Enrolled for free into Windows 10 Extended Security Updates through October 13, 2026 for old Dell mini Laptop

Few days back, on 13 Sept., I did some reading/viewing up on possibility of free enrollment into Windows 10 Extended Security Updates, followed by trying out some of the suggestions. I was able to successfully enroll for free into Windows 10 Extended Security Updates through October 13, 2026 for my old Dell mini Laptop whose hardware is not good enough for Windows 11. There were some hoops to jump through but once that was done, it was straightforward.

As one person was interested to know about the procedure I followed, I decided to put up this post based on my informal notes. 

Key steps I followed

Reference video: How to Extend Windows 10 Support for an Additional Year (October 2026), 21 Jul 2025, 5 min. 1 sec.  was very useful. But I did not follow any of its registry or Windows Service settings suggestions for 'Enroll Now' button show. I had to only do a Windows Update and then wait for some time after that for the 'Enroll Now' button to show. More info. is given in below steps.

Note: In below steps, ESU refers to Extended Security Updates.

Steps

  1. First point is that my DML did not show 'Enroll now' button in Settings -> Windows Update screen. 46 secs: Shows Windows Update screen with 'Enroll Now' button shows a Settings -> Windows Update screen which has below 'View optional updates':
    • "Windows 10 support ends in October 2025" ...
    • Below that there is some more text and then an 'Enroll now' button.
  2. As admin user which earlier was a local account, I signed in to my Microsoft account. Then I enabled Windows Backup which backed up some stuff to OneDrive. Windows Settings -> Search for 'Backup' and choose 'Back up and Sync your settings' is one way of doing that. Windows Backup default settings for folders backup is Desktop, Pictures and Documents, IIRC. These folders on my system for admin user were small and so my upload size was small. This is an important step as without Microsoft account and Windows Backup to OneDrive being set, it seems that free enrollment into ESU option is not shown (paid option may be shown).
  3. I did Windows Update which downloaded and installed the main Cumulative Update for Windows 10 - KB5065429.
  4. After DML restart (needed for above Windows Update installation), initially Settings -> Windows Update screen did not show 'Enroll now' button.
  5. I closed the laptop for sometime. After I reopened it (and relogged in as admin user), initially if I recall correctly, Settings -> Windows Update screen still did not show 'Enroll now' button. But a little while later, the 'Enroll now' button was shown! Above video 3 min. 8secs. timestamp showing similar screen. I did not do any special registry setting or any other procedures recommended by above video. I think Windows 10 just took some time after Windows Update with DML (PC) being on and connected to Internet, to get some stuff updated in its OS settings, after which 'Enroll now' button was shown.
  6. I clicked the 'Enroll now' button and went through the enroll procedure. Without any hiccups, the DML got enrolled in Extended Security Updates through October 13, 2026. Above video 4 min. 17 sec. timestamp showing similar screen to what I was shown then.
  7. Then for admin user, Settings -> Windows Update screen showed in top right - "Your PC is enrolled to get Extended Security Updates". That can be seen in above video timestamp screen too.
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Further Details

This section is an edited version of my notes. DML stands for my Dell Mini Laptop.

16:18 13 September 2025

https://youtu.be/i8dzdrUJybM?t=64 in the video shows a Settings -> Windows Update screen which has below 'View optional updates':
"Windows 10 support ends in October 2025" ...
Below that there is some more text and then an 'Enroll now' button.
----------

On DML Settings-> Windows Update, that is not shown.

As per https://mashable.com/article/how-to-stay-on-windows-10-for-free : "Sync your Windows Backup with OneDrive - Per our sister site PCMag, you can upgrade for free by syncing your Windows Backup with Microsoft OneDrive, though you will probably need to purchase additional cloud storage space." ... 
Also I think somewhere else I saw/read that we need to be logged in to Microsoft and be using OneDrive.
[Later update: How to Extend Windows 10 Security Updates for Free (Until 2026), https://youtu.be/SAVDKcgoEK0?t=242 shows the screen with free option if Windows Backup is being used.]

So as admin user, I logged in to Microsoft using my Microsoft a/c and enabled Windows Backup which backed up some stuff to OneDrive (but said some parts were only partially backed up). ... Its default settings for folders backup is Desktop, Pictures and Documents, IIRC. I unchecked Desktop. So my upload size is small.

The above 'How to Extend Windows 10 ...' video provides some instructions for the case where the 'Enroll now' button is not shown. Those instructions seem to be there in the YT description too. I need to check that out. But I am now doing a Windows Update on DML. After that's done, I will see whether I get the 'Enroll now' button. If not, I will explore those instructions.

The instructions say: Also make sure you have the KB5062649 update.
I don't have that update. ... 'wmic qfe' does not list it.

Windows update resulted in download of this main Cumulative Update for Windows 10 - KB5065429. Some .Net update and Tool update were also done.

I later unchecked Desktop for backup (it is only 7 MB). I wanted to play safe till I figure out the Win 10 Extended Support stuff.

After the update downloads got over, the Cumulative Windows Update took quite some time for installation. 

Eventually Windows Update installation got done. I restarted system. Windows Update shows up to date but does not show the 'Enroll now' into Extended Security Updates option.

I had closed the laptop sometime after above timestamp. When I reopened it and logged in again with admin user, I think I was initially shown the same Windows Update screen as earlier but I am not sure. If I am not mistaken, a few minutes later it changed and provided the 'Enroll now' button! I went through the 'Enroll' procedure and without any hiccups, the DML got enrolled in Extended Security Updates through October 13, 2026.

Now at least for admin user, Settings -> Windows Update screen shows in top right - "Your PC is enrolled to get Extended Security Updates".

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