Can't register my desktop PC for extended security updates

Question

Can't register my desktop PC for extended security updates

Bryan Jefferson 0

When I try to register for extended security updates, I get the following error message -

"You need to sign into your Microsoft account and follow any prompts to fix your account.-2147023834

Sign into your account".

When I sign into my account, my desktop PC is not listed as a device and I cannot add it because my motherboard serial number is not recognised by your system.

Please help !!

1 answer

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Answer 1

Emma1-N 3,800 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Welcome Bryan Jefferson,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand how frustrating it can be when you are unable to register your Windows 10 desktop PC for Extended Security Updates because your Microsoft account shows an error during enrollment, the device does not appear in your account, and the motherboard serial number is not being recognized.

Before proceeding, I would like to narrow this down a bit:

Are you currently signed into Windows 10 using the same Microsoft account that you used to enroll in the ESU program?
Does this PC show any work or school account under Accounts besides your personal Microsoft account?

In the meantime, you can try the workaround steps to troubleshoot the issue:

Option 1: Make sure the device meets ESU eligibility requirements

Confirm the device is running Windows 10 version 22H2
Ensure Windows is activated
Install all available Windows updates, including optional updates, then restart the PC

Option 2: Check device visibility in your Microsoft account

Sign in to account.microsoft.com/devices in a web browser
Confirm whether the PC appears in the device list
If the device appears, try enrolling in ESU again from Windows Update

Option 3: Try enrolling again after restart

Restart the device after completing the steps above
Open Windows Update and attempt the ESU enrollment again

If the issue continues and the device still cannot be associated with your Microsoft account or enrolled due to account‑side validation errors, contacting Microsoft Support will be required because this involves Microsoft account and ESU entitlement validation.

Visit the Microsoft Support contact page: Contact - Microsoft Support
In the search bar provided on the page, type "ESU entitlement validation" and press Enter.
Click on the "Get Help" button that appears.
Scroll down the page until you see and click on the "Contact Support" option.
When prompted to select your product or service, choose "Other Products".
For the category, choose "Windows".
Look for and click on "Chat with a support agent in your web browser".
When prompted, provide a valid contact email where Microsoft can reach you regarding your case.
Explain your situation clearly: Be concise but provide all the relevant details.

I really hope that the information I gave above was helpful to you. Please feel free to reply below and let me know if you have further concern on this matter.

P.S: If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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Emma1-N 3,800 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-24T06:31:01.6566667+00:00

Hello Bryan Jefferson,

Have you had a chance to review my answer?

If you have any other questions, I’m happy to help.
Bryan Jefferson 0 Reputation points

2026-02-24T16:11:10.3033333+00:00

The MS online agent was able to point me in the right direction. Microsoft's processes for providing customer services online are so convoluted that a human interface will always be needed to explain to customers how they need to proceed to achieve the desired outcome. I don't anticipate that AI software will ever replace this human interface in an effective way. The reason for my problem is that each device which requires Extended Support Updates needs to be registered to its own MS account. I bet Google would find that hilarious!

However, adding a second MS account for my desktop PC did NOT allow me to add my PC as a device, which in turn meant I cannot register for the ESU program. So I have moved forward 3 inches but I still cannot see the other end of the ruler!

How can I find the serial number which prevents Microsoft from giving me the error message "We didn't recognise this serial number"?
Emma1-N 3,800 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-25T08:05:04.57+00:00
Hello Bryan Jefferson,

Thank you for the detailed update. I understand how frustrating this process has been, and I appreciate your patience while working through it.

You can try the step to find serial number

Press Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter

Look for System SKU and BaseBoard Serial Number

If the serial number shows as blank, Default string, or To be filled by O.E.M., this can prevent device recognition
Bryan Jefferson 0 Reputation points

2026-02-25T16:32:30.9933333+00:00

Thank you Emma1-N. I used the command line you suggested and it gave me a system summary which excluded the base board serial number and gave only "SKU" for System SKU.

Using the "wmic baseboard" command line I previously found my motherboard serial number which was rejected by the MS process for adding a device to my MS account.

Does this whole problem have anything to do with the fact my desktop PC is not suitable for Win 11 because it is not currently set up for Secure Boot? This question is NOT intended to provide you (or MS) with an opportunity to sell me a new PC which is clearly the intention of many of their error messages and promotional articles online. I am well aware of the processes for enabling Secure Boot, but before I initiate those processes, I am seeking much greater transparency from MS on its labyrinthine operating systems and the reasons they were created in that way.
Emma1-N 3,800 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-26T07:29:51.56+00:00
Hello Bryan Jefferson,

Secure Boot, TPM, and Windows 11 hardware requirements are not used to determine eligibility for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU). Those checks apply only when upgrading to Windows 11.

For Windows 10 ESU, Microsoft only checks that the device:

Is running Windows 10 version 22H2

Has the latest Windows updates installed

Is signed in with an administrator Microsoft account

Is not managed by a work or school domain or MDM

ESU enrollment does not rely on manually entered motherboard or baseboard serial numbers. Consumer ESU uses internal Windows device identifiers that are automatically generated and linked to the Microsoft account. Missing values like “SKU” in command‑line tools do not make a device ineligible.

If a device meets the Windows 10 ESU requirements but still cannot be added to the Microsoft account, this points to a device registration issue on the service side, not a Secure Boot or hardware compatibility block. In this case, Microsoft Support needs to review and correct the account‑to‑device association.

You can find the information at the official reference:

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 | Microsoft Learn

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates | Microsoft Windows
Bryan Jefferson 0 Reputation points

2026-02-27T11:47:30.5466667+00:00

Thank you Emma1-N. What I mean by transparency is for MS to come straight to the point about the reason for my problems. Several iterations later, I still cannot access ESU for my desktop even though I gave details of the error message I receive and its associated MS code no. right at the top of this issue.

That is not transparency nor is it helpful for customers of MS to be led on a merry dance before their problem is solved.
Emma1-N 3,800 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-28T07:30:45.5133333+00:00

Hello Bryan Jefferson,

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas.

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Can't register my desktop PC for extended security updates

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