Windows 10: How to get an extra year of free support

Windows 10 is set to stop receiving free security updates on 14 October 2025.

In March, we called for Microsoft to extend support for Windows 10. We did this chiefly because many thousands of New Zealand consumers have perfectly good PCs that they can’t install Windows 11 on.

Microsoft has begun rolling out its extended security updates (ESU) program to all individual customers. The ESU is an opt-in program that delivers critical security updates to Windows 10 machines. This allows the machines to remain safe for an extra year, until October 2026.

As promised when it was announced in October 2024, the ESU is available for a one-off fee of $50.40.

However, you can also enrol into the ESU program at no cost. That’s right. You can get a free one-year extension of Windows 10 security support if you’re willing to jump through some hoops first.

By enrolling in the ESU program, you can keep using your computer rather than throwing it out as e-waste. This lowers your personal emissions and buys you another year of technological advancement before you have to shell out on a new computer.

Here is the 2-step process for enrolling in the ESU program.

Step 1: Open the enrolment tool

Open your Start menu and search for ‘Windows Update settings’. You can also reach the tool through Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Then, click ‘Enroll now’.

If you can’t find the ‘Enroll now’ button, the tool probably hasn’t been rolled out to your computer yet.

If you have a Windows update pending, install that first and try again.

If that doesn’t work, Microsoft expects the tool to be available to all customers by mid-August, so check back in a few weeks.

When you run the tool, it will give you 3 options.

• Back up your PC settings

• Redeem Microsoft Rewards points

• A one-time purchase for $50.40.

If you have already been backing up your PC settings, the tool will automatically proceed to enrolment.

When you select an option, the enrolment tool should help you through the required steps.

Read on for advice on which option to choose and detailed instructions for if you get stuck.

Step 2a. Back up your PC settings (free)

This is the free way to get into the ESU program. It’s the best option for most people.

Microsoft is allowing users who back up their Windows settings to the cloud to opt in to the ESU program.

Windows Backup is built into Windows 10. It can help you back up all the files on your PC to Microsoft’s cloud file storage service OneDrive. This includes folders like Documents and Pictures.

However, you don’t need to do a full backup to be eligible for the ESU program. You only need to back up your settings (in other words, your Windows account customisation options). This should only use a few megabytes of storage space. Your free allotment of 5GB of OneDrive space will be more than enough.

• Sign in to your Microsoft account.

  • Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info.
    
  • If you see an option to ‘Sign in with a Microsoft account instead’, do so. If you don’t, you’re already logged in.
    
  • You’ll need to create an account if you don’t have one.

• Make sure you have OneDrive on your account.

  • If you don’t, visit onedrive.live.com to log in or create an account.

• Open Windows backup.

  • You can find it through Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.

• Toggle on the following settings.

  • Remember my apps
  • Remember my preferences.

Step 2b. Redeem Microsoft Rewards (1,000 points)

You can also get into the ESU program by redeeming points from Microsoft’s loyalty programme. This is a token cost since 1,000 points is equivalent to about NZ$2.

If you have a Microsoft account and use Bing for search or Edge for browsing, you’ve likely already accumulated some points – maybe enough to redeem for access to the ESU program – without knowing it.

Xbox users, especially those who pay for a Game Pass subscription, may also have a surprise sum waiting for them.

You can check your Microsoft Rewards balance by visiting rewards.bing.com and logging in.

You can earn a handful of rewards points each day by completing trivial tasks (mostly clicking links). If you put your mind to it, you could build up 1,000 points from scratch over a week or two.

However, using the Windows Backup method above would certainly be an easier option.

Step 2c. Direct purchase ($50.40)

If you don’t want to create a OneDrive account and don’t have enough Microsoft Rewards points, your last resort is to pay the regular registration fee. It’s still a good price to get an extra year out of your PC. Plus, paying lets you keep hold of more of your precious data because you won’t have to log in to a Microsoft or OneDrive account.

Success?

If one of these three methods worked, you should be shown a screen that says something like “You’re enrolled in Extended Security Updates through October 13, 2026”.

Congratulations! You’ve just bought yourself another year of safe computing.

If you have multiple Windows 10 computers, you can use the same ESU licence without having to pay or redeem points again.

Your next task: get the word out to your family and friends.

There are many thousands of New Zealand consumers who need to hear about this option, and Consumer NZ can’t reach them all without your help.