- The EU gets an extra year of free ESU for Windows 10 until October 2026.
- Requirements: Windows 10 22H2, up-to-date patches, and an active Microsoft account every 60 days.
- In the EEA, you don't need to pay or use OneDrive; outside the EEA, you need to pay, Rewards, or Windows Backup.
With the end of support for Windows 10 scheduled for October 14, 2025, millions of PCs in Spain and the rest of the European Economic Area (EEA) would be exposed if they don't receive patches. Not everyone can or wants to upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware requirements, so the focus has been on the Extended Security Updates (ESU).
Following pressure from European consumer organizations, Microsoft has agreed to a path that is truly favorable to our region: an extra year of free security updates For those residing in the EU/EEA, the scheme is simple and avoids payments or cloud tricks, but it comes with conditions that should be known to avoid losing the benefit.
Why it's free in Europe and what's different about it compared to the rest of the world?
European consumer associations, such as Euroconsumers and the OCU, they invoked the Digital Markets Law (DMA) to prevent millions of users from being forced to buy new equipment or contract additional services. Microsoft confirmed that in the EEA there will be an option to Free ESU until October 13, 2026, which extends the Windows 10 security cycle in our territory by one year.
This shift contrasts with the situation outside Europe. In regions like the United States, the original alternatives remain: pay a fee ($30), redeem 1.000 Microsoft Rewards points or enable cloud backup via windows-backupIn Europe, however, It is not mandatory to sync with OneDrive or make payments, a change that avoids potential overcharges if the free 5 GB of cloud storage is exceeded.
The key to the EEA is the Microsoft account: just have a linked account to the system to access that extra year. However, Microsoft has established an activity requirement: log in at least once every 60 days. If you don't, your computer may exit the program and stop receiving extended patches.
Several specialized media also reported that Microsoft is adjusting the EEA registration process to meet local expectations and provide a secure experience. This should translate into a simple workflow from Windows Update, avoiding unnecessary steps that once caused confusion.
An important nuance: some articles pointed out that in Europe Updates will continue to arrive automatically without any special actions, while others warned of the account's periodic use condition. The way to reconcile both messages is clear: you don't have to pay or use the cloud, but to keep the ESU license active you have to validate the account every 60 days as a guarantee that the device remains in the hands of a real user.
Requirements and how to activate the free ESU in the EEA
First of all, it's a good idea to make sure your PC meets the requirements Microsoft has announced for the Windows 10 home program. Check these points and get everything ready as soon as possible to avoid last-minute setbacks.
- Windows 10 version 22H2 in Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstation editions.
- Have the latest cumulative patch installed of Windows 10.
- Using an administrator account on the PC; the ESU license is associated with that Microsoft account.
- The Microsoft account cannot be a child account. (under-age).
If you meet the above, in the next few days or weeks you should see in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update a link for enroll in the Extended Security Updates program. In the EEA, registration is free and does not require Windows Backup or Rewards points. However, it is advisable to do it as soon as possible, as some media outlets recommend being ready before the end of official support on October 14, 2025, “just in case.”
To keep the ESU active for the full additional year, Microsoft requires log in to your account at least every 60 days. Be careful with “activate once” and then return to a local account: Switching to a local account may count as a logout, and if the system detects inactivity greater than 60 days, updates are suspended extended. There are sources that indicate that you could re-register, although others warn that you could lose the free service; in any case, it is prudent to keep the session active.
The duration of the domestic program in the EEA arrives until October 13 from 2026. As of that date, Microsoft has not guaranteed another free year for individuals. Hence, this period functions as a “cushion” to decide: Upgrade to Windows 11, upgrade incompatible hardware, or, if you prefer, explore software alternatives.
Keep in mind that the ESU provides security patches and critical fixes, but does not add any new features. The Features and experience improvements will continue to come to Windows 11 (and future Windows), while Windows 10 remains in security maintenance for that additional year.
What happens if you don't qualify or live outside the EEA?
If your computer can't install Windows 11 for TPM 2.0 or by the required CPU instructions, check How to know which drivers I have installed on my PCYou have several options to extend the lifespan of your PC. Some of them also work if you live outside the EEA and prefer to continue using Windows 10 with a certain level of protection.
One way is to bet on modified facilities that soften the requirements of Windows 11 on older computers. Projects like tiny11 and tools like Flyoobe or NTLite help to overcome the obstacles of TPM 2.0, mandatory login or bloatware. In addition, they can improve performance by eliminating dispensable components, although you should use them with caution and at your own risk.
Another solid alternative is to take the leap to LinuxThere are distributions that look similar to Windows and others that do not. cooler environments If you feel like trying something different. For a computer that can no longer move to Windows 11, Linux can be a second wind: updated software, frequent patches, and the satisfaction that the “penguin world” is friendlier than it looks.
There are also third-party solutions such as 0patch, which are committed to providing security patches for Windows 10 until 2030. And if you manage professional environments, you might consider editions like Windows LTSC or acquire the business ESU, which in public documentation is part of $61 the first year and can extend up to three years, each exercise becoming more expensive. For domestic users outside the EEA, the annual payment ESU remains, the exchange of 1.000 Rewards points or activate windows-backup.
In non-European countries, Microsoft maintains the possibility of pay $30 for an additional year, or take advantage of the free shortcuts already mentioned (Windows Backup or Rewards). Anyone who continues with Windows 10 without either of these options risks not receiving security patches after the end of support, with the risks that this entails.
Why does all this matter? According to estimates cited by several media outlets, there are still hundreds of millions of users in Windows 10 (more than 650 million were mentioned), and a 22% It runs on computers from 2017 or earlier, unable to upgrade to Windows 11 due to its requirements. Extend one year of free security in the EEA prevents premature obsolescence and reduces purchasing pressure.
In the media, there was even winks and jokes around "bringing back Windows 10," a reflection of the huge user base that refuses to let go. But, beyond the anecdotal, European policy is the fundamental change: an extra year no cloud tolls or payments, with the only condition that you use your Microsoft account periodically.
Important for your planning: the ESU offers only security and stability, not new features. If you're interested in recent features, built-in AI, or gaming improvements that some hope to see solidified in the next generation (yes, some are already looking forward to what many call "Windows 12"), the path leads through migrate to Windows 11 when the equipment allows it.
If you're unsure about deadlines, think of the calendar in terms of two milestones: 14th October 2025, end of standard support, and 13th October 2026, the end of the free ESU year in the EEA. In the meantime, keep your computer up to date (22H2, cumulative patches) and signed in to your Microsoft account. Log in at least every 60 days to prevent extended updates from being suspended.
Finally, remember that some articles warned that if you go to local account After you activate ESU, the system may treat it as a logout, and if you do not log back in online within those 60 days, you will lose access to updates. Although some sources suggest re-registration, others suggest you might miss out on the free option. The most sensible recommendation is leave the Microsoft account linked and sign in regularly.
With all this clear, the picture is better understood: in the EU you have an extra year of patches without paying or uploading your copies to the cloud; outside, you have to pay, redeem points, or use Windows Backup. And if your hardware isn't up to Windows 11, you still have options to get the most out of your PC with reasonable security, either with Linux distributions, with projects like tiny11 or with third-party patches such as 0patchBrussels' move has given Windows 10 one last life in Europe; now it's up to you to decide how to use it.
