Upgrade Your Windows 10 System Prior to October 14th to Ensure Necessary Update

Microsoft has announced a new initiative for users who are not yet ready to transition to Windows 11. The tech giant is offering a free Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 users, which will provide security updates after the official support ends in October 2025.

To qualify for this program, you need to take a few steps. Firstly, you must enable Windows Backup with your data saved to OneDrive. This qualifies you for the ESU program free until October 13, 2026. It's important to note that simply installing OneDrive is not enough—you must activate Windows Backup to OneDrive and have the necessary updates installed. Once you've done this, the updates will roll out gradually to qualifying systems.

The enrollment process for the ESU program may not be available in all locations and on all devices yet. Microsoft is working to restore its availability in a subset of markets. However, the first step in the enrollment wizard is straightforward: you need to back up your PC settings, which initiates the process of syncing settings with OneDrive using a Microsoft account.

The ESU program is currently being rolled out, and not all eligible users may have access to the enrollment wizard just yet. To enroll for free using OneDrive, users need to back up their PC settings with Windows Backup.

Microsoft provides two methods to enroll in the ESU program for free: syncing Windows settings with a OneDrive account or redeeming 1000 Microsoft Rewards points. The August 2025 patch KB5063709 is necessary for Windows 10 devices to access the ESU program, but the "Enroll now" link or messaging may not be visible even after installing this update.

It's worth noting that Microsoft only provides 5GB of free storage on OneDrive, which might not be enough for users with a lot of settings data to back up. This could potentially lead to additional costs.

This free ESU program is a stopgap for users not ready to transition to Windows 11, as Windows 10 is not expected to receive updates beyond 2026. If you're a Windows 10 user and want to continue receiving security updates after 2025, following these steps to enroll in the ESU program could be a wise move.