October 2020 was the deadline. It’s gone. Windows 10 support officially ended last fall, and Microsoft is pushing hard for everyone to move to Windows 11.
Makes sense. It’s been out for ten years. The OS is aging like milk. Security updates? Gone.
Or so you thought.
If you’re stuck on the old hardware that won’t run the new OS, there is a loophole. A small, somewhat tricky loophole. You can keep your computer safe from hackers until 2027 without paying the standard $30 fee for a single year of updates.
There’s a catch, obviously.
You have to back up to OneDrive.
Connect your OneDrive, enable cloud backup, and the security updates are yours for a year, free of charge.
Why does this matter?
Windows 10 is still everywhere. Like, everywhere everywhere. As of May 2025, it sits on more than 53% of Windows installations. Millions of people were about to get the boot, left vulnerable on the open web. Microsoft realized this would cause chaos. So they built in a safety net.
It’s not just about the money, though $30 isn’t exactly pocket change for someone who doesn’t want to buy a new PC. It’s about choice. The free option keeps the door open for a little while longer.
Is it perfect?
No. OneDrive comes with a cramp on your hands: 5GB of free storage. The Verge points this out rightly. If your user data or backup files blow past that 5GB limit, you’re stuck. You’d need to buy storage.
Let’s look at the math. $2 a month for 1 100 GB on OneDrive still comes in cheaper than the flat $30 Microsoft wants for a year of security patches. Still cheaper, but still annoying. Who wants to manage storage limits just to keep their email safe?
What else is out there?
Microsoft’s blog lists three actual paths forward for the die-hard Windows 10 holders.
- Sync settings to OneDrive via Windows Backup (the free route mentioned above).
- Redeem 1 000 Microsoft Rewards points for a full year of updates.
- Just pay the $30 for the official Extended Security Updates.
The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program actually launched in July. If you fork over the cash or use points, you’re good until October 14 2027. Businesses can stretch that even further, buying up to three years.
But let’s be clear. This isn’t a permanent fix.
It’s a pause button. Microsoft isn’t letting Windows 10 live forever. They just bought you a few years to save up for that new machine, or to finally figure out what you were doing with your time.
So. Back up to the cloud, burn some loyalty points, or open your wallet.
The clock is still ticking, just slightly slower.
