Windows 10 ESU Support extended to Oct 2027

Vitor

Windows 10 users can ease back until Oct 2027 as Microsoft have extended the extended security updates program until then. If you’re already enrolled in ESU, your coverage will automatically continue through that date, no action needed.

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates | Microsoft Windows

No need to post asking how to update your old clunker PC for another 16 months. Brilliant. 😎

Swipe

I don't see why they couldn't have just released the reinstated W10 updates via the normal windows updates route. Lots of people won't be aware of the extra hoops required to enrol for this and will continue to be vulnerable.

giraffe69

If you have registered already it is completely automatic and you need do nothing. If not you have been living for about 9 months with no windows security updates if still on Windows 10. When you say lots of people will be unaware of the extra hoops all I can say is that it was, originally, very simple and those living without it can fairly simply avail themselves of the access if they wish at no cost or continue to ignore it all at risk to their computer.

Swipe

We all know the real reasons why they didn't just release them as windows updates.

poseidon1

Reassuring to learn the original October 2026 support date has been extended through to October 2027.

However, in my case laptop use has diminished substantially to once a year self assessment tax return and occasionally adding the odd music CD purchase to my WMA library.

Having long since retired, day to day browsing, emails, shopping, portfolio management, banking, rental property administration, completion of forms etc, entirely conducted via Samsung mobile tablet.

Therefore, unless I can find a very cheap ( 2nd hand) windows 11 laptop, I probably will not bother to replace the current windows 10 variant when the ESU program finally ends.

The versatility of mobile tablets has come on leaps and bounds, and certainly the speed at which I can be up and running and productive on the tablet ( ie instantaneous), compares very favourably with the long boot up and log in times it now takes to fire up the laptop.

goodValue

It says you need a Microsoft account for this.
I don't (knowingly) have such an account.
I'm not a frequent/competent computer user and so keep the number of computer accounts to a mininum.
I'm also concerned that opening a Microsoft account will result in obstacles for future computer use (another layer of access to go wrong).

Does the benefit of enhanced security outweigh my reservations on opening the account?

Vitor

Microsoft has said Defender Antivirus security intelligence updates for Windows 10 will continue through at least October 2028, so those should continue without ESU enrolment or a Microsoft account.

However, that does not mean Windows 10 itself is fully patched. The operating system security fixes after end of support require ESU enrolment, and for consumers that does involve a Microsoft account. So relying only on Defender updates is better than nothing, but it is not equivalent to having Windows 10 security updates.

The real issue is that, as time goes on, unpatched Windows 10 machines become a more obvious target. New vulnerabilities will continue to be found, and once patches exist for supported systems, attackers can often identify what changed and look for unpatched machines.

If you want to keep using a local Windows account without that ongoing Microsoft account sign-in, the route Microsoft describes is the paid ESU option. That still requires a Microsoft account for the purchase/enrolment step, but not for day-to-day Windows sign-in afterwards.

goodValue

My eventual solution to the end of Windows10 updates, was to buy a cheap chromebook.

I use the chromebook for any financial work, and the old Windows10 machine for anything else.

Getting Windows10 updates again would obviously improve security, but by how much?

Probably what I really want to know is how onerous is it to deal with a Microsoft account for someone with no experience of these accounts, and who wants to keep it as simple as possible.

Newcad

Yes you need to sign in to a MS account to set up the ESU. (It's easy to register a MS account if you don't already have one).

Once ESU has been setup then you log out of the MS account and use your local account. You can even delete the MS account from the machine altogether if you want - I have 2 windows 10 laptops done like that, logged into a MS account once (same account for both), signed up to ESU, then switched back to local accounts with no MS account on them at all.

However you should make a note of the MS account and password.

I believe that currently MS are saying that you will need to login to it once every 60 days to keep ESU active in 2027, (or it will switch off until you do login to MS again), there again they could change their minds about that like the seem to do with everything Win 10 ESU related.

GDB2222

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82059319#Comment_82059319

There’s no issue with having a Microsoft account. You are simply over complicating things. It’s risky not having updates,, but it is your data at risk.

chunter

Thank you. I have an extremely rarely used Microsoft account.
I signed up for the updates. Did the big one and a couple of smaller ones.
.
Then went into Windows settings and removed the account from the computer.
I'll come back at Christmas and do the same.