How to Enable Windows 10 Extended Support for Free

As you’re probably well aware by now, official support for Windows 10 will reach its end in October of 2025 (October 14 to be exact). This is bad news for those whose PC isn’t capable of making the switch to the more resource-intensive Windows 11. Thankfully, though, Microsoft has provided an out in the form of extended support for another year.

The stated one-time cost of $30, however, has rubbed many users the wrong way. This article will look at how to get this support for free.

Extended Support

Many users have machines that can’t support the demands of Windows 11. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is Microsoft’s way of lengthening the support deadline until Windows 10 loses all support and updates, and becomes increasingly vulnerable to security threats and malware. The program itself will end on October 13, 2026.

Initially, the only way to sign up for this program was to pay a fee of $30. This would cover up to 10 devices on one account, but for those with only one machine, this was hardly comforting. Thankfully, Microsoft has introduced additional ways to sign up.

How to Get Free Windows 10 Extended Support

Let’s look at the ways you can get continued security updates on your Windows 10 machine:

Prerequisites

Microsoft has highlighted some hoops to jump through to ensure you’re eligible for the ESU. These include:

• Having a legitimate and properly activated version of Windows 10
• Have a Microsoft Account with Administrator privileges
• Be fully up to date with Windows Updates

If you’ve got all this sorted, you should be on track for ESU.

Sync Your Settings With the Enrollment Wizard

With the latest updates, Windows now offers users the option to enroll in the ESU program via an Enrollment Wizard, located in the update section of Settings. To enjoy an extra year of support, all you have to do is sync your PC settings. Here’s what to do:

Step 1. Open up Settings (Win + I) and choose “Update & Security.”

Step 2. Look for the section about Windows support and click the “Enroll now” option.

Step 3. In the window that pops up, click the “Enroll now” button and sign in to your Microsoft account.

Step 4. If you have syncing enabled on Windows Backup, you’ll be able to enroll right away. Otherwise, you’ll have to sync your settings by choosing the option in the following window.

Step 5. Click “Next” and the enrollment process will begin.

Microsoft Rewards

Another way to enroll, which might seem to require a payment but does not, is signing up for and redeeming Microsoft Rewards points. These points can be gained in a variety of ways, and many won’t cost you a cent. Here are a few:

• Fully update your details on your Microsoft Account and keep things updated.
• Download Microsoft Edge and regularly search with Bing. Search Bar searches help too.
• Read MSN articles.
• Use the Bing app.
• Buy games and apps from the Microsoft Store.
• Take advantage of special offers and promotions.

You can visit the Bing rewards page to find out about other opportunities. For these points to track properly, you’ll need to be signed in to your Microsoft account.

Enrolling happens in much the same way as the method above, except you choose “Redeem Microsoft Rewards points” before clicking “Next.” Windows will tell you whether or not you have enough points to follow through.