also end on 12 October 2027 at the latest. So plan the switch early rather than acting under time pressure shortly before the deadline.
If your PC is compatible with Windows 11, you can switch free of charge at any time. Our guide Upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 shows how it works. Our article on the Windows 11 system requirements tells you whether your device is eligible.
If you are planning a new or self-built PC anyway, you will need a separate Windows 11 licence for it.
Matching licence
Conclusion
For home users in the EEA, Windows 10 ESU is a simple way to keep the PC supplied with security updates until October 2027. Enrolment takes just a few steps in Windows Update, provided version 22H2 and all updates are installed.
At the same time, ESU is explicitly a transitional solution without new features and without support. Use the time gained to prepare for the move to Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 10 ESU free in Germany?
For home users in the European Economic Area, yes, provided you enrol with a Microsoft account and continue to sign in to the PC with it regularly. If you want to use a local account afterwards, choose the one-off purchase; a Microsoft account is required for the enrolment itself.
Until when can I enrol in ESU?
You can enrol at any time until the programme ends on 12 October 2027. As Windows updates are cumulative, the first update after enrolment also contains the fixes from previous months.
Do I get new features with ESU?
No. ESU only contains critical and important security updates. New features, general bug fixes and technical support from Microsoft are not included.
How many devices can I enrol?
According to Microsoft, one ESU licence can be used on up to ten devices. Each device must meet the requirements and be enrolled with the same Microsoft account.
What happens after 12 October 2027?
ESU for home users then ends, and Windows 10 no longer receives security updates. By then at the latest, you should have switched to Windows 11 or a new device.