Is Microsoft Giving Free Windows 10 Security Updates in Europe?

My Windows 10 PC Is Old, Do I Get Free Updates After 2025?

Your computer running Windows 10 has a deadline. Microsoft has set a date when it will stop providing free security updates for it. For most people, that date is October 14, 2025. After that day, using your computer online could become risky. However, if you live in certain European countries, you just received some good news. Microsoft has changed its plan and will now offer an extra year of security updates for free, without any special conditions. This is a significant change, but it also brings up important questions about the future of millions of computers around the world.

This development is important for anyone who owns a Windows 10 computer that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. It affects your online safety and your wallet. Let’s break down what is happening, what it means for you, and why this story is far from over.

The End of an Era for Windows 10

Every software product has a lifecycle. After a certain amount of time, the company that made it stops supporting it. For Windows 10, this end-of-support date is October 14, 2025. On that day, Microsoft will release the last free security update for the most common versions of Windows 10.

What does this mean? It does not mean your computer will stop working. It will turn on and run your programs just like it did the day before. The problem is security. Hackers and cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to break into computers. When they find a weakness in Windows, Microsoft creates a patch, or an update, to fix it. These updates protect you from viruses, ransomware, and having your personal information stolen.

After October 2025, Microsoft will no longer release these free patches for Windows 10. Your computer will be frozen in time, and any new security flaws discovered after that date will remain unfixed. Using an unsupported operating system connected to the internet is like leaving your front door unlocked. It becomes a target.

Microsoft’s Original Plan: Extended Security Updates (ESU)

Microsoft knew that many people would not be ready or able to move away from Windows 10 by the deadline. So, they created a program called Extended Security Updates, or ESU. This is a paid service that allows you to continue receiving critical security updates after the official end-of-support date. Think of it as buying an extended warranty for your computer’s software.

For businesses, the ESU program is straightforward: they pay a fee per computer, per year, for up to three years. For regular home users, Microsoft’s initial plan was more complicated. There were a few different ways you could get the ESU for one year:

• Purchase a License: The most direct option was to pay for a one-year ESU license. The price was expected to be around $30 in the US or €31.49 in Germany.
• Use Microsoft Rewards: You could earn points by using Microsoft services like the Bing search engine. If you collected 1,000 points, you could trade them for a free one-year ESU license.
• Use Windows Backup: Another option involved using the Windows Backup feature to sync your computer’s settings to the cloud. This was meant to give you a free ESU license.

There was a common thread through all these options: they required you to have a Microsoft account. You could not simply get the updates without being logged into Microsoft’s ecosystem. This requirement applied to everyone, everywhere. That is, until now.

A Major Shift for European Users

A big change has happened, but only for people living in the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA includes all 27 member states of the European Union, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For consumers in these countries, Microsoft has removed all the previous requirements.

The news came from discussions between Microsoft and an organization called the Euroconsumers Group. This group works to protect the rights of consumers across Europe. They were concerned about Microsoft’s ESU plan. The group argued that forcing users to sign up for a Microsoft account or use other Microsoft services just to get essential security updates might not be fair.

They pointed to a new set of rules in Europe called the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA is designed to make sure large technology companies compete fairly and do not use their power to lock users into their services. The Euroconsumers Group believed that linking security updates—a critical need—to other optional services could violate the DMA.

Their pressure worked. Microsoft confirmed that it will offer the one-year ESU program to all home users of Windows 10 in the EEA completely for free. There will be no conditions. You will not need to:

• Pay any money.
• Use a Microsoft account.
• Use Windows Backup.
• Redeem any Rewards points.

This is a clear win for European consumers. It means that millions of people in the region can keep their Windows 10 computers secure for an extra year, until October 13, 2026, without any hassle.

How Will You Get These Free Updates?

Microsoft has not revealed the exact technical details yet. A spokesperson mentioned that the process will be updated to meet local expectations and provide a secure experience. The most likely scenario is that an option to register for the free ESU program will appear directly within the Windows Update settings on your Windows 10 computer sometime before the October 2025 deadline.

If you live in the EEA and have a personal computer with Windows 10, you should simply keep an eye on your Windows Update screen as the date approaches. You will likely see a prompt that allows you to opt-in for the additional year of free updates. This change ensures that your machine remains protected without forcing you to buy a new one right away.

The Problem That Remains: A One-Year Fix

While the free ESU offer is good news for Europeans, the Euroconsumers Group believes it is only a temporary solution. In their communication with Microsoft, they raised several bigger concerns that affect everyone, not just users in the EEA. Their main criticism is that the problem has not been solved; it has just been delayed by one year.

After October 13, 2026, those free security updates will stop. At that point, those same Windows 10 computers will once again become vulnerable. The consumer group argues that a one-year extension does not meet the reasonable expectations people have for a product they purchased. A device that works perfectly well should not become a security risk so quickly.

The E-Waste Mountain and Sustainability

The biggest issue is the hardware requirements for Windows 11. Unlike previous upgrades, such as moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10, you cannot install Windows 11 on just any computer. It has strict requirements, needing a specific security chip (TPM 2.0) and a relatively modern processor.

This means that millions of computers that are still fast and fully functional for everyday tasks like browsing the web, sending emails, and writing documents cannot officially upgrade to Windows 11. According to some estimates, there are over 850 million active devices still running Windows 10. A large portion of these cannot be upgraded.

When security support for Windows 10 ends, people will face a choice: continue using an unsafe computer, or buy a new one. Most people will be forced to buy a new machine. This will lead to millions of perfectly good computers being thrown away, creating a massive amount of electronic waste (e-waste).

The Euroconsumers Group points out that this goes against the European Union’s own goals for sustainability and creating durable products. In an age where we are trying to reduce waste and reuse resources, forcing users to discard functional hardware is a step in the wrong direction. Discontinuing security updates also hurts the market for refurbished and used computers, which is a key part of a sustainable economy.

A Shorter Lifespan Than Ever Before

The consumer group also highlighted how quickly Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 compared to past versions. This adds to the feeling that users are being rushed into an upgrade. Consider these timelines:

• Support for Windows XP ended seven years after Windows Vista was released.
• Support for Windows 7 ended eight years after Windows 8 was released.
• Support for Windows 10 will end just four years after Windows 11 was released.

In the past, these longer transition periods gave users plenty of time to naturally upgrade their computers when it made sense for them. By the time support ended, the number of people still using the old version was small. This time, Windows 10 is still incredibly popular. A 2024 survey showed that 22% of consumers are still using a PC from 2017 or earlier that cannot run Windows 11 but still meets all their needs.

Microsoft’s own history makes this move even more jarring. When Windows 10 was launched, it was marketed as “the last version of Windows.” The idea was that it would be a service that continuously evolved with regular updates, rather than a product that would be replaced. That plan was abandoned. Microsoft created Windows 11, in part, by using interface elements from a canceled project called Windows 10X. To drive adoption of this new operating system and encourage new PC sales, strict hardware requirements were put in place, leaving millions of existing customers behind.

Your Options Moving Forward

Given this complex situation, what are your choices if you own a Windows 10 computer?

1. Upgrade to a Windows 11 Compatible PC. This is the path Microsoft wants you to take. It is the simplest but also the most expensive option. It ensures you will have a secure and supported operating system for many years to come.
2. Use the ESU Program. If you live in the EEA, you get one free year of security updates until October 2026. If you live elsewhere, you will have to use one of the original options, like paying the yearly fee. This is a good short-term solution but only delays the problem.
3. Switch to a Different Operating System. For those with older computers that cannot run Windows 11, there is another option: Linux. Operating systems like Linux Mint or Ubuntu are free to install and use. They are known for their strong security and can run well on older hardware. While there can be a learning curve if you are used to Windows, modern versions of Linux are more user-friendly than ever before.
4. Continue Using Windows 10 Without Updates. This is the most dangerous option and is not recommended. While your computer will continue to function, it will be a sitting duck for malware and hackers. If you use your computer for anything important, like online banking or shopping, this is an unacceptable risk.

For now, the change in Europe provides a temporary relief and shows that regulatory pressure can lead to consumer-friendly outcomes. However, the larger global conversation about software lifecycles, hardware requirements, and environmental responsibility is only just beginning.