With a few months until the date of Windows 10 end-off-port, Microsoft feels that the owners of millions of consumers running Windows 10 are not ready to replace their old computers, and they are not more than $ 30 for thorn for membership of an extended security update (ESU) of one year.
So today, the company waved the white flag and announced the new “free enrollment option” for the ESU program, as well as customers will need to sign up with those steps to sign up. Any person ready to try the cloud-based Windows backup of Microsoft can avoid $ 30 tariffs to spend a few minutes per day with a bing search engine during a week and can get that membership for free.
This news was buried Still another long post on Windows blog It admits Windows 11 and encourages professional customers to upgrade their old PCs, buy new, or migrate into cloud-based options such as Windows 365.
Also: Can’t leave Windows 10? You can pay Microsoft for updates after October, or try these options
Today’s announcement applies to millions of consumer PCs which are disqualified for free Windows 11 upgrade as they do not meet compatibility requirements. Enterprise customers are ineligible for free options and will require a much higher price (starting on $ 61 per device per year) for a commercial ESU membership up to three years. Those professional options are available today through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program; Microsoft’s cloud service provider partners will be able to start selling commercial ESUs starting from 1 September.
How will the sign-up process for consumers work
“An enrollment will be available through wizard information and settings, making it easier to enroll directly into ESU with its individual Windows 10 PC,” the company says. At that point, consumers will be able to choose from three options:
- Use Windows Backup to sync your settings on the cloud.
- Regarding 1,000 microsoft rewards points.
- Pay $ 30 (local pricing may vary).
“Once you choose an option and follow the on-screen stages, your PC will be automatically enrolled,” the announcement continues. “ESU coverage for individual devices runs from October 15, 2025 to October 13, 2026.”
The nomination Wizard is available in Windows Insider Build today, and the company says it will start rolling out for the selected Windows 10 PC in July, expecting comprehensive availability by mid -August.
Also: How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 – 2 free options
As I mentioned earlier, this option is only available for “personal use”, a step designed to discourage professional customers from trying to get safety updates at discounts. In small businesses, which are not part of a managed microsoft environment, it would be impossible to apply that restriction, and it is unlikely that Microsoft will also try.
What is the grip with free options?
The use of Windows backup seems to be like a simple option for “sinking its settings on cloud”, but it depends on how it applies. As currently it exists, Windows Backup Options also copy individual data in the ondrive cloud storage service. If you have sufficient amount of data and have not been paid for Microsoft 365 Homes or Personal Subscriptions or a Standalone Storage upgrade, you will burn through 5GB of default storage and will probably air with a large disturbance.
Also: Can’t upgrade your Windows 10 PC? Before all this ends in 3 months, here are your options
Rediming 1,000 microsoft rewards points is a simple option. If you have already created a personal profile using your Microsoft account, you can already get enough points to cover that cost (those points would be slightly lower under $ 1 if Amazon was roasted for gift card). If your Microsoft Rewards Count is starting from zero, you can quickly cover the bill Download Bing App Using it for mobile and for two days (500 marks), then a series of search-based quiz, election and other silly tasks for a few days to deposit 100-200 marks per day to submit 100-200 marks per day Microsoft Award site,
Too: 400 million Windows PC disappeared in 3 years. Where did they all go?
Today’s announcements represent a very large climb-down for Microsoft and a taset acknowledgment that the Windows 10 PC population still used in October is likely to be much larger than expected. The new ESU option will not change the end-of-port date for Windows 10, but they offer a one-year recurrence to price-sensitive consumers and gives an opportunity to soften an opportunity for microsoft that will take it to the end of the year.
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