Windows 10 extended support is now free, but only in Europe — Microsoft capitulates on controversial $30 ESU price tag which remains firmly in place for the U.S

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Americans and everyone else outside the European Economic Area must still pay $30 per year to keep Windows 10

Windows 10 wallpaper origin story
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft has announced that its controversial Extended Support Updates (ESU) for Windows 10, starting this October, have been made free exclusively in the European Economic Area. The announcement also heralds the discontinuation of Microsoft's alternative data-sharing measures to keep a device on Windows 10 in the region.

"In the European Economic Area, we’re making updates to the enrollment process to ensure it meets local expectations and delivers a secure, streamlined experience," said Microsoft in a statement to Windows Central yesterday. These "local expectations" include consumer watchdog groups, such as Euroconsumers, calling Microsoft's ESU plan a form of planned obsolescence.

  • Pay Microsoft $30
  • Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward Points
  • Sync their PC's settings to the cloud via a Microsoft account

These options of pay up or upload your data have been considered generally unappealing by many users and consumer advocacy groups since the announcement. Users in the European Economic Area, however, now have a fourth option. While these users must still sync their computer logins with a Microsoft account, barring users from local Windows 10 accounts in the ESU period, they must now simply log in to their Microsoft account on the device every 60 days. Failing to log in to the Windows 10 account after 60 days will terminate end-of-life update support for the device.

The European Economic Area includes member states of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. Outside of this region, any users interested in remaining on Windows 10 and still receiving security updates are still required to put up the $30 or submit their settings data to the Microsoft cloud.

As end of life for Windows 10 is now less than one month away, owners of the 240 million PCs unable to upgrade to Windows 11, and a slew of other users uninterested in 11, are looking for next options. While some will be content to pay the $30 fee to extend their Windows 10 stay for another year, many are looking towards an OS change to Linux, including some of our own editors.

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Sunny Grimm
Sunny Grimm
Contributing Writer

Sunny Grimm is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has been building and breaking computers since 2017, serving as the resident youngster at Tom's. From APUs to RGB, Sunny has a handle on all the latest tech news.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • -Fran-
    Just to point it out: if you want to get punched in the face rather quickly, then call either a Welsh or Scottish person a "Britt". Same with Irish fellas.

    Even if I were in the EEA, I would not take advantage of this, since it required the account creation. If you already have an account and use it, then it must feel bad not being part of the EEA.

    Regards.
    Reply
  • USAFRet
    Windows 10 extended support is now free, but only in Europe
    Somewhat misleading
    Direct from MS:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates
    -----------------------------------
    How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?
    You can enroll in ESU in one of the following three ways:


    At no additional cost if you are syncing your PC Settings.Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
    One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax.
    Reply
  • KyaraM
    USAFRet said:
    Windows 10 extended support is now free, but only in Europe
    Somewhat misleading
    Direct from MS:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates
    -----------------------------------
    How much does Windows 10 ESU cost?
    You can enroll in ESU in one of the following three ways:


    At no additional cost if you are syncing your PC Settings.Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
    One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax.
    There is nothing misleading when you look at the page of a European country:
    https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/extended-security-updatesWhat it says here is that all you need is an admin account with a Microsoft login. Then you have to login every 60 days with it and you are good. Use your regular, local account in the meantime. But you don't have to sync anything, like in the international/US version.


    Edit: also, synching stuff is a cost. Not in money, but data. Same for those reward points.
    Reply
  • USAFRet
    KyaraM said:
    There is nothing misleading when you look at the page of a European country:
    https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/extended-security-updatesWhat it says here is that all you need is an admin account with a Microsoft login. Then you have to login every 60 days with it and you are good. Use your regular, local account in the meantime. But you don't have to sync anything, like in the international/US version.
    The title said "free, but only in Europe"

    Free is also available elsewhere, although via slightly different means.
    Reply
  • KyaraM
    USAFRet said:
    The title said "free, but only in Europe"

    Free is also available elsewhere, although via slightly different means.
    Which is why I made an edit, to say that syncing data/settings/whaever isn't free, and neither are reward points. The cost just looks different.
    Reply
  • USAFRet
    KyaraM said:
    Which is why I made an edit, to say that syncing data/settings/whaever isn't free, and neither are reward points. The cost just looks different.
    "Users in the European Economic Area, however, now have a fourth option. While these users must still sync their computer logins with a Microsoft account, barring users from local Windows 10 accounts in the ESU period, they must now simply log in to their Microsoft account on the device every 60 days."

    (emphasis mine)
    Reply