Extra year free updates for Windows 10

"Euroconsumers and the Belgian consumer organization Testaankoop have scored an important victory in their battle with Microsoft over the future of Windows 10. After more than two years of lobbying, Microsoft has confirmed that users in the European Economic Area will receive free security updates for an extra year. The so-called Extended Security Updates will now continue until October 13, 2026. The news means that millions of users will remain protected against security breaches for another year."

"The battle began in 2021 when Microsoft announced that support for Windows 10 would end in October 2025. The system would continue to work, but without security updates, devices would become an easy target for hackers. The only official option was to switch to Windows 11, which requires a PC manufactured after 2018. For a large proportion of users with older but still perfectly functional computers, this would mean early replacement."

Euroconsumers and Testaankoop secured a commitment from Microsoft to provide free Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area until October 13, 2026. The updates will protect millions without requiring registration for Microsoft Rewards, OneDrive, or other services, avoiding potential conflicts with the Digital Markets Act. Microsoft had previously announced end of support in October 2025, leaving devices without security updates unless upgraded to Windows 11, which needs PCs manufactured after 2018. Testaankoop found almost a quarter of members own 2017-or-older computers and 80% of those run Windows, affecting roughly 18% of respondents. The extension is interim; from 2026 many devices could still face premature obsolescence and increased electronic waste.

Read at Techzine Global