You can buy a new PC that already has Windows 11 pre-installed (or opt for an alternative, like a Mac or a Chromebook).
To that end, enrolling in Extended Security Updates (ESU) will give you another year of using Windows 10 securely.
Step 3: Verify if your PC is eligible to upgrade to Windows 11 (or not) If you see an option to upgrade to Windows 11, just do that.
That said, the free option here comes with two catches, at least for users in the US.
(Until next year) You’ve got 12 more months to figure out an alternative upgrade path to Windows 11.
We have some news for you if your computer is still running Windows 10. The software is currently being placed in “end of life” status by Microsoft. Fortunately, Windows 10 computers will still function after today. Unfortunately, by default, they will no longer receive critical security updates. If you want to ensure that your computer stays safe, you have three choices left.
If your computer is compatible with Windows 11, you can upgrade to it for free.
You can purchase a brand-new computer with Windows 11 already installed, or you can choose a different model, such as a Mac or Chromebook.
Since option three is quite simple and is now frequently available for free, we’ll concentrate on it here. We’ll explain how to keep Windows 10 on your computer—at least for the time being.
We can speculate as to why Microsoft decided to discontinue Windows 10, despite the fact that it functions flawlessly on the majority of older devices. However, without those regular security updates, your computer will be more vulnerable to malware every week. Therefore, you can continue to use Windows 10 safely for another year by signing up for Extended Security Updates (ESU).
Microsoft initially proposed charging $30 for the 12-month extension. Windows 10 users in the US now have a free option, though that is still an option. Here’s how to accomplish that.
Go to Settings > System > About and scroll down to see what version you’re running to see if your computer is up to date. If not, you should install every Windows 10 update that is available.
Step 2: Verify that you are utilizing an administrator account.
Make sure you’re logged in as the administrator if you and other family members share a computer. It usually happens to be the first account made on the computer. If “Administrator” appears beneath the name, you’ll know it’s the correct one. (Under Settings > Your Info, you can check again. ).
Step 3: Check to see if your computer can upgrade to Windows 11.
If there is a Windows 11 upgrade option, pick it up. It keeps you up to date on Windows and is free. If not, proceed with the processes listed below to update your computer’s security.
From the Settings menu, choose Update and Security to register for ESU. As shown in the image below, click the “Enroll Now” sign-up link. If your PC satisfies the requirements, you might see a prompt to download Windows 11 (again, if you see it, do it!).
Installing the most recent Windows 10 updates is likely necessary if you are not seeing the “Enroll now” link.
Step 5: Decide how to upgrade.
The next step is to decide how you wish to enroll, and there are several options available to you. Making a backup of your PC’s settings is the simplest method. Although it’s free, it takes a little while because you have to backup your data. Once more, to begin, you must log in with your administrator account.
Nevertheless, at least for US users, there are two drawbacks to this free option. The free option, with no conditions, will be available to users in Europe. The first is that you will be connecting Microsoft’s cloud-based online service to your Windows login. If they are using CoPilot, Office 365, GamePass, OneDrive, or any of Microsoft’s other online services, the majority of users have probably already completed this. Joining the cloud-connected Microsoft universe is the cost of this “free” extension, though, if you have specifically chosen to log in to Windows locally.
The free backup is limited to the first 5 GB of storage, which is another possible problem. You will have to pay for Microsoft OneDrive services if you do anything more. Fortunately, though, you can disable anything you don’t want to backup by toggling off Documents, Pictures, and Videos under Settings > OneDrive. This will allow you to start below the free threshold.
You’ll see a window that reads “Add this device to receive Extended Security Updates” after logging in. To enroll it, click Add Device. Click “Done.”.
Note: We took the screenshot above from YouTube’s Explaining Computers channel because our test PC didn’t have a splash screen to select options because it was already registered for cloud backups. If you want a more in-depth look at the procedure, you can watch their entire video.
You are done for now. Until next year.
You still have a full year to find a different way to upgrade to Windows 11. We’ll update this story with your next steps if anything changes in the upcoming year.
