Microsoft has made a surprising decision that is likely to affect millions of users in Europe: The security updates for Windows 10 will be made available free of charge for private customers in the European Economic Area in future. This is a clear reversal of the company’s original announcement that it would offer the so-called “Extended Security Updates” (ESU) for a fee. While an annual fee of 30 US dollars is to be charged in the USA, private users in Europe will now not have to pay anything – at least until October 14, 2026, according to a report by heise.de.
Pressure from consumer advocates is having an effect
The decision did not come out of the blue, but is the result of massive pressure from European consumer organizations. Euroconsumers in particular had criticized Microsoft for attaching additional conditions to access to important security updates. For many consumers, this would have been a restriction of their rights.
Especially because security updates for an operating system are a fundamental prerequisite for being able to use devices safely. By making them available free of charge, Microsoft apparently not only wants to avoid legal disputes, but also to appease the growing discontent of many users.
Restrictions remain in place
However, the new regulation only applies to private customers. Companies or commercial users still have to pay for the Extended Security Updates if they want to continue using Windows 10 after the regular end of support. There is also an important restriction for private users.
Anyone wishing to receive the free updates must link their Windows 10 account to a Microsoft account. Users who have previously only worked with a local user account will therefore have to switch if they want to remain protected.
Microsoft sets deadline until 2026
The provision of updates is limited in time: The deadline is October 14, 2026 at the latest. This date marks the final end of support for Windows 10, after which European private users will not be able to avoid switching to Windows 11 or another operating system.
Nevertheless, the extension gives many people valuable breathing space. Especially for users with older devices that do not meet the high hardware requirements of Windows 11, the decision means additional leeway before a switch becomes unavoidable.
Positive reactions from politicians and associations
Reactions to the announcement have been predominantly positive. Euroconsumers speaks of an important success for consumer rights, even if the organization continues to criticize the fact that the link to a Microsoft account remains in place.
The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) also welcomed the move. The BSI emphasized that the extension of the security provision gives users more time to switch to a long-term and secure alternative at their leisure.
Conclusion: More security and planning security for users
The bottom line is that European private users benefit twice over: they not only save the fees that are due in the USA, but also gain planning security. At the same time, the decision shows that strong pressure from consumer associations and political institutions can persuade even large tech companies to give in. Microsoft’s move also shows that consumer rights in Europe are becoming increasingly important and can be enforced even against global market leaders in cases of doubt.
