What Happened to Forever? The death of Windows 10 and another broken promise

Kerry Hammer
Oct 14
4 min read

Remember when Microsoft forced us all off the elegant, versatile, and reliable Windows 7 with the promise that Windows 10 would put an end to the frustrating process of upgrading operating systems every 5-8 years? Remember when Jerry Nixon, a Microsoft "evangelist" promised that Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows we'd ever have? That "Windows as a Service" meant you'd never have to change operating systems again?

Remember when they assured us "All of that migration drama is behind you. If you're in the process of a migration project or planning one, take heart -- this should be the last of its kind."

Well, Pepperidge Farm remembers.

But apparently Microsoft forgot about that.

To many of us in IT, the fact that Microsoft chose October 14th, National E-Waste Day, as the day to officially put the axe to Windows 10 is saying the quiet part out loud. They designed an operating system that is incompatible with a frankly enormous number of computer models currently in use and are now going to punish you for not wanting to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to replace a computer that works just fine.

But, Microsoft seems to have realized their mistake. They've quietly given us a way to keep our Windows 10 computer in compliance for at least another year. In an article posted on Microsoft.com, they explain rather sheepishly how you can sign up for "Extended Security Updates". We've posted it here for you convenience.

What is Windows ESU?

The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 provides customers with a more secure option to continue using their Windows 10 PCs after October 14, 2025, while they transition to Windows 11. The ESU program helps reduce the risk of malware and cybersecurity attacks by providing access to critical and important security updates as defined by the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) for devices running Windows 10, version 22H2. ESU enrollment does not provide other types of fixes, feature improvements, or product enhancements. It also does not come with technical support.The last day of support for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025. If you need more time to move to Windows 11, we recommend you enroll your Windows 10 device in ESU. You can enroll in ESU any time until the program ends on October 13, 2026.

Windows 10 ESU prerequisites

To enroll in the consumer Windows 10 ESU program, make sure your device meets the following requirements:

Devices need to be running Windows 10, version 22H2 Home, Professional, Pro Education, or Workstations edition.
Devices need to have the latest Windows update installed. Learn how to install Windows updates.
The Microsoft account used to sign in to the device must be an administrator account.
- The ESU license will be associated with the Microsoft account used to enroll. You may be prompted to sign in with a Microsoft account if you typically sign into Windows with a local account.
The Microsoft account can’t be a child account.

The consumer ESU program can’t be used by commercial devices. Consumer ESU enrollment won’t be offered to devices in the following scenarios:

Devices in kiosk mode.
Devices joined to an Active Directory domain or that are Microsoft Entra joined.
- However, devices that are Microsoft Entra registered can use the Consumer ESU program.
Devices enrolled in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
Devices that already have an ESU license.

If a device is enrolled in the Consumer ESU program and then participates in one of the Commercial ESU scenarios listed above, the Consumer ESU enrollment on the device will be suspended until it is no longer being used as a Commercial device.If you're an IT professional and need to enable ESU for your organization, see Enable Extended Security Updates (ESU).

How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?

You can enroll in ESU in one of the following three ways:

At no additional cost if you are syncing your PC Settings.
Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax.

All enrollment options provide extended security updates through October 13, 2026. You can enroll in ESU any time until the program ends on October 13, 2026, however devices will be more vulnerable and susceptible to viruses and malware before enrollment. You will need to sign into your Microsoft account in order to enroll in ESU. You’ll be given these options to choose from when you enroll in the ESU program. You can use your existing ESU license on up to 10 devices.

How to get Windows 10 ESU

ESU is rolling out to eligible devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 prior to the end of support date on October 14, 2025, with availability expanding gradually as the phased rollout progresses.To get ESU on your Windows 10 device:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If your device meets the prerequisites, you’ll see a link to enroll in ESU.
Once you select Enroll now you’ll start the ESU enrollment. If you are signed into Windows with a local account, you will be prompted to sign into your Microsoft account. If you are already backing up your PC Settings, you will see a prompt to enroll your device.
If you aren’t backing up your Windows settings, you can choose if you want to begin backing up your settings, redeem Rewards, or make a one-time purchase to enroll in ESU.

You can use your existing ESU license on up to 10 devices once you enroll in ESU. Just go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Enroll now on those additional devices. If you are already signed into the device with the same Microsoft account used to enroll your first device, select Add device. If you are not signed into the device with a Microsoft account, you will be prompted to sign in to the Microsoft account used to enroll the first device.

If you can't afford to upgrade your computer right now, like your life the way it is, or just generally want to stick it to the man, it might be worth $30 in digital blackmail rather than hundreds in new computer hardware.

If you have any further questions, or need help getting enrolled in ESU, please give us a call at (830) 765-2812 or an email at service@hammertechservices.com