{"id":238144,"date":"2025-11-01T17:04:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T17:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/238144\/"},"modified":"2025-11-01T17:04:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T17:04:22","slug":"microsoft-confirms-free-windows-10-security-updates-how-to-get-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/238144\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Confirms Free Windows 10 Security Updates \u2014 How To Get Them"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" top-image\" src=\"https:\/\/specials-images.forbesimg.com\/imageserve\/5ecfa2537b503a0007d3631f\/Windows-10-logo-on-smartphone-with-security-wordcloud-in-the-background-\/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\" alt=\"Windows 10 logo on smartphone with security wordcloud in the background.\" data-height=\"3388\" data-width=\"4907\" fetchpriority=\"high\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>How to get Windows 10 security updates for free.<\/p>\n<p>SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>With Windows 10 officially reaching <a class=\"color-link\" href=\"https:\/\/With Windows 10 officially reaching out-of-support status https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/01\/06\/new-windows-10-cyberattack-warning-as-millions-face-security-oblivion\/ on October 14, that leaves an estimated 400 million people without software updates, technical assistance, or, most critically, security fixes. Why is this so problematic? Really, you need to ask that question when faced with ongoing attacks https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/21\/update-microsoft-windows-server-10-and-11-now---attacks-underway\/ a lack of appetite to adopt passkeys in a hurry, https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/19\/organizations-cant-deploy-passwordless-declare-victory-and-walk-away\/ and hackers continually evolving their tactics? https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/08\/08\/warning-windows-hello-security-bypassed-using-other-peoples-faces\/ Security has always been, and will continue to be, key to your safe usage of Windows 10 should you opt not to update to Windows 11. The good news is that Microsoft has now confirmed that users can continue to get those all-important security updates, for free, at least for another year. Here\u2019s what you have to do, step-by-step, to ensure your Windows 10 computer is still protected by Microsoft security fixes. \" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/With Windows 10 officially reaching out-of-support status https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/01\/06\/new-windows-10-cyberattack-warning-as-millions-face-security-oblivion\/ on October 14, that leaves an estimated 400 million people without software updates, technical assistance, or, most critically, security fixes. Why is this so problematic? Really, you need to ask that question when faced with ongoing attacks https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/21\/update-microsoft-windows-server-10-and-11-now---attacks-underway\/ a lack of appetite to adopt passkeys in a hurry, https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/19\/organizations-cant-deploy-passwordless-declare-victory-and-walk-away\/ and hackers continually evolving their tactics? https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/08\/08\/warning-windows-hello-security-bypassed-using-other-peoples-faces\/ Security has always been, and will continue to be, key to your safe usage of Windows 10 should you opt not to update to Windows 11. The good news is that Microsoft has now confirmed that users can continue to get those all-important security updates, for free, at least for another year. Here\u2019s what you have to do, step-by-step, to ensure your Windows 10 computer is still protected by Microsoft security fixes. \" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"out-of-support status\" rel=\"nofollow\">out-of-support status<\/a> on October 14, that leaves an estimated 400 million people without software updates, technical assistance, or, most critically, security fixes. Why is this so problematic? Really, you need to ask that question when faced with <a class=\"color-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/21\/update-microsoft-windows-server-10-and-11-now---attacks-underway\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/21\/update-microsoft-windows-server-10-and-11-now---attacks-underway\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"ongoing attacks\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ongoing attacks<\/a> a lack of appetite <a class=\"color-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/19\/organizations-cant-deploy-passwordless-declare-victory-and-walk-away\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/19\/organizations-cant-deploy-passwordless-declare-victory-and-walk-away\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"to adopt passkeys any time soon\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">to adopt passkeys any time soon<\/a>, and <a class=\"color-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/08\/08\/warning-windows-hello-security-bypassed-using-other-peoples-faces\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/08\/08\/warning-windows-hello-security-bypassed-using-other-peoples-faces\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"hackers continually evolving\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">hackers continually evolving<\/a> their tactics? Security has always been, and will continue to be, key to your safe usage of Windows 10 should you opt not to update to Windows 11. The good news is that Microsoft has now confirmed that users can continue to get those all-important security updates, for free, at least for another year. Here\u2019s what you have to do, step-by-step, to ensure your Windows 10 computer is still protected by Microsoft security fixes. <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"embed-base color-body color-body-border link-embed embed-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/29\/update-now-as-microsoft-confirms-new-windows-admin-protection\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Update Now As Microsoft Confirms New Windows Admin Protection\" data-ga-track=\"forbesEmbedly:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/29\/update-now-as-microsoft-confirms-new-windows-admin-protection\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ForbesUpdate Now As Microsoft Confirms New Windows Admin ProtectionBy Davey Winder<\/a>How To Continue Getting Official Microsoft Security Updates For Windows 10<\/p>\n<p>Windows users are, understandably, given the size of the operating system market share, a prime target for attackers of all kinds, from nation-state espionage actors to hackers and scammers. Windows zero-day attacks are not going away, but for hundreds of millions of people who have not, or cannot, move away from the now unsupported Windows 10 platform, security updates have. Although some might look back on incidents such as the infamous <a class=\"color-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/05\/17\/new-windows-10-update-warning---startup-loop-confirmed-by-microsoft\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/05\/17\/new-windows-10-update-warning---startup-loop-confirmed-by-microsoft\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"startup loop of death\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">startup loop of death<\/a> and think good riddance, that is cyber masochism at its most brazen. When security updates stop, as they will for <a class=\"color-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/08\/12\/update-microsoft-windows-11-now-or-your-security-updates-will-stop\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/08\/12\/update-microsoft-windows-11-now-or-your-security-updates-will-stop\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"some Windows 11 users\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">some Windows 11 users<\/a> (yes, you read that right) on November 11, the only people who are happy are the attackers.<\/p>\n<p>The good news is that <a class=\"color-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/windows\/extended-security-updates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/windows\/extended-security-updates\" aria-label=\"Microsoft has confirmed\">Microsoft has confirmed<\/a> that Windows 10 users can continue to get security updates until October 13, 2026, without having to pay the $30 fee to enroll in the Extended Security Updates programme. Here\u2019s what you need to do.<\/p>\n<p>Check that you are eligible. You must be running Microsoft Windows 10, version 22H2 Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations edition. You must have the latest Windows update installed. You must be signed in as an administrator. The account cannot be a child one.Redeem 1,000 Microsoft reward points if you use that scheme.Or, simply ensure that you are syncing your PC settings using backup with Windows to a Microsoft OneDrive account. <a class=\"embed-base color-body color-body-border link-embed embed-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/31\/paypal-attack-update-another-do-not-pay-warning-issued\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"PayPal Attack Update: Another \u2018Do Not Pay\u2019 Warning Issued\" data-ga-track=\"forbesEmbedly:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/daveywinder\/2025\/10\/31\/paypal-attack-update-another-do-not-pay-warning-issued\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ForbesPayPal Attack Update: Another \u2018Do Not Pay\u2019 Warning IssuedBy Davey Winder<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can enroll in ESU any time until the programme ends on 13 October, 2026,\u201d Microsoft said. \u201dYou will need to sign into your Microsoft account in order to enroll in ESU. You\u2019ll be given these options to choose from when you enroll in the ESU programme. You can use your existing ESU license on up to 10 devices.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How to get Windows 10 security updates for free. SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images With Windows 10 officially&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":238145,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[100623,59,100625,100624,100626,86,56,54,55,2869,29649,100622,100621,100627],"class_list":["post-238144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-free-windows-update","tag-gb","tag-how-to-gte-windows-10-security-updates-until-october-2026","tag-microsoft-security-update","tag-sign-up-now-for-free-windows-10-security-updates","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-windows","tag-windows-10","tag-windows-10-free","tag-windows-10-security-updates","tag-windows-update-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=238144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/238144\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/238145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=238144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=238144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}