Microsoft will provide free Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 in the European Economic Area through October 13, 2026, but with specific conditions[1]. While users won’t need to enable Windows Backup or use Microsoft Rewards points, they must sign in with a Microsoft Account at least once every 60 days to maintain access to updates[2].
“If your Microsoft Account is not used to sign in for a period of up to 60 days, ESU updates will be discontinued, and you’ll need to re-enroll by signing in using the same MSA,” Microsoft confirmed[3].
This change came after pressure from Euroconsumers, who argued that linking security updates to Microsoft’s cloud services raised concerns under the Digital Markets Act[4]. The free ESU program applies to Windows 10 version 22H2 devices in the EEA (European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway)[5].
Outside the EEA, users still must either enable Windows Backup, redeem Microsoft Rewards points, or pay approximately $30 for ESU access[2:1].
BleepingComputer - Microsoft will offer free Windows 10 extended security updates in Europe ↩︎
Windows Central - Microsoft will revoke free access to Windows 10’s extended security updates in the EEA ↩︎ ↩︎
WindowsLatest - No, you’ll still need a Microsoft account for Windows 10 ESU in Europe ↩︎
The Verge - Microsoft forced to make Windows 10 extended security updates truly free in Europe ↩︎
gHacks - Microsoft makes Windows 10 Extended Security Updates free, but only for users in one region ↩︎
Everything and anything to get your login and data. Fuck off, Microsoft.
Don’t care. Either switch to tux or Win10 LTSC Enterprise IoT, with updates until 2032.
Yes, but then the updates are not for free. That paid updates are possible is known since time.
Updates are free if you want them to be.
we have already paid with our data and beta testing
Now they need to be forced to remove the stupid 60 day login requirement and extend the support window to October 2028 (no new work will be required from MS since the fixes would have been made anyway).
This was announced several months ago, but yeah they are like ‘be our data pig or gtfo’
Great. My next computer will be running Linux, but I wasn’t ready to buy a new one just yet.
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It’s got dual graphics cards, with the graphics an Nvidia one. I’ve heard that they are finicky with Linux…
I’ve moved my old laptop over to mint, to try it out. That all worked well, but I couldn’t get proton vpn working and couldn’t try out my games over stream and epic.
The next machine I buy will be purposely a Linux machine, I mean to get it in januari so the period of delay is bearable.
It’s got dual graphics cards, with the graphics an Nvidia one. I’ve heard that they are finicky with Linux…
Not really. I’ve been using Nvidia cards on Linux for decades, the complaints are blown way, way out of proportion. Just install the proprietary drivers from the distro’s repos and 99% of the time that’s all that’s needed. The people who complain usually screwed something up, like installing drivers from the wrong source or not installing the meta package for their kernel headers so the drivers can’t rebuild on kernel updates. Just follow the official instructions for your distro and that should be all you have to do, there’s a lot of bad advice floating around on forums and blogs, so just stick to the official docs.
How is HDR support with nvidia on Linux? I have my PC hooked up to the TV so use it for HDR in games and also for movies and TV shows.
I haven’t tried it, but my understanding is it’s still somewhat of a beta feature
I see, well I might try it out for sure, like you said it’s quite hard to cull all the different sources of advice and the plethora of flavors of Linux to take into consideration.
Try Nobara as a live system or on a small boot disc you have lying around (ssds go for cheap these days) not that I would recommend it anymore as a distribution (nowadays Fedora is a better choice), but it helps you figure out if your setup will cause issues. (If it works on Nobara it likely will work on fedora)
Personally from a gaming perspective I would advise against Mint.
Thanks for the advice!
A lot of it depends on your distro. I use exclusively Mint and Debian (primarily Debian), and everything works fine on both of those. My laptop runs Debian 13 and has the iGPU and an RTX4070, and one of my servers has both an RTX A6000 and a T400, both being passed through Proxmox into two different Debian 13 VMs. Everything works without issue. Before Debian 13 on the laptop I had Mint 22, and before that Ubuntu 23.10, and both worked without issue as well. The laptop before this one had the iGPU and a GTX1060 I believe, it ran Mint 18, then 19, then 20, then 21 all without any problems either.
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Slimbook is ok
