Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area will receive updates for an additional year, with no hidden catches. Microsoft yields to pressure.
October 14 is the planned end date for Windows 10, but many users have not yet switched. European Windows 10 users can breathe a sigh of relief: Microsoft will continue to provide free security updates until October 2026. This is stated by Euroconsumers in a letter and has also been confirmed by Microsoft itself to Windows Central.
No Hidden Catches
Microsoft promises to continue supporting Windows 10 for an additional year in the European Economic Area, until October 2026. This is a concession to individual users who do not want or cannot upgrade to Windows 11. The extended support comes without cost or additional conditions.
Registrations for the extended Windows 10 updates have been open since the end of July, and Microsoft has long stated that individuals will receive a year free. Initially, there was a catch. Registration was mandatory through the Windows Backup app, which is linked to OneDrive storage. A free OneDrive account comes with only 5 GB, which would push many users towards a forced paid subscription.
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The European consumer association Euroconsumers has urged Microsoft to drop that condition and has succeeded. In the European Economic Area, Windows 10 will remain alive for another year. Euroconsumers will try to convince Microsoft over the next year to extend the deadline once more.
Paid Updates
For professional Windows 10 users, nothing seems to change. They can still subscribe to three years of extended support for a fee. This costs thirty euros per year per device for which an extension is requested.
Despite the extended support, Microsoft is still unsuccessfully trying to get everyone onto Windows 11. Half of PC users do not want to switch to the new version, according to recent figures. Both individual and business users are holding off.