Windows 10 Security Updates Extended to 2027: 3 Things to Check Now
This post was translated from the original Korean article. Screenshots show the Korean interface.
If you use Windows 10, you have probably heard that “security updates end completely in October 2026.” Yet even now, after that date, Windows 10 home PCs can still receive security updates. That is because Microsoft extended the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program by one year, to October 12, 2027.
In this post I lay out where things stand right now, and what to check and prepare on your own PC, step by step. (As of October 2026, based on Microsoft’s official guidance)
Timeline at a Glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 14, 2025 | Windows 10 end of support |
| October 13, 2026 | Original end date of consumer ESU |
| June 2026 | Microsoft extends consumer ESU by one year |
| October 12, 2027 | Current end date of consumer ESU |
| October 10, 2028 | Security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 end |
If you have already enrolled in ESU, there is nothing else you need to do. You will keep receiving security updates automatically until the extended date.
What End of Support Means
End of support does not mean your PC shuts down or Windows suddenly stops working. Windows 10 keeps running. What stops is:
- Security updates
- Feature updates and general bug fixes
- Microsoft technical support
Enrolling in ESU gets you only the security updates (Critical and Important). New features and general bug fixes are not part of ESU.
Microsoft also points out that antivirus software (including Microsoft Defender) is not enough on its own, because security holes in the operating system itself can only be closed by operating system updates.
Three Things to Check on Your PC
1. Check your Windows 10 version
To receive ESU, you need Windows 10 version 22H2.
- Press
Windows key + R. - Type
winverand click OK. - Check that the version shown in the window is 22H2.
If it is not 22H2, first update to the latest version through Windows Update.
2. Check whether you are enrolled in ESU
Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update. On a PC that is not enrolled, you will see a prompt to enroll in ESU. If there is no prompt and updates are arriving normally, the PC may already be enrolled.
Requirements
- Windows 10 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education, Workstations)
- The latest Windows updates installed
- Signed in with a Microsoft account that has administrator rights (if you use a local account, you will be asked to switch to a Microsoft account)
- Child accounts cannot enroll
- PCs managed by an organization are not eligible for consumer ESU
Cost (choose one of three)
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Sync your PC settings with Windows Backup |
| Microsoft Rewards | Redeem 1,000 points |
| Paid | One-time purchase of US$30 (or the local-currency equivalent, plus tax) |
One license covers up to 10 devices. No matter when you enroll, security updates end on October 12, 2027.
3. Check whether you can upgrade to Windows 11
ESU only buys you time. Sooner or later you will need to move to Windows 11, so it is worth checking now whether your PC can upgrade.
Install and run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. It tells you whether your PC can upgrade and, if it cannot, which item is the problem.
Windows 11 minimum requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, 64-bit compatible (a CPU on Microsoft’s supported list) |
| Memory | 4 GB or more |
| Storage | 64 GB or more |
| Firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | TPM 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 or later, WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | 9 inches or larger, 720p or higher |
The items that fail most often are TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. On PCs made in the last few years, the hardware usually supports both but they are sometimes turned off in the BIOS. If PC Health Check flags these two items, check your BIOS settings first, following your motherboard or PC maker’s instructions.
Windows 10 Home and Pro users can upgrade to Windows 11 for free as long as the PC meets the requirements. The upgrade is done from Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.
If You Use Office, Check This Too
It is not only Windows. Office has support periods as well.
| Office version | Support status |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 apps | Security updates on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028 |
| Office 2016, 2019 | Out of support on every operating system |
| Office 2021 | Out of support on Windows 10; support on Windows 11 also ended in October 2026 |
| Office 2024 | Supported on Windows 11 until October 2029 |
If you use Office 2016 or 2019, keep in mind that Office itself will not get security updates even after you upgrade Windows.
What to Do, by Situation
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Can upgrade to Windows 11 | Back up important files, then upgrade to Windows 11 |
| Can upgrade, but not right now | Enroll in ESU and upgrade before October 2027 |
| Cannot upgrade (does not meet requirements) | Enroll in ESU and plan to replace the PC before October 2027 |
| Already enrolled in ESU | Nothing more to do; prepare the next step before October 2027 |
The extra year does not mean “you are fine for now.” It is closer to one more year to prepare for the move. Run PC Health Check at least once now, and find out which of these cases applies to your PC.
