Microsoft Just Broke (and Fixed) Extended Security Updates for Windows 10
Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10 , but that doesn’t mean the company has actually stopped supporting it. It’s not as confusing as it seems: as of October 14, Microsoft stopped providing security updates to Windows 10 users by default. However, Windows 10 users can continue to receive security updates by enrolling in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program . The Extended Security Updates program provides these users with an additional year of security support so they can continue to safely use their internet-connected Windows 10 device.
Or at least that’s how it should be. As How-To Geek reports , Microsoft’s first ESU update crashed immediately after its release on Tuesday. When users attempted to register using the ESU registration wizard, a Windows error caused the process to fail. While Windows 11 users installed the Patch Tuesday update (which patched a dangerous zero-day vulnerability) without issue , Windows 10 users were unable to install the security fixes necessary for a safe and secure OS experience.
However, there’s good news: Microsoft is not only aware of this issue, but has already released a fix for Windows 10 users. This is a good response time, especially for such a critical issue. According to How-To Geek, update KB5071959 also includes the security fixes from update KB5066791, released on October 14. After installing and running the update on your computer, you should be able to register for the ESU program without any issues.
How to fix the ESU error and subscribe to security updates
If you’re running Windows 10, you should install this emergency update as soon as possible to enroll your computer in Extended Security Updates. To do this, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install the latest update (KB5071959). After restarting your computer, return to Windows Update and you’ll be able to run the ESU registration wizard.
For those unfamiliar, there are three ways to enroll in the ESU program. First, you can pay a flat $30 for upgrades. However, if you don’t want to pay, you can use the Windows Backup service to sync your PC settings with the cloud or use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
Even if you sign up for the ESU program, you won’t receive updates forever. This program expires on October 13, 2026. After that date, Microsoft will finally phase out Windows 10. This gives hundreds of millions of OS users about 11 months to develop a new computing plan. However, in the meantime, you can still enjoy security updates by installing this patch.