How to sign up for Windows 10 ESU when the Windows Update 'Enroll Now' link is not working.

Jim Wood 40 Reputation points
2026-03-16T16:11:30.9166667+00:00

I've been trying for weeks to sign up for Windows 10 ESU, but when I click the Enroll Now link under Windows Update, I get a fleeting outline of a pop-up, but it drops away after just a few seconds. Is there another way to do the ESU?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Extended Security Update (ESU)
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Answer accepted by question author
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-03-17T01:11:55.68+00:00

Good day Jim Wood!

Thank you for reaching out. From what you described, you’ve been trying to enroll in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) for several weeks, but when selecting the “Enroll now” option in Windows Update, the enrollment pop‑up briefly appears and then closes, preventing you from completing the sign‑up process. This behavior might indicate the device does not yet meet all the required conditions for ESU enrollment.

Is there another way to do the ESU?

For consumer Windows 10 devices, there is currently no supported alternative enrollment method for consumer devices outside of Windows Update.

To enable ESU enrollment on your Windows 10, the device must be running Windows 10 version 22H2 with KB5066791 (or a newer update) installed first. Once that prerequisite is in place, KB5072653 (the ESU Licensing Preparation Package) will be offered and installed automatically via Windows Update, followed by a restart.

Tip: You can download the update manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog

Press Win + R, type winver to confirm your Windows edition, then search for the KB number in the Update Catalog and download the file that matches your Windows 10 version and architecture (for example, 22H2 x64).

For further requirement details, see the following resources: Windows 10 Extended Security Updates

If your device meets all the required prerequisites, the ESU enrollment link should function as expected.

Please let me know how it goes or if you need further assistance!

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Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-03-16T16:11:48.61+00:00

There is no alternate manual signup path documented for consumer Windows 10 ESU; enrollment is done through the Windows Update “Enroll now” flow. When the link or wizard is not working, the supported approach is to fix the enrollment experience so the built‑in flow completes successfully.

Use these steps that have resolved similar ESU‑enrollment issues:

  1. Confirm prerequisites
    • Windows 10 version must be 22H2, and the latest cumulative update must be installed.
    • Edition must be Home, Pro, Pro Education, or Workstation.
    • The signed‑in account must be a Microsoft account with administrator rights and must not be a child account.
    • If any of these are not met, the ESU enrollment link will not function correctly.
  2. Make sure the ESU enrollment issue hotfix is installed
    • Microsoft has identified a problem where the Windows 10 Consumer ESU enrollment wizard can fail.
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
    • Install the out‑of‑band update KB5071959 if it is offered, then restart the PC.
    • After the restart, return to Windows Update and run the ESU enrollment wizard again from the Enroll now link.
  3. Fix account and region issues that can block enrollment
    • Sign in with a Microsoft account instead of a local account:
      • Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and ensure the account shown is a Microsoft account.
      • If it is a local account, choose Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and complete sign‑in.
    • Ensure the Microsoft account is not configured as a child account.
    • Turn on location services and restart the PC, then try the Enroll now link again. This has resolved “not available in my region” and similar silent failures for some users.
  4. Re‑try ESU enrollment from Windows Update
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
    • Select Check for updates.
    • When the ESU banner appears, select Enroll now and follow the prompts:
      • If already backing up PC settings, accept the prompt to enroll.
      • If not backing up, choose whether to start backup, redeem Rewards, or make a one‑time purchase.
    • If the wizard opens and stays visible, complete the purchase/enrollment; the ESU license will be tied to the Microsoft account and can be used on up to 10 eligible devices.
  5. If the link still flashes and closes
    • Ensure all other user accounts are signed out and that the current account is an administrator.
    • As a more drastic remediation that has worked for some users, perform a clean Windows 10 22H2 install on the device, sign in with a single administrator Microsoft account, install all updates, and then check Windows Update again; the ESU enrollment prompt should appear and function normally.

Once enrollment succeeds, the device will continue to receive critical and important security updates via Windows Update until the ESU program ends, and there is no separate manual distribution channel to use instead of this mechanism.

References:

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