Microsoft is offering free security updates for Windows 10
Microsoft’s letting you hang around a little longer, but only if you back up your stuff to the cloud.
Microsoft is back with a deal for Windows 10 users, but like any sweet offer, there’s a little catch tucked into it.
With support for Windows 10 officially ending on October 14, 2025, the company has decided to extend a lifeline in the form of free security updates, but only if you're willing to stay on the cloud.
This safety measure is available through Microsoft's Windows Backup app. By signing in with a Microsoft Account and syncing your PC settings to the cloud, you'll get a free year of Extended Security Updates (ESU) until October 2026. If you do not want to sync your data, you can pay $30 per device or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points for the same coverage.
This isn't exactly a new program; Microsoft first introduced the Windows 10 ESU last year as a paid safety net for those who just couldn’t leap to Windows 11. But by offering ESU for free under certain conditions, Microsoft shows its awareness of the risks. With over half of the world's PCs still running Windows 10, and many ineligible for Windows 11, Microsoft is providing a solution to protect hundreds of millions of devices from new threats.
David Adubiina
Now, the catch here is less about money and more about pushing users deeper into the Microsoft ecosystem. To get the free updates, you have to be willing to back up your life to the cloud via OneDrive, which gives 5GB free storage (Of course, this is not enough, so you’ll have to eventually buy cloud storage).
For those not keen on syncing or paying, after October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will stop receiving security patches, and while your PC won’t suddenly stop working, the risks will quietly pile up. Vulnerabilities will go unpatched, and your system will gradually become more exposed.
Businesses, of course, don’t get the freebie. They’ll have to pay up, starting at $61 per device per year, through Microsoft’s commercial ESU options, unless they’re lucky enough to find a workaround.
Microsoft is also making the process of signing up for ESU relatively simple. An enrollment wizard will roll out starting in July, nudging eligible users through Settings and Notifications. By mid-August, most Windows 10 PCs will have access. You’ll be able to pick your method, sync with Windows Backup, redeem reward points, or pay directly, and enroll your device for continued security protection.
