Microsoft has expanded its free Extended Security Updates (ESU) offer to millions more Windows 10 users. Following the mandatory KB5063709 update, users can now see an “Enroll in Extended Support Updates” option, valid until October 2026. While paid plans start at $30 for up to 10 PCs, most users will likely choose the free offer, linking ESU to their Microsoft account and OneDrive.
The program aims to protect Windows 10 devices after official support ends, helping users transition to newer systems. Microsoft acknowledges that moving to a new PC can take time, and the ESU is meant to bridge that gap. Although an earlier bug caused crashes in the enrollment wizard, this issue has now been fixed.
However, the free ESU may slow Windows 11 adoption. Recent market share data from Statcounter suggests the shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has stalled, with the latter even losing ground. Critics argue that free ESU should have been limited to PCs unable to upgrade.
Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025. Users must upgrade to version 24H2 or 25H2 to continue receiving security updates.
Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025.
I.e., the one that still supports WMR virtual reality headsets and hasn’t had the functionality for those artificially pulled.
Separately, Microsoft warns that Windows 11 version 23H2 will reach end of support on November 11, 2025. Users must upgrade to version 24H2 or 25H2 to continue receiving security updates.
Windows 11 23H2 was the last version that supported Windows Mixed Reality. They’re really in a hurry to kill WMR.
could I get a bit of context for this? not well read in VR things
Microsoft got companies like Samsung, HP and Lenovo to make WMR VR headsets that require the WMR Windows components. There is official support for Steam VR, but the headsets don’t work if the WMR components aren’t there, and after November there will be no officially supported version of Windows with those components. From what I’ve read it’s basically impossible to get WMR working on 10 LTSC, and I assume the situation is the same on 11 LTSC.
that’s sucky as fuck, like why would you do that? if they don’t want to support it anymore then at least open source the implementation or the spec
A bunch of VR headsets (including fairly expensive ones) used Windows Mixed Reality as their API to the OS. Without it, many of these headsets simply do not function. Turning your very expensive purchase into a paperweight.
https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality
Theres a sort of replacement out there, closed source, nvidia only (AMD might come later though)
Still sucks they’re ripping WMR out. My G2 was awesome for the 150$ I spent on it.
that’s a weird repo. It’s empty, and has issues disabled while the repo description says that it’s an issue tracker
Can’t have issues on the issue tracker if you’re not allowing people to submit issues.
They’re really in a hurry to kill WMR.
isn’t it just that any major version is only supported for 2 years?
Following the mandatory KB5063709 update
Fuck you, Microsoft.
So thankful Steam made Linux a viable option. Made the switch 6 months ago. Haven’t found a game I can’t run yet. Computer overall runs smoother even.
Older games are easier to run linux.
I would love it if Xbox Gamepass works on linux
So thankful Steam and the hardworking folks who have been working on wine and linux for decades before steam gave them a penny made Linux a viable option
ftfy
The windows 11 installer is hot garbage if you’re not a mono windows set-up.
Windows 10 deleted my PopOS bootloader, again
Do you dual boot off the same drive or have separate drives and this issue occurred anyway?
First time, I had same drive. Then I read that it is better to have different drives, so second time I installed Windows on a different drive. It still managed to mess up Linux.
Thanks! I’ll disconnect my Linux drive when its time to accept Microsoft’s shitty upgrade.
I don’t know what caused it exactly
AFAIK, you need to use seperate drives and install the OSes in such a way that each drive has its own EFI partition. (Installing with the other drive disconnected is the easy way.) Then only use your UEFI boot selection menu to choose which drive to boot from.
Windows: “All your files are right where you left them”
Me: “Oh FUCK, what the fuck did you do to my files”
Lol I remember getting this the first time I tried upgrading to Win 10, pretty much the first day it was released. I just wanted to escape Win 8 hell hole and then… Something happened.
i would’ve been fine with 8.1, you could tweak out all the annoying stuff and then it just looked like 7 but worked better, no resource manager crashes or whatever it (explorer.exe) was called. and it didn’t fight me like 10 did
I wonder if the Tarrif + linux news might be spooking them a bit.
Fuck em. Install Linux.
The best message I see on my gaming PC is “Your system does not meet the requirements for Windows 11” 🤗
mine says “made by KDE” 🤗
We understand that moving to a new PC can take time,” Microsoft says, “and we’re here to support you throughout the process.
actually i installed linux mint over windows on a friday evening and it wasn’t that time consuming at all.
Motherfucker, you can buy me a new PC if you want me to have one so bad. Shit’s expensive and nobody has the money to replace something that still works.
heh nice. Mint is great and easy to install. I like PopOS/debian depending on what im doing.
Remember when Microsoft said no Windows 11? https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32658340
Such a money grab.
honestly the hardest part was realising microsoft had a dumb bitlocker thing and having to search for the key (thankfully it was in my microsoft account)
now imagine you getting locked out of your account for whatever reason. as I read multiple people experienced it already.
Oh that sucks!
That’s my main reason for not pursuing a VM version yet. While I rarely go into the WIndows side now, I don’t want anything to show a different usage and give them a reason to lock the Windows part. I ran into something like that a few years ago, had to go through all sorts of validation with the Microsoft account to get things running right again. Wow, it almost sounds like holding the computer hostage.
Bitlocker is a good thing that should be the default for windows users.
But not telling the user, not giving them the choice and switching it on without their knowledge, is super scummy.
This continually gets passed around, but it’s the result of bad journalism. It was a comment made by one of the developers and was never an official comment/statement from Microsoft.
Just adding for the record that I despise Microsoft, so I’m not trying to defend them. Just always see this referenced and figure it’s better to set the record straight.
That said, Microsoft didn’t really bend over backwards correcting the misconception…
It was someone speaking on behalf of MS and MS didn’t really work to change the perception. They can hide behind the “not an official statement” argument, but you shouldn’t spread their message. They did it on purpose, and used it for false advertising. It only isn’t illegal because they sent the message through unofficial channels, but then purposefully let it spread.
There are ads in Windows even if you pay extra for the Pro version…
God, they are finding even more places to add ads?!?
The only free Windows update is to install Linux.
You mean the windows-free update
I see what you did there and I approve.
Nice 👍🏼!
That’s a Windows [upgrade]
XP was when they jumped the shark, moved away and to Linux then. It is waaaay too late to give a shit what Microsoft does.
I want to switch to Linux but 3 things hold me back atm ,
My sound card having only very basic support under Linux.
Lossless scaling being more a limited hobby project under Linux.
And gamepass not working
And maybe a few games which won’t work due to ac.
Your sound card would probably work without issue. Don’t rely on the manufacturers website about drivers when it comes to that.
For gamepass, you have to either give that up, play on Xbox, or stay with windows. That’s something that Microsoft’s will never support on Linux.
Nah my sound card looses 95% of functionality on linux and a huge chunk of it’s quality with that.
its such a big loss of features , it would be worse than most on board sound cards on windows with their drivers installed ( they have atleast some functionality )
Also switched to Linux (popos) this month. It’s been fine. Games work. Browser works. No complaints, really.
I installed it on my old laptop. I’m happy it’s breathing new life into it, but the Pop_Shop is SO SLOW.
It really is. If you don’t mind potential instability, upgrade to the latest alpha build. I haven’t had a single crash in months, and cosmic desktop is already way better than Gnome, and Cosmic Store (pop shop replacement) is very fast.
That’s good to hear! Cosmic looks really great, but I’m gonna have to wait since the laptop is meant to be a personal machine for my partner to use.
Yeah I noticed that, too. Not sure why. Using apt on the command line is probably an alternative, at least.
“You pay us, and we will protect you”
Don’t they usually smash a few Windows before they say this sentence?
Lol didntbyhey have a world wide outage that started from a security backdoor?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a global outage of Windows, no.
Hey now. Solarwinds is marketed as a monitoring app. The security backdoor thing was entirely unintentional.
(But, c’mon: if you’re giving admin privs to an app that calls home, and you can’t see the source, and you can’t validate the app on the other end, you’re basically asking for pwnage)
I think you’re confusing the Solarwinds and Crowdstrike things.
That’s right I was thinking of cloud strike!
Fun fact, that event convinced management at work to start moving from Windows server to Linux boxes. Since the only services that were not down for a significant amount of time was the Linux services. Fun times.
Check Bleeping Computer. They’ve been smashing many Windows.
