Microsoft
Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10 
Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10 
Are you still relying on Windows 10 for your daily computing? If so, this is crucial: As of October 14, Microsoft shifted the software into its “end of life” phase 
If your hardware is compatible, you can simply upgrade to Windows 11 for free 
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You can purchase a new machine with Windows 11 pre-installed (or switch ecosystems entirely to a Mac or Chromebook) 
You can hold off on Windows 11 for now and enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU), effectively kicking the can down the road for another year 
We are going to focus on that third option because it is significantly easier than it sounds—and, in many cases, can now be done without spending a dime 
How to sign up for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates on your computer 
It is fair to question Microsoft’s decision to sunset Windows 10 when it still functions perfectly on older hardware 
Microsoft initially indicated that this 12-month extension would come with a $30 fee 
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Step 1: Ensure your PC is fully updated 
First, verify that your current setup is current. Navigate to Settings > System > About and scroll down to check your version 
Step 2: Verify you are using an administrator account 
If your computer is shared among a household, you need to be signed in with the administrator account to make these changes. This is typically the primary account created on the device 
Step 3: Check your Windows 11 eligibility 
If you see an option to upgrade to Windows 11, we highly recommend taking it. It is free, and it permanently solves the support issue
Step 4: Enroll in the ESU program
To sign up, head to Settings > Update & Security. Look for the “Enroll Now” link, as shown in the image below 
However, if you proceed with the ESU, be aware that the free option comes with a few strings attached for US users 
The second caveat is storage 
Once signed in, a pop-up window will appear asking to “Add this device to receive Extended Security Updates.” Simply click Add Device, then click Done 
A quick credit: We utilized a screenshot from the *Explaining Computers* YouTube channel 
That is it—you are set (until next year) 
You have successfully bought yourself 12 months to decide on a permanent upgrade path or a new computer 
