Unlike many past Windows updates, Windows 11 required some users to purchase new computers with special CPU technologies and Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Microsoft has been criticized a lot for ditching perfectly serviceable PCs, and that will become a problem in 2026. AI-driven memory and memory shortages have made system upgrades much more expensive and potentially slow down upgrades. Some have also avoided Windows 11 due to Microsoft’s heavy focus on AI features.
The result is that Windows 10 remains stubbornly popular. according to StatCounter dataWindows 10 still runs on about 26 percent of PCs, compared to 72 percent of Windows 11. That means there are still hundreds of millions of active Windows 10 installations, but those machines will be updated for at least an additional year.
To join the ESU program, just look for the registration option in the Windows Update menu. Customers in the EU get these updates for free, but to be eligible for free updates in other regions, you must sign in with a Microsoft account and sync your system settings. Otherwise, it costs $30 (or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points) to join the program.
Once you’re signed in, the ESU license works on up to 10 devices, but Microsoft emphasizes that it’s for personal use—businesses must pay per device for Windows 10 updates, but the software is available until 2028. But at this rate, Microsoft may release Windows 10 updates even outside of that schedule.
