rewrite this title Microsoft makes classic U-turn and offers Windows 10 security updates as truly free – but not for everyone

Microsoft has changed its mind on extended updates for Windows 10The free offer no longer requires you to sync your PC settings to OneDriveHowever, this is only the case for those in the European Economic Area

Microsoft is removing any strings that were attached to the offer of extended security updates for those wanting to stick with Windows 10 beyond its official End of Life deadline – but only for people in certain countries.

Windows Central reports that Microsoft is changing the rules on the free year of updates – which extends support for Windows 10 from October 2025 to October 2026 – for those in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Those people will be able to enroll for extended security updates via the Windows Update panel, with no catches whatsoever. In other words, they won’t need to have a Microsoft account and use the Windows Backup app to sync their PC settings to OneDrive, which is the main catch that’s currently applied to the free year of updates.

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For the rest of the world outside of Europe, however, this will remain the condition attached to the extended support updates (ESU) program. (Although there are two other options, neither of which is as attractive for most folks – pay $30, or spend 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points).

Microsoft told Windows Central: “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. Our goal is to support customers and provide them with options as they transition to Windows 11, with uninterrupted access to critical security updates.”

Analysis: two tiers of Windows users?

You probably know what I’m going to say here, and it’s simply that Microsoft should extend this offer to the rest of the world beyond the EEA. Never mind ‘local expectations’, if you’re going to do this for a good chunk of the Windows 10 user base out there, Microsoft, you should do it for everyone.

What’s really the driving force behind those European expectations is, of course, the data regulations in the region, namely the Digital Markets Act. Microsoft has had to tread quite carefully around this legislation, which has meant that Windows users in Europe have got access to all manner of extra goodies that other people elsewhere don’t get – like the ability to remove the Edge browser entirely from the OS (and not be nagged to reinstall it, either).

In my opinion, the Digital Markets Act is, at this point, effectively creating a kind of two-tier system of Windows users. Some, in Europe, get better benefits over their privacy, and are shielded from some of Microsoft’s more annoying arm-twisting, and others elsewhere don’t get any of those benefits and just have to suffer those various irksome slings and arrows.

Does that seem right or fair? No. Am I being overly dramatic? Well, maybe. But it’s starting to feel something like a two-tier system, and if more steps are taken in this direction in the future – and I don’t see why they won’t be – well, you get the idea.

Of course, I don’t expect Microsoft to change its stance on the likes of Edge for the entire world, or the various prodding around using its services delivered by Windows 11, because all that behavior is too ingrained at this point. However, when it comes to this fresh move, I think it’s bad form for Microsoft to force some folks to sync settings to get extended updates, while letting others slide. Even though you’re not syncing all your PC’s data to OneDrive, I should clarify, just your PC settings.

Still, what Microsoft really needs to do here is offer two years of additional free support in my book – I don’t think one is enough, as I’ve discussed in the past, and more breathing room is warranted due to Windows 11’s unusually onerous system requirements.

Maybe this is an area Microsoft will revisit next year, though. It’s possible, and I remain hopeful, especially with various consumer rights groups exerting pressure on the software giant.

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