Windows 10 users can get extended security updates for 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
As we get closer to the endpoint of Windows 10’s support on October 14, 2025, Microsoft throws its more stubborn user out of another bone. The company previously announced that consumers will be able to purchase Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) for the first time for $30. Today, Microsoft revealed that you can also use 1,000 bonus points to snap up ESU. It might help if, like me, you’ve been slowly accumulating Microsoft’s rewards and completely forgetting about their existence. (You can earn points by searching for Bing, shopping in Microsoft Stores, and playing Xbox games.)
To review, Windows 10 ESU will receive user bug fixes, security updates and technical support by October 13, 2026. If you don’t pay for ESU, you can still continue to use Windows 10, you just won’t get any major updates. However, at least, Microsoft will continue to offer MS 365 App Security updates as well as Windows Defender Antivirus Intelligence updates until October 2028. I’ll also place bets and you’ll start seeing a lot of notifications to update to Windows 11 after October this year.
Microsoft said Windows 10 users will be able to register their ESU with notifications and Windows settings. Windows Insider Testers currently has access to admissions wizards, the company plans to launch to regular users in July and offer a wide range of supplies in mid-August.
I can understand why Windows 10 users are reluctant to move. It’s a solid upgrade of Rocks after Windows 8’s fiasco and a brand new operating system that can retune the entire workflow, which is simply annoying. But I also liked that Windows 11 debuted in 2021 because it provides a more refined Windows experience. Microsoft has also solved most of my current issues with Windows 11 – for example, you can end up seeing the application names on the taskbar again instead of hiding them for aesthetics.
