Microsoft has changed its previous line on the end of Windows 10 support. Originally, official support was to end on 14 October 2025. After that, it was planned that users would only continue to receive security updates via the fee-based Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme. These ESU licences were actually supposed to be paid for annually - similar to older Windows versions in the past.
However, Microsoft partially withdrew this plan in September 2025. Following criticism from consumer advocates and legal pressure from the European Union - particularly in connection with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) - the company declared that it would provide free security updates for Windows 10 in the European Economic Area (EEA), i.e. in the EU as well as in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Switzerland also benefits from this regulation, as Microsoft places it on an equal footing with the European legal area for this transitional phase.
What Microsoft now offers
From 15 October 2025, all private users of Windows 10 in the EU and Switzerland will be able to participate in the ESU programme free of charge. Participation is via the usual Windows update settings. After enrolment, the device will continue to receive:
- Critical and important security updates,
- No new functions or design changes.
Microsoft expressly points out that a Microsoft account (MSA) is required for this extension. The device must be connected to this account at regular intervals (at least every 60 days) for the authorisation to remain active.
Duration of free updates
The free provision is valid until 13 October 2026, after which Microsoft will reassess the situation. It is possible that fees for ESU licences will be charged again from this date or that the provision will be discontinued completely.
Companies and organisations that operate devices in domain or Azure AD environments are exempt from this regulation. They must continue to pay via the official licence programmes.
Background to the withdrawal
Since the beginning of 2024, Microsoft had insisted that only paying customers would receive updates after the end of support. This was met with criticism in Europe, as Windows 10 is installed on millions of devices that often cannot be technically updated to Windows 11.
Consumer advocates argued that Microsoft should not allow functioning devices to become artificially obsolete. The EU Commission also referred to the Digital Markets Act, which obliges dominant platform operators to provide fair and transparent product maintenance.
Microsoft responded by backing down and offering a free additional year of security for all end users in Europe.
With the new regulation, Microsoft is effectively admitting that the original update policy was too restrictive. For European and Swiss users, this means One year of additional securitywithout additional costs. After 2026, however, it remains to be seen whether Windows 10 will continue to be maintained or finally be replaced.
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