Windows 10 updates being extended past October, 2025

[ThatPlace928]

But, of course, there's a catch. There always is with Microsoft, isn't there? They want people to sync everything to the cloud, then use their backup. I hate the cloud and I don't use it so I guess I won't get the updates. I'll just jump over to one of my Windows 11 PCs and not worry about it. No doubt, this will work for some of you and your clients. Just not my thing.

Microsoft makes Windows 10 security updates FREE for an extra year — but there's a catch, and you might not like it

Windows 10 users will have the option to continue receiving security updates for free beyond October 2025, so long as they sync their PC settings data with the cloud via a Microsoft Account.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[britechguy]

If I wanted ongoing Windows 10 security updates at no cost, that option would be a "no-brainer" for me. The feature they want folks to use is already a default under Windows 11, and boy have I loved having Windows settings and Store-sourced apps synced with the cloud when having to do things like a nuke and pave or putting in a replacement system drive. It's so nice, during Windows 11 install, to use the option to restore from the last backup for that machine. One can, of course, decline and start like it's a brand spankin' new install, too.

 

[fincoder]

This is good news for consumers.

 

[ThatPlace928]

This is good news for consumers.

For those who use the Cloud, absolutely.

 

[britechguy]

For those who use the Cloud, absolutely.

No snark intended, but if you (any you) use email, you use the cloud. It wasn't called the cloud when email first started, but if email servers, which hold data remotely and distributed, aren't "the cloud" then nothing is.

Heck, one could describe this very venue, and all online forums, as being part of "the cloud."

 

[ThatPlace928]

No snark intended, but if you (any you) use email, you use the cloud. It wasn't called the cloud when email first started, but if email servers, which hold data remotely and distributed, aren't "the cloud" then nothing is.

Heck, one could describe this very venue, and all online forums, as being part of "the cloud."

And there are some who like to split hairs....... lol

 

[Philippe]

I think they mostly want you to create an account. Which, normally, is already a requirement for W11.
I wonder if the extended support will still be active if you move your data to a external drive, use their backup app to sync your settings & then remove it...

 

[britechguy]

Which, normally, is already a requirement for W11.

But note well, we're not talking Windows 11 here, but Windows 10. It looks like there is a back-porting of Back up and restore with Windows Backup as implemented in Windows 11 into Windows 10. That seems to be at the heart of the requirement for free Windows 10 ESU and, of course, requires a Microsoft Account linked to at least 1 account on the machine (even if you were to delete it afterward, which I wouldn't do).

It's not only a good way to get way more people to create Microsoft Accounts, but also have those in place for use when the time to set themselves up with Windows 11 comes. And it will come.

 

[ThatPlace928]

I think they mostly want you to create an account. Which, normally, is already a requirement for W11.
I wonder if the extended support will still be active if you move your data to a external drive, use their backup app to sync your settings & then remove it...

Good question. Let me know, if you find the answer.

 

[Metanis]

As usual, there is no free lunch. For many people the basic 5GB of OneDrive space will not be enough and they'll be led by the nose to click on the "Get More Space" button. And of course that means some variant on Microsoft 365.

There will be a special level of hell for Microsoft executives and their Marketing demons.

 

[ThatPlace928]

As usual, there is no free lunch. For many people the basic 5GB of OneDrive space will not be enough and they'll be led by the nose to click on the "Get More Space" button. And of course that means some variant on Microsoft 365.

There will be a special level of hell for Microsoft executives and their Marketing demons.

I agree with you on that. Microsoft is always looking down the road and how to increase sales. I don't blame them but they seem a little bit sneakier about it than others, to me.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

CrApple just as bad...increase storage..give us mo-money....

 

[britechguy]

But you are not required to use OneDrive, it's an option, not a requirement. I've got multiple clients (and most of them who've received their machines from a state agency) who have Microsoft Accounts they created (or had from a prior machine of their own) and where OneDrive is not in use.

I agree that 5GB is woefully, woefully inadequate space for most user's typical data. It doesn't take much to exceed that. But because it's a simple matter to say "no" to OneDrive and revert to on-device storage only, it's a non-issue to me.

If someone's a M365 user, they'd be insane not to use the 1TB of OneDrive they get. If you are not an M365 subscriber, you'd be insane to allow your default libraries (Documents, Music, and Pictures) to use OneDrive in the vast majority of cases. There's just not enough space.

How do I return my Windows libraries to my local drive if they are already using OneDrive?​

 

[fincoder]

I agree that 5GB is woefully, woefully inadequate space for most user's typical data.

It's actually useful for just documents. So for users that only store documents and similar in the Documents folder, turning on the sync for the Documents folder can be a good strategy. I'm finding in recent times, lots of home users don't have a lot of photos/videos on their PC anymore. This is because photos are now mostly created on phones instead of cameras, and most people have cloud sync on their phones for backup. Even if icloud/Google photos are synced with the PC there's no need to backup them up to another cloud.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Stay secure with Windows 11, Copilot+ PCs and Windows 365 before support ends for Windows 10

When we launched Windows in 1985, we set out to revolutionize computing—guided by the belief that technology should be accessible, intuitive and powerful for everyone. Nearly 40 years later, that same vision continues to drive us forward. Today, Wi

blogs.windows.com

Went and found the official announcement so we can get real details and not regurgitated silliness.

Knowing they're going to push M365 apps to 2028 helps, because otherwise we could see Windows 10 not being able to interface with M365 by the end of the year.

The free year of Windows 10 updates is only for personal use as well.

For those talking about OneDrive, $100 a year and M365 Personal gets you 1TB of OneDrive or $130 / year gets you 6 people worth of 1TB of OneDrive space. Which is more than sufficient for my needs, as well as my entire family.