Advice Request win10 ESU $30/yr1

[simmerskool]

So I logged into my ms account (which I rarely use) and I am not seeing any option to buy extended updates, ESU, for 1 year -- is it currently available to buy for home user. I'm am discussing this with chatgpt5 and it seems more confused than me. (my newest hardware is Apple Mini with M4 chip)

 

[Bot]

So I logged into my ms account (which I rarely use) and I am not seeing any option to buy extended updates, ESU, for 1 year -- is it currently available to buy for home user. I'm am discussing this with chatgpt5 and it seems more confused than me. (my newest hardware is Apple Mini with M4 chip)

Hey simmerskool,

Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 became available for home users right around the end-of-support date (October 14, 2025). It's priced at $30 for the first year, and you activate it with a key that ties to your device. However, it's not something that shows up directly in your Microsoft account dashboard like a subscription—it's handled through a dedicated purchase page on the Microsoft site.

If you're not seeing it, try heading straight to the official ESU page:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-extended-security-updates-for-windows-10-5e51e545-4243-45e2-96b3-76e5c408e22b

(or search for "Windows 10 ESU" on Microsoft's site if the URL changes). From there, you should be able to buy and activate it. Keep in mind, it's device-specific, so it'll apply to the Windows install you're running it on—whether that's a VM on your M4 Mac Mini (via something like Parallels) or another setup.

If that page isn't showing the option yet, it could be a regional thing or a brief rollout delay—Microsoft mentioned it might take a bit for full availability. Double-check your region settings in your MS account, or try reaching out to Microsoft Support directly for confirmation.

As for ChatGPT getting confused, yeah, AI can sometimes mix up timelines on evolving topics like this. Let me know if you run into any snags or need help with alternatives (like migrating to Windows 11 if your hardware supports it).

Cheers!

 

[Jonny Quest]

Hey simmerskool,

Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 became available for home users right around the end-of-support date (October 14, 2025). It's priced at $30 for the first year, and you activate it with a key that ties to your device. However, it's not something that shows up directly in your Microsoft account dashboard like a subscription—it's handled through a dedicated purchase page on the Microsoft site.

If you're not seeing it, try heading straight to the official ESU page:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-extended-security-updates-for-windows-10-5e51e545-4243-45e2-96b3-76e5c408e22b

(or search for "Windows 10 ESU" on Microsoft's site if the URL changes). From there, you should be able to buy and activate it. Keep in mind, it's device-specific, so it'll apply to the Windows install you're running it on—whether that's a VM on your M4 Mac Mini (via something like Parallels) or another setup.

If that page isn't showing the option yet, it could be a regional thing or a brief rollout delay—Microsoft mentioned it might take a bit for full availability. Double-check your region settings in your MS account, or try reaching out to Microsoft Support directly for confirmation.

As for ChatGPT getting confused, yeah, AI can sometimes mix up timelines on evolving topics like this. Let me know if you run into any snags or need help with alternatives (like migrating to Windows 11 if your hardware supports it).

Cheers!

Bot, your link is taking me to a Sorry page is not 404 found notice on two separate laptops. I guess it's, "or search for" time?

 

[Bot]

Bot, your link is taking me to a Sorry page is not found notice on two separate laptops. I guess it's, "or search for" time?

Hey Jonny Quest,

Ah, bummer about the link—Microsoft's support pages can shuffle around, especially with new programs like ESU rolling out. Yeah, definitely time to search! Try googling "Windows 10 Extended Security Updates purchase" or head directly to Microsoft's main support site and search for "ESU Windows 10 home" in their search bar. That should pull up the official page where you can buy the $30/year key.

If you're logged into your Microsoft account, you might also spot it under the Windows section in the Microsoft Store app (on a Windows device) or via the web store at

https://www.microsoft.com/store

—search for "Windows 10 ESU" there too. Just make sure you're in a supported region (like the US), as availability can vary.

If all else fails and you're still hitting walls, Microsoft's support chat or phone line (1-800-MICROSOFT in the US) should be able to guide you through it or confirm if it's fully live yet. Let me know what you find or if you need tips on setting it up once you get the key!

Cheers!

 

[simmerskool]

that link was 404 for me too, but this link seems to have good info > Enable Extended Security Updates (ESU)
I think I may have some "security" config that is interfering with MS store or this process.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Why bother? When you can just upgrade to Win 11 for free and get free updates including security?

It's not like your running a nuclear missile silo on Win 10 and can't upgrade due to fear of nuking the whole world.

 

[Brahman]

Why bother? When you can just upgrade to Win 11 for free and get free updates including security?

It's not like your running a nuclear missile silo on Win 10 and can't upgrade due to fear of nuking the whole world.

Or you can search the "grave" fix the ten and not let ms loot you anymore.

 

[simmerskool]

Why bother? When you can just upgrade to Win 11 for free and get free updates including security?

It's not like your running a nuclear missile silo on Win 10 and can't upgrade due to fear of nuking the whole world.

?? I can't upgrade to win11 because MS is hardware blocking it, and I'm not comfy trying one of/ any of the unofficial bypasses. I literally spent 6+ solid hours on ESU yesterday and this morning only to be told by MS you'll get ESU when it is available. Their software makes no sense! Windows Update has Enroll Now button, it runs and spins and closes, no error message, just nada. So I asked MS point blank, if it is NOT available why does Windows Update have / show an Enroll Now link if it's not available? Reply was BS. Looking for a new Host OS - I would not run my nuclear silo with win10 or win11 after the run-a-around I got from win10 & MS the past 48 hours.I am curious if any home user bought ESU without all the bs I am encountering

 

[simmerskool]

Or you can search the "grave" fix the ten and not let ms loot you anymore.

@Brahman -- thanks but I am too clueless, I searched "the 'grave' fix the ten" and I links are about whether it's legal to dig up cemetery grave-sites, probably not what you intended

 

[Miravi]

?? I can't upgrade to win11 because MS is hardware blocking it, and I'm not comfy trying one of/ any of the unofficial bypasses. I literally spent 6+ solid hours on ESU yesterday and this morning only to be told by MS you'll get ESU when it is available. Their software makes no sense! Windows Update has Enroll Now button, it runs and spins and closes, no error message, just nada. So I asked MS point blank, if it is NOT available why does Windows Update have / show an Enroll Now link if it's not available? Reply was BS. Looking for a new Host OS - I would not run my nuclear silo with win10 or win11 after the run-a-around I got from win10 & MS the past 48 hours.I am curious if any home user bought ESU without all the bs I am encountering

Home users are supposed to enroll through Windows Update, but I hear some other people have also run into issues. We all hoped Windows would be more resilient by now.

These threads popped up describing similar situations:
Enroll in ESU exits unexpectedly - Microsoft Q&A
Enroll in ESU for WIN10 fails, after clicking 'enroll' a popup window opens and then closes immediately - Microsoft Q&A

 

[Brahman]

@Brahman -- thanks but I am too clueless, I searched "the 'grave' fix the ten" and I links are about whether it's legal to dig up cemetery grave-sites, probably not what you intended

I thought you knew the famous "grave" . They have a solution mentioned in their website. Anyways link is in your pm.

 

[simmerskool]

Home users are supposed to enroll through Windows Update, but I hear some other people have also run into issues. We all hoped Windows would be more resilient by now.

These threads popped up describing similar situations:
Enroll in ESU exits unexpectedly - Microsoft Q&A
Enroll in ESU for WIN10 fails, after clicking 'enroll' a popup window opens and then closes immediately - Microsoft Q&A

thanks for the links, there is some highly questionable comments in URL (according to chatgpt compared to MS official docs) but yes ESU very frustrating for me...

 

[Digmor Crusher]

?? I can't upgrade to win11 because MS is hardware blocking it, and I'm not comfy trying one of/ any of the unofficial bypasses. I literally spent 6+ solid hours on ESU yesterday and this morning only to be told by MS you'll get ESU when it is available. Their software makes no sense! Windows Update has Enroll Now button, it runs and spins and closes, no error message, just nada. So I asked MS point blank, if it is NOT available why does Windows Update have / show an Enroll Now link if it's not available? Reply was BS. Looking for a new Host OS - I would not run my nuclear silo with win10 or win11 after the run-a-around I got from win10 & MS the past 48 hours.I am curious if any home user bought ESU without all the bs I am encountering

Yah its weird. I got to update to ESU through Windows update, it said I could update for free because I've saved my settings in OneDrive or some kind of nonsense like that. However, although I do have a small file saved in Outlook I do not have it installed on my computer. And I also had to uninstall a Windows update package and reinstall it to get ESU. So basically I have no clue.

 

[monkeylove]

Maybe you can try FlyBy11. I did that for several machines, including a few old ones, and it worked.

 

[roger_m]

and I'm not comfy trying one of/ any of the unofficial bypasses.

They aren't really unofficial. For example the Windows 11 installer checks for certain registry keys and if found, gives you the option to install it on unsupported hardware. When Windows 11 was first released, they published a guide on how to create the needed registry keys to bypass the system requirements.

 

[Victor M]

because MS is hardware blocking it, and I'm not comfy trying one of/ any of the unofficial bypasses

I know you are an up and up kind of guy. But why exactly are you feeling about the unofficial bypass? Do you feel MS may sabotage something if you use them?

I was installing Windows Server 2025 on an old system the other day, and I thought I might as well do the bypass to save me trouble of having the double back doing it again if it requires TPM etc. And I found the Bypass ALREADY INSTALLED in the Registry. So it is not really 'unofficial'. Just thought you might want to know.

 

[simmerskool]

Yah its weird. I got to update to ESU through Windows update, it said I could update for free because I've saved my settings in OneDrive or some kind of nonsense like that. However, although I do have a small file saved in Outlook I do not have it installed on my computer. And I also had to uninstall a Windows update package and reinstall it to get ESU. So basically I have no clue.

I did read something about uninstalling a past update (&/or uninstalling / reinstalling it) might work, no explanation why, and that was NOT official, and MS online support tech did not mention that, he merely said wait, when it is available it will work, so that is the confusion, available yes / or, when only vagueness, is it my pc or their servers? & PS I do not use Onedrive, someone posted somewhere that is or could be involved... Reading all the official prerequisites, my pc is good to go ESU.

 

[simmerskool]

Maybe you can try FlyBy11. I did that for several machines, including a few old ones, and it worked.

yes, thanks, I've read about flyby11 but bypass is not my first choice... just me I would probably reformat the ssd and install a linux host, I am about 50% there but still "researching"

 

[Sampei.Nihira]

@simmerskool

Why do you want to pay?
Translate this article written by one of my fellow countrymen:

Windows 10 ESU GRATIS: come ricevere aggiornamenti di sicurezza fino al 2026 (minima condivisione dati!) | IlSoftware.it

 

[simmerskool]

They aren't really unofficial. For example the Windows 11 installer checks for certain registry keys and if found, gives you the option to install it on unsupported hardware. When Windows 11 was first released, they published a guide on how to create the needed registry keys to bypass the system requirements.

good info but I have read that if you bypass MS could bork your system with future updates -- maybe that is only a scare tactic?