Extended Security Updates for Windows 10

Question

Good day,

I choosed about my Question the "Select a child item tag" as "Performance".

I have 2 questions, which are about ESU for Windows 10:

1. I read that the ESU for Windows 10 Pro will be avalaible to 13th October 2026 from this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/extended-security-updates?r=1 I´m going to buy a better laptop for my father with Windows 10 Pro (I will be do of course a clean install of Windows 10 with the newest "img" installation in CZ lang.. Today my father use older laptop with Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1. It will be continue ESU for Windows 10 Pro after 13th October 2026? I remember that for Windows 7 (incl. SP 1) and Windows XP (incl. SP 3) was longer than 1 year after End of Mainstream support.
2. I use a Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 in ENG lang..
   I read that will be Extended Support for this "Non very use OS by Microsoft" end at 13th January 2032 - link: Q&A - answer wrote at 12th November 2025 Marcin Polocht - MVP - Volumeer Moderator (The link for this answer I don´t send (It will be maybe "product secret").
   How can I will be download and install updates for this "Non very use OS by Microsoft" after 1st January 2026? It will be same download and install (via Windows Update) to 14th October 2025? Thank you for yours answer Kind Regards

    Mr. Jan Stocek  
    Liberec  
    Czech Republic (Czechia)  
   

Answer 1

1. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 Pro will not continue after October 13, 2026. The ESU program allows for security updates for a maximum of three years after the end of support date, which for Windows 10 is October 14, 2025. Therefore, after this date, Windows 10 Pro will no longer receive security updates, and there will be no extension beyond the ESU program's defined period.
2. For Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, the Extended Support is indeed set to end on January 13, 2032. After January 1, 2026, you will still be able to download and install updates via Windows Update until the end of the Extended Support period. The process for downloading and installing updates will remain the same until that time, as long as you have a valid license and the system is configured to receive updates.

Answer 2

Thank you for yours answers.

In (At or On) 25th November 2025 at 6:15 pm in Central Europe Time Zone (Prague) I will be lock this Question.

Mr. Jan Stocek
Liberec
Czech Republic (Czechia)

Answer 3

Yes, ESU for Windows 10 Pro will be available until October 13, 2026, and after that, no further security updates will be provided for Windows 10 Pro through ESU. For Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, Microsoft provides extended support until January 13, 2032, meaning security updates will continue for that edition.

After January 2026 for Pro editions, updates will no longer be delivered via Windows Update; only Enterprise LTSC editions will receive them

Answer 4

Hi Mr. Jan Stocek

You are correct that ESU for Windows 10 Pro is currently scheduled to be available until October 13, 2026. At this time, there are no announced plans to extend ESU beyond that date, so it is best to plan with 2026 as the final horizon. For Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, mainstream support continues until January 12, 2027, with extended support through January 13, 2032, as you noted. Updates for LTSC editions will continue to be delivered through the standard Windows Update mechanism during the supported lifecycle. After January 2026, ESU updates for eligible editions will also be distributed via Windows Update, provided the device is properly licensed and enrolled in the ESU program.

I recommend keeping an eye on the official Microsoft lifecycle documentation for any future announcements, as policies may evolve. In the meantime, your plan to install a clean Windows 10 Pro image for your father’s new laptop is sound, and it will remain supported with ESU until 2026.

If this answer helps clarify your concerns, please consider clicking “Accept Answer” so others can benefit from the guidance as well 🙂.

Harry.