Under pressure from Euroconsumers, a consumer advocacy organization, Microsoft has had to reconsider its position regarding the extension of Windows 10 support. While the official end of updates is set for October 14, 2025, European users will benefit from an additional year of free security patches, with no special conditions.
An extension without commercial compensation
Until now, Microsoft offered individuals a free registration to access “extended security updates.” However, this option required activating the new Windows Backup feature, which automatically stores data on OneDrive. However, since free space is limited to 5 GB, many users risked having to pay for more storage.
Under pressure from Euroconsumers, Microsoft ultimately abandoned this process. The association, which is active in Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Luxembourg, welcomed this decision. The American publisher confirmed that it is currently adjusting its registration system to offer a simple and secure experience to European users.
An exception limited to Europe
This free service will only apply to countries within the European Economic Area, however. Elsewhere, individuals will need to activate Windows Backup, spend $30, or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points to benefit from extended support until October 13, 2026.
Businesses, for their part, will remain subject to a paid program, allowing them to extend support for three additional years.
Towards an extension beyond 2026? Euroconsumers says it will continue to pressure Microsoft to extend the free provision of security patches for Windows 10 beyond 2026. The aim is to protect the many users who will continue to use the older operating system despite the end of its official lifecycle.