Microsoft extends Windows 10 security updates through October 2027
Tags Enterprise · Consumer
Microsoft quietly extended its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 by an additional year, pushing the end date from October 12, 2026 to October 12, 2027. The extension comes as approximately 25% of PCs worldwide still run Windows 10, despite official support ending in October 2025. The original one-year ESU program was free for consumer and small business users. Microsoft updated its policy page and added an editor's note to its blog post without a formal announcement. The move reflects the difficulty of migrating the remaining Windows 10 installed base.
Technical significance
The extended timeline gives enterprise IT departments an additional year for Windows 11 migration planning, but also risks becoming a crutch that delays necessary transitions. Developers targeting the enterprise market should continue testing against Windows 11 while maintaining Windows 10 compatibility for at least another year.