Windows 10 reached the end of support on 14 October 2025, but a Windows 10 gaming PC does not have to go without security patches yet. Microsoft's consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme page now says you can enrol "any time until the programme ends on 12 October, 2027", and that existing enrolments continue automatically to that date.
Forge PC has not tested ESU enrolment on our own machines for this article. Everything below comes from Microsoft's own consumer ESU and end-of-support pages, read on 13 November 2026.
Why the date matters
You will still see older articles and forum posts that give a 2026 cut-off for Windows 10 security updates. Microsoft's consumer page is the one to trust for home users, and it is explicit: ESU coverage for consumers runs through 12 October 2027. Microsoft also points IT professionals at a separate commercial ESU route, so if your PC is managed by an employer, the consumer rules below do not apply.
What has not changed is what Windows 10 lost in October 2025. Microsoft says it no longer provides technical support, feature updates or general security fixes for Windows 10. The PC keeps working, but without ESU it is "at a greater risk for viruses and malware", in Microsoft's words.
What ESU gives you, and what it does not
ESU delivers critical and important security updates, as defined by the Microsoft Security Response Centre, for Windows 10 version 22H2. Microsoft is clear about the limits:
So ESU is a safety net, not a way to keep Windows 10 current. Game launchers, anti-cheat systems and drivers can still drop Windows 10 on their own timetables, and ESU does nothing about that.
Who can enrol
Microsoft lists these prerequisites for the consumer programme:
Requirement | Detail from Microsoft |
|---|
Windows version | Windows 10 version 22H2: Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations |
Updates | The latest Windows updates installed |
Licensing package | The Windows 10 ESU Licensing Preparation Package, KB5126256 |
Account | A Microsoft account with administrator rights (not a child account) |
Consumer ESU is not offered on PCs in kiosk mode, on PCs joined to Active Directory or Microsoft Entra, or on PCs enrolled in mobile device management. Microsoft says a PC that is only Microsoft Entra registered can still use it.
If you normally sign in with a local account, you will be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account when you enrol, because the ESU licence is tied to that account.
What it costs
Microsoft offers three routes, all of which cover you to 12 October 2027:
No extra cost if you sync your PC settings with Windows Backup.
1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
A one-time purchase of US$30, or the local-currency equivalent plus tax.
Microsoft does not publish a fixed sterling price on the page we read, so check the amount shown at checkout rather than relying on a converted figure. One licence covers up to 10 Windows 10 devices on the same Microsoft account, and once one user on a PC enrols, other users of that PC are covered too.
Refunds follow Microsoft's digital purchase policy for your country. Microsoft says Rewards redemptions are final, and there is nothing to refund if you enrolled for free by syncing settings.
How to enrol
Install all pending updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
On the same page, look for the Enroll now link. Microsoft says it appears only if the PC meets the prerequisites.
Sign in with your Microsoft account if prompted.
Choose whether to sync settings, redeem points or pay.
On other Windows 10 PCs, go to the same page and choose Add device while signed in with the same account.
You can check your status at any time in Windows Update, and paid enrolments also appear in your Microsoft order history. If the Enroll now link never appears, go back through the prerequisites above: the PC must be on 22H2 with the latest updates, and you need an administrator account that is not a child account.
Should a gaming PC use ESU or move to Windows 11?
ESU buys time. Upgrading still matters if your hardware can do it. Microsoft says the upgrade to Windows 11 is free for PCs running Windows 10 version 22H2 that meet the minimum requirements. You can check eligibility in Windows Update or with the PC Health Check app. The headline Windows 11 requirements are:
a compatible 64-bit processor with two or more cores at 1GHz or faster
4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage
UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability
TPM 2.0
DirectX 12-compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver
Microsoft's requirements page notes that some PCs may be able to meet the TPM and Secure Boot requirements by changing firmware settings, and it links to instructions. Check your motherboard manual before you assume a PC is ineligible. Our BIOS update guide covers firmware updates safely. If you are installing Windows 11 from scratch on a new build, follow our Windows 11 installation guide. Our Windows 11 Home vs Pro comparison explains which edition a gaming PC actually needs.
Office and Microsoft 365 on Windows 10
Microsoft's end-of-support page also covers Office. Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 are no longer supported, but Microsoft says it will keep providing security updates for them until 10 October 2028. Office 2016 and Office 2019 support ended in October 2025, and Microsoft says Office 2021 support ends in October 2026.
Our verdict
If your Windows 10 PC can run Windows 11, upgrading is still the long-term answer. It is free on eligible 22H2 machines, and it keeps you on a version of Windows that gets new features and drivers. If it cannot upgrade, or you need more time, enrol in consumer ESU now rather than later. For most people the free settings-sync route is enough, and Microsoft's page confirms coverage to 12 October 2027 whichever route you choose. Just remember that ESU is security fixes only, and treat October 2027 as a hard deadline to plan a new PC or an upgrade.
