[UPDATE] Windows 10 Users in Europe to Get Free Security Updates After Microsoft U-Turn

UPDATE [September 26]: Microsoft has outlined requirements to get free ESU in Europe. A statement provided by company to Bleeping Computer and details seen by Windows Central reads:

Sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account (MSA) and stay signed in to receive ESU updates at no additional cost. If your MSA is not used to sign in for a period of up to 60 days, ESU updates will be discontinued, and you’ll need to re-enroll by signing in using the same MSA.

We also have a separate article on this matter, check here.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Microsoft has been under fire for trying to tie Extended Security Updates (ESU) to its Windows Backup app. For those unaware, the company requires Windows 10 users to sign into a Microsoft Account and sync their PC settings to the cloud to be eligible for the extra year of updates.

If you were also bothered by this decision and live in the European Economic Area (EEA), there’s some good news for you. As Windows Central reports, Microsoft has been forced to backtrack the aforementioned decision in the European Economic Area (EEA). Thanks to mounting pressure from Euroconsumers.

Now, Windows 10 users in Europe will get a year of free ESU updates without having to enable Windows Backup. That’s a major reversal, given that outside the EEA, people will still need to turn on Backup. If not, they have to pay $30 for a year, or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Reward points.

In an open letter published earlier this week, Eurocomsumers noted:

We are pleased to learn that Microsoft will provide a no-cost Extended Security Updates (ESU) option for Windows 10 consumer users in the European Economic Area (EEA). We are also glad this option will not require users to back up settings, apps, or credentials, or use Microsoft Rewards.

In addition to that, a Microsoft spokesperson has also confirmed the backtrack to the news outlet. The company is “making updates to the enrollment process to ensure it meets local expectations and delivers a secure, streamlined experience,” the statement reads.

Well, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has faced backlash. Just last week, Consumer Reports urged Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to extend free updates globally, warning that millions of PCs would otherwise be left stranded.

For now, though, the free option, without any catch, only applies to Windows 10 users in the EEA. They will continue to receive ESU updates until October 13th, 2026, but businesses can buy support for up to three years.

via: The Verge