Enroll in the Windows 10 ESU Program

Enroll in the Windows 10 ESU Program:

Free & Paid Options

💡 What Is the Windows 10 ESU Program?

As Windows 10 approaches its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, many users and organizations are wondering how to keep their systems secure. Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program offers a solution; and the good news is, some users may qualify for free access. This guide walks you through both the free and paid enrollment options, with clear steps and helpful visuals to make the process simple.

The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program allows individuals and organizations to continue receiving critical and important security updates for Windows 10 devices after official support ends on October 14, 2025.

Free Access to ESU by Microsoft Account

✅ Who Qualifies for Free ESU?

Microsoft offers free ESU access under specific conditions:

• Windows 10 virtual machines hosted in environments like:
• Windows 365
• Azure Virtual Desktop
• Azure VMs, Dedicated Hosts, VMware Solutions
• Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Azure
• Azure Stack Hub, Edge, and Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI)
• Windows 10 endpoints connected to Windows 365 Cloud PCs:
  These are entitled to ESU for up to three years, as long as the Windows 365 subscription remains active.

👤 Microsoft Account Enrollment for Individuals

For individual users—especially those on Windows 10 Home—you may qualify for free ESU simply by signing in with a Microsoft account and enabling sync settings.

🔧 How to Enable It:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings
2. Ensure Sync is turned on
3. Once enabled, your Windows Update settings may automatically show the ESU enrollment option

⚠️ This feature is still rolling out. Not all users may see it immediately, and Microsoft has not yet published a full rollout timeline.

 

💰 Paid Enrollment for ESU

✅ Prerequisites

Before enrolling in the paid ESU program, ensure:

• Your device is running Windows 10 version 22H2
• You have a Microsoft account or access to Volume Licensing (for organizations)
• You understand that ESU is a paid subscription, starting at $61 USD per device for Year One

🧭 Step-by-Step Enrollment Guide

Step 1: Visit the ESU Program Page via the official Microsoft Learn page:

👉 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10

Step 2: Review Eligibility and Pricing

1. Scroll to the Device prerequisites section
2. Review the limitations and pricing tiers
3. Note that ESU is free for virtual machines in Azure and Windows 365 environments

Step 3: Enable ESU Keys

Follow the instructions here:
👉 Enable Extended Security Updates (ESU)

This guide walks you through:

1. Installing the ESU license key
2. Activating the key using Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) or slmgr.vbs

Step 4: Purchase ESU License

• Individuals: ESU may be available through the Microsoft Store or OEM partners
• Organizations: Purchase via the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC)

Step 5: Verify Enrollment

Once activated, your device will continue receiving security updates via Windows Update.

📘 Official Resources

Windows 10 ESU Program Overview
Enable ESU in Commercial Environments
Microsoft Community FAQ on ESU Enrollment

Whether you're an individual user or managing devices across an organization, staying protected beyond Windows 10’s official support timeline is essential. The ESU program ensures you continue receiving critical updates; and now you know how to enroll, whether through a Microsoft account or a commercial license. If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it or reach out with questions!

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