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How to get Windows 10 extended security updates for free: 2 options

hxdbzxy / Getty Images With just a few months remaining until the Windows 10 end-of-support date, Microsoft seems to have belatedly realized that owners of tens of millions of consumer PCs running Windows 10 aren't ready to replace their old computers, and they're also not about to fork over $30 for a one-year Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription. So today, the company waved the white flag and announced new "free enrollment options" for the ESU program, along with a description of the

Microsoft extends free Windows 10 security updates into 2026, with strings attached

Last fall, Microsoft announced that individuals who wanted to keep using Windows 10 past its official end-of-support date could do so by opting into the company's Extended Security Update (ESU) program at a cost of $30 per PC. That payment would get users a single year of additional security updates. Today, less than four months before that October 14, 2025, cutoff, Microsoft is announcing additional options for people who can't or don't want to pay that fee. Individuals who want to pay $30 for

Microsoft makes Windows 10 extended security updates free, but there’s a catch

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft revealed last year that it will charge consumers $30 for a year of extra security updates to Windows 10. Now, it’s allowing consumers to enroll into its Extended Security Updates (ESU) free of charge ahead of the Windows 10 end of support on October 14th. But there’s a catch. Consumers will have three options to get ESU on their personal Windows 10 PCs, and the free

Xbox will reportedly conduct another major round of layoffs next week

It seems the cuts just keep on coming within Microsoft's gaming division. A company-wide reorganization is taking place, and that's slated to include another major round of layoffs within the Xbox team. Those cuts will be confirmed next week, according to Bloomberg. Engadget has contacted Microsoft for comment. Microsoft confirmed last month that it would lay off about three percent of its total workforce across all teams, levels and regions in an attempt to streamline operations and flatten it

The 8BitDo Micro Bluetooth gamepad drops to $15 ahead of Prime Day

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Amazon Prime Day deals are already popping up online, and one of the best ones we've found so far is on a teeny, tiny 8BitDo controller. The 8BitDo Micro Bluetooth gamepad is on sale for only $15 right now, which is $10 off its usual price and a record low. It comes in green and blue,

Can't upgrade your Windows 10 PC? Here are your options before it all ends in 3 months

Microsoft / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Have you decided what to do with your Windows 10 PCs when they reach their official end-of-support date three months from now? I know some people who are convinced that Microsoft will back down at the last minute and extend that deadline. Take this prediction to the bank: That's not gonna happen. Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 - 2 free options The end date is right there on the Microsoft Support document that list

This Billionaire Turned a Software Firm Into a $42 Billion Bitcoin Whale

Michael Saylor doesn’t just believe in Bitcoin. He’s betting his entire company on it. On Saturday, the billionaire founder of MicroStrategy, once a sleepy business software firm, announced he had bought another 245 bitcoins for around $26 million, paying an average of $105,856 per coin. That brings MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings to a jaw-dropping 592,345 BTC, acquired for $41.87 billion at an average cost of $70,681 per coin. Saylor posted the update to his 4.4 million followers on X, bragg

Microsoft planning ‘major’ Xbox layoffs next week

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is planning to cut jobs in the company’s Xbox gaming business, as early as next week. I first reported in Notepad earlier this month that Microsoft was planning Xbox layoffs “potentially by the end of the month,” and now Bloomberg says a round of “major layoffs” is due next week. I understand managers at Microsoft have been briefed about Xbox cuts and wider layoffs i

A week in Xbox VR with Microsoft and Meta’s new $399 headset

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft and Meta announced an Xbox-branded Quest VR headset last year, and it’s going on sale today for $399.99. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition is a custom colorway VR headset that comes bundled with an Xbox wireless controller, matching Touch Plus controllers, and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. I’ve been using the Quest 3S Xbox Edition over the past week, and I wa

What tech titans Linus Torvalds and Bill Gates talked about in their first meeting

Microsoft/Mark Russinovich Boy, do I wish I had been at this dinner. For decades, Microsoft and Linux fought like cats and dogs. However, while the conflict has cooled down, and Microsoft loves Linux these days, the two leaders, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Linux creator Linus Torvalds, had never met… until now. Also: Your jump from Windows 10 to Linux gets easier with KDE Plasma 6.4 Mark Russinovich, Microsoft Azure CTO, decided it would be neat if he could somehow get the pair and Dave

Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food, study finds

Food & health Corporate news Pollution See all topics Follow Ripping the plastic wrap from the meat or prepackaged fruit and veggies you purchased at the grocery store may contaminate your food with micro- and nanoplastics, according to new research. Plastic contamination may also occur when you’re unwrapping deli meat and cheese, steeping a tea bag in hot water, or opening cartons of milk or orange juice. Glass bottles and jars with a plastic-coated metal closure may also shed microscopic bit

Removal of unwanted drivers from Windows Update

This blog post is intended to notify all Windows Hardware program partners that Microsoft has taken a strategic initiative to clean up legacy drivers published on Windows Update to reduce security and compatibility risks. The rationale behind this initiative is to ensure that we have the optimal set of drivers on Windows Update that cater to a variety of hardware devices across the windows ecosystem, while making sure that Microsoft Windows security posture is not compromised. This initiative in

Windows 11’s indicators for volume and brightness can soon be moved out of the way

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is testing a new feature in Windows 11 that will let you move hardware indicators pop-ups like volume and screen brightness to the top-left and top-center positions of a display. The customization feature is part of a new Dev Channel build of Windows 11 that also includes a new Recall homepage that lists the top three apps and websites you’ve used in a 24-hour period.

Next-gen Xbox and PlayStation 6 expected in 2027, powered by AMD's UDNA graphics

Something to look forward to: If rumors prove accurate, Sony and Microsoft may once again align on GPU architecture for their next-generation consoles, this time leveraging AMD's upcoming UDNA graphics platform. The expected performance gains in ray tracing and AI upscaling suggest a significant shift that could outpace current PC GPUs on a per-compute-unit basis. With both companies also exploring handheld form factors and staggered launch timelines, these developments offer an early look at th

Xbox App for PC Now Integrates Your Steam Games

The Xbox App on PC is now integrating purchased games from people's libraries across various supported storefronts, including Steam, Microsoft announced Monday. This feature is currently limited to those in the Xbox Insider program, which gives early access to software updates. Windows users can access the Xbox Insider Hub here. The update aggregates all titles across supported PC gaming storefronts to turn the Xbox App into a universal launcher. This is especially handy for people who buy game

Super Micro shares fall on planned $2 billion convertible debt offering

Super Micro Computer shares fell about 6% on Monday after the server maker said it plans to offer $2 billion in convertible notes, maturing in 2030. A company's stock often falls on the announcement of a convertible offering because the eventual conversion to equity could dilute existing shareholders' stakes. Super Micro, which has seen its business boom due to soaring demand for Nvidia's artificial intelligence processors, said in a press release that it plans to use the proceeds from the off

Microsoft surprises MS-DOS fans with remake of ancient text editor that works on Linux

Last month, Microsoft released a modern remake of its classic MS-DOS Editor, bringing back a piece of computing history that first appeared in MS-DOS 5.0 back in 1991. The new open source tool, built with Rust and simply called "Edit," works on Windows, macOS, and—in a twist that would have seemed unlikely three decades ago—Linux. The cross-platform availability has delighted longtime users who never expected to see Microsoft's text editor running on their preferred operating system. "30 years

Microsoft’s Xbox UI update lets you pin games and customize your homescreen

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is rolling out a new update to its Xbox Home UI that allows Xbox owners to pin apps and games on the homescreen. It’s part of a number of customization changes to the Xbox Home UI, including the ability to hide system apps and reduce the number of apps and games listed in the most recently used section. You can pin up to three of your recently launched games or apps

Microsoft Is Ditching Passwords for Passkeys: How to Switch Before the August Deadline

Did you know there's a safer alternative to passwords? Some companies are implementing passkeys, which essentially use your biometric data, like fingerprint or facial recognition to log into your account as the first step. Passkeys can cut out risky password habits that 49% of US adults have, according to a recent CNET survey. Using the same password for multiple accounts and even using personal information, like your name, as a part of your password can lead to hackers guessing it or your pass

Bill Gates and Linus Torvalds meet for the first time at tech titans' dinner

What just happened? Given that there was a time when Microsoft called Linux a "cancer," it's little surprise that the Redmond firm's co-founder and long-time boss Bill Gates had never met Linus Torvalds, creator of the Linux kernel. But that changed recently when the two attended a dinner, and it appears to have gone well. Microsoft chief technical officer Mark Russinovich posted evidence of the historic dinner in a LinkedIn post. Dave Cutler, the legendary programmer and lead architect of the

Microsoft adds Steam games to its Xbox PC app on Windows

is a senior editor and author of Notepad , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. Microsoft is starting to test its new aggregated gaming library in its Xbox PC app on Windows. Xbox Insiders will now be able to see their Steam and Battle.net games all within the Xbox app this week — making it a single launcher for most installed PC games. This new consolidated library will roll out to the Xbox app later this year, as well as new devices like the ROG Xbox Al

Recycled Polyester Saved This American Factory. Environmentalists Hate It

In the bottle processing plant in Reidsville, North Carolina, drifts of plastic particles, like snow banks, are piled in every nook of the machinery that chops the bottles into flake. When I ask our tour guide, a floor manager, if he worries about breathing it in, he says he doesn't. "We do a good job of cleaning it up," he says, adding that the bags of dust that are vacuumed up are sold off, and the wastewater is filtered. But I’m concerned. A 2023 study of a UK plastics recycling plant found

Scientists Working to Decode Signal From Earliest Years of Universe

As mysterious as the Big Bang that gave birth to the universe is the brief but tumultuous period that immediately followed it. How did the cosmos transform from a uniform sea of darkness into a chaotic swirl brimming with radiant stars? What were these first stars like, and how were they born? So far, we have very strong suspicions, but no hard answers. One reason is that the light from this period, called the cosmic dawn, is extremely faint, making it nearly impossible to infer the traits of t

You'll Be Flabbergasted to Learn Which Contains More Microplastics: Plastic Bottles or Glass Bottles

You'll Be Flabbergasted to Learn Which Contains More Microplastics: Plastic Bottles or Glass Bottles "We expected the opposite result." Bottom of the Bottle French government scientists have discovered something startling about the microplastic content in glass and plastic bottles. As the Agence France-Presse reports, scientists at the country's food safety regulator found that glass-bottled drinks contained about 100 microplastic particles per liter, which amounts to roughly 25 particles pe

I recommend this Windows tablet for work travel over the iPad Pro - and it's on sale

ZDNET's key takeaways Microsoft made one of the best work tablets of 2024 with the 11th-generation Surface Pro for $1,000. It's one of the latest Copilot+ PCs housing next-gen hardware, long-lasting battery, and a stunning OLED touchscreen. As great as it may be, the device's generative AI features don't perform at the same level as the rest of the machine's features. $999.99 at Best Buy At Amazon, the 512GB Microsoft Surface Pro is on sale for $900. That is a 25% disount. Copilot+ PCs have

European leaders worry they’re too reliant on U.S. tech

In Brief European governments may be reconsidering their use of American technology and services, according to a new report in The New York Times. The flashpoint seems to come after President Donald Trump sanctioned Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, over the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. In response, Microsoft turned off Khan’s email address. Casper Klynge, a

OpenAI May Have Screwed Up So Badly That Its Entire Future Is Under Threat

OpenAI May Have Screwed Up So Badly That Its Entire Future Is Under Threat Battle of the titans. Forgiveness or Permission In its quest to become a for-profit entity, OpenAI may have catastrophically fumbled the bag with its patron Microsoft. As the Financial Times reports based on insider interviews, Microsoft is ready to walk away from the frustrating negotiations with OpenAI as both parties seek to renew their partnership amid the latter's for-profit push. Earlier in the week, the Wall St

Microsoft suspended the email account of an ICC prosecutor at The Hague

“The I.C.C. showed this can happen,” said Bart Groothuis, a former head of cybersecurity for the Dutch Ministry of Defense who is now a member of the European Parliament. “It’s not just fantasy.” Mr. Groothuis once supported U.S. tech firms but has done a “180-degree flip-flop,” he said. “We have to take steps as Europe to do more for our sovereignty.” Some at the I.C.C. are now using Proton, a Swiss company that provides encrypted email services, three people with knowledge of the communicati

Microsoft begins cleanup of legacy drivers from Windows Update

Forward-looking: Microsoft has traditionally maintained strong backward compatibility with older hardware and software. However, the company is now working to phase out as many legacy drivers as possible in an effort to streamline the Windows Update process and reduce its overall complexity. According to a recent post addressing partners in the Windows Hardware Program, Microsoft is working to remove legacy drivers from the Windows Update system. The company says the goal is to reduce security

Microsoft's Family Safety Feature Is Blocking Chrome: Here's the Workaround

Microsoft's Family Safety feature is designed to block certain types of websites from children. Apparently, it's also been blocking Google's Chrome browser -- but there is a workaround. Chrome, a web browser launched by Google in 2008 -- is not working when users have the Family Safety Feature enabled. The first report of the bug seems to date to June 3, when a user posted on Google's online support board. The user noted that Chrome constantly closed when the person tried to use it. Restarti