Windows 10 End of Support: ESU Extended to Oct 2027
Windows 10 end of support hit October 14, 2025, but free ESU now runs to October 12, 2027. See what it means for your PC and 4 safe options to choose from.
Written by Fajar Webarq. Updated October 26, 2026.
Summary
Contents
- What Does "Windows 10 End of Support" Mean?
- Windows 10 ESU Extended to October 12, 2027
- How Risky Is It to Keep Using Windows 10?
- 4 Options for Windows 10 Users
- How to Check Whether Your PC Can Upgrade to Windows 11
- Can You Install Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC?
- Current Windows 11 Versions
- Why This Matters
- What to Do Now
- What to Watch
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Next Steps
- Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Your PC still works, but it no longer receives security updates unless it is enrolled in the ESU (Extended Security Updates) program.
- The consumer ESU program has been extended to October 12, 2027, and enrollment can be free. Many articles still say October 2026; that date is no longer valid.
- The safest choice is a free upgrade to Windows 11 if your PC qualifies. If it does not, enroll in ESU while you prepare a replacement before October 2027.
Microsoft officially ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, but the deadline that really matters for home users is now October 12, 2027. In June 2026, Microsoft extended its consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program by one year. This matters to many people in Indonesia: according to StatCounter, 53.12% of Windows desktop computers in Indonesia still ran Windows 10 in September 2026, far above the global figure of 27.83%.
What Does "Windows 10 End of Support" Mean?
Since October 14, 2025, Windows 10 no longer receives technical support, feature updates, or quality and security updates from Microsoft. According to Microsoft Support, your PC keeps working as usual. What you lose is protection against new security vulnerabilities, unless the PC is enrolled in ESU.
Not everything stops at once. Some components keep getting updates for longer:
| Component | Status on Windows 10 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Windows security updates | Ended Oct 14, 2025, unless the PC is enrolled in ESU (through Oct 12, 2027) | Microsoft Support; Microsoft ESU page |
| Feature updates & technical support | Ended Oct 14, 2025 | Microsoft Support |
| Microsoft Defender antivirus definitions | Still updated through October 2028 | Windows Blog |
| Microsoft 365 Apps (Word, Excel, etc.) | Security updates through Oct 10, 2028; feature updates have already stopped | Microsoft Learn |
| Microsoft Edge & WebView2 (Windows 10 version 22H2) | Updated through at least October 2028 | Microsoft Learn |
An updated antivirus and browser do not close vulnerabilities in the operating system itself. Microsoft says antivirus can help, but your system remains exposed to risk without Windows security updates.
Windows 10 ESU Extended to October 12, 2027
ESU (Extended Security Updates) is a program that provides critical security updates for Windows 10 after its support period ends. The official Windows Extended Security Updates page now states that you can enroll at any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027. According to an editor's note on the Windows blog updated June 25, 2026, PCs that are already enrolled are extended automatically.
There are three ways for home users to enroll in ESU:
- Free, by syncing your PC settings to your Microsoft account through Windows Backup.
- Redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
- A one-time purchase of USD 30 or the local-currency equivalent, plus tax. Microsoft does not list an official price in Rupiah.
Requirements:
- Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates installed.
- Signing in with a Microsoft account that has administrator rights.
- One enrollment covers up to 10 devices.
- The consumer program does not apply to commercial use or to devices managed by an organization (domain, Microsoft Entra, or MDM).
For businesses and offices, there is a separate, paid commercial ESU. According to Microsoft Learn, commercial ESU is available for up to three years, at USD 61 per device for the first year. The price doubles each year and is cumulative, so joining late still means paying for the years you missed.
How Risky Is It to Keep Using Windows 10?
Without ESU, the risk grows over time. Microsoft states that unsupported PCs are at greater risk of viruses and malware. Vulnerabilities discovered after support ends will not be patched on PCs without ESU.
The risk is higher if the PC is used for internet banking, stores customer data, or accesses work accounts. For a PC used only offline, such as a simple point-of-sale machine with no internet connection, the risk is lower, but it is not zero.
4 Options for Windows 10 Users
Choose based on the condition of your PC:
| PC condition | Recommended option | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Meets Windows 11 requirements | Free upgrade to Windows 11 through Windows Update | Safest for the long term. Back up first. |
| Qualifies, but you are not ready to upgrade (older apps, time) | Enroll in ESU and schedule the upgrade before Oct 12, 2027 | Free through settings sync |
| Does not meet Windows 11 requirements, still usable | Enroll in ESU while you prepare a replacement, or consider ChromeOS Flex for laptops used mainly for browsing | Check the list of certified ChromeOS Flex models |
| Old, slow, or broken | Replace the device | Move your data and wipe the disk before selling or recycling |
ChromeOS Flex is a free operating system from Google for older PCs and laptops. It requires an Intel or AMD x86-64 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage, and the ability to boot from USB. Components made in 2012 or earlier are not supported. ChromeOS Flex is not Windows, so make sure the apps you need are available as web versions or for ChromeOS before you switch. Google also publishes a list of certified models.
How to Check Whether Your PC Can Upgrade to Windows 11
The easiest way is Microsoft's PC Health Check app (aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp). If your PC qualifies, a free upgrade offer will also appear in Windows Update.
The minimum Windows 11 requirements according to Microsoft:
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | 64-bit, 1 GHz or faster, at least 2 cores, and listed as a supported processor (for Intel: 8th through 14th generation Core and Core Ultra, per the Microsoft list) |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Firmware | UEFI with Secure Boot capability |
| TPM | Version 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.0 |
| Display | 720p, larger than 9 inches |
| Other | Windows 11 Home and Pro (personal use) require internet access and a Microsoft account during initial setup |
For a PC you already own, the PC Health Check result is the benchmark, because Microsoft's processor list is aimed at manufacturers building new PCs. As a rough guide, the Intel list starts at the 8th generation, so PCs with 7th-generation Intel or older generally do not qualify. If PC Health Check says your PC does not qualify, go to the ESU or device replacement options in the table above.
Can You Install Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC?
Technically there are ways, but Microsoft does not recommend it. Such PCs are not guaranteed to receive updates, damage caused by compatibility issues is not covered by the warranty, and a watermark will appear on the screen.
For that reason, we do not publish a bypass guide. For a PC that does not meet the requirements, ESU through October 2027 is the safer official route while you prepare a replacement.
Also avoid illegal activation tools and "modified" Windows installation files circulating online. Besides violating the license, there is no way to be sure such files are free of malware. That is exactly the risk you are trying to avoid by updating your system.
Current Windows 11 Versions
If you upgrade now, make sure you use a version with a long support window remaining. According to Windows release health (updated October 13, 2026):
| Version | Status for Home/Pro |
|---|---|
| 26H2 (released September 29, 2026) | Supported through October 10, 2028 |
| 25H2 | Supported through October 12, 2027 |
| 24H2 | Home/Pro support has ended |
Why This Matters
Windows 10 still runs on more than half of Windows desktop PCs in Indonesia. A PC that is not enrolled in ESU has been running without security updates since October 2025, even though enrollment can be free. The extension to October 2027 gives you one more year. That is enough time to plan an upgrade or replacement calmly, as long as you do not leave it until the last minute.
What to Do Now
- Back up your data to OneDrive through Windows Backup, or copy it to an external hard drive or USB drive.
- Run PC Health Check to find out whether your PC can upgrade to Windows 11.
- If it qualifies: upgrade through Windows Update.
- If it cannot or you are not ready: enroll in ESU through Windows Update. Choose the free settings-sync option if you do not mind using a Microsoft account.
- Mark October 12, 2027 on your calendar and plan to replace the device before then.
What to Watch
- The next ESU policy. Microsoft has already extended consumer ESU once. Do not count on a second extension until there is an official announcement.
- Google Chrome support on Windows 10. There is no official date yet for home users. Edge is guaranteed to receive updates through at least October 2028.
- The apps you use every day, such as banking, accounting, or point-of-sale apps. Check whether their developers still support Windows 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still use Windows 10 in 2026?
Yes. A PC running Windows 10 still works. The difference is that without ESU, your PC has not received security updates since October 14, 2025. With ESU, you keep receiving security updates through October 12, 2027.
Is Windows 10 ESU free?
It can be free for home users, by syncing your PC settings through Windows Backup with a Microsoft account. The other options are redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or buying it for USD 30 (or the local-currency equivalent, plus tax).
How long does Windows 10 ESU last?
For home users, through October 12, 2027, after Microsoft extended it in June 2026. The October 2026 date that is still widely published is no longer valid.
Can you upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free?
Yes, if your PC meets the minimum Windows 11 requirements. Check with PC Health Check; if it qualifies, the upgrade offer appears in Windows Update.
Is installing antivirus enough?
No. Microsoft Defender definitions are indeed updated through October 2028, but antivirus does not patch vulnerabilities in the operating system. Microsoft itself says the system remains exposed to risk without Windows security updates.
Next Steps
If your PC qualifies, follow the guide to the requirements for upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and how to check them. If it does not, read PC does not meet Windows 11 requirements: safe options. All our guides are in the Windows & PC Update Hub.
