Microsoft has suddenly confirmed a new upgrade offer for Windows users, who can now save $30 with one click. And there’s now a workaround that means this new offer is available to more than 600 million users.
The Windows-maker is under fire from consumer advocacy groups with less than 3 weeks before Windows 10 support comes to an end. 600 million PCs continue to run the retiring version of the OS, of which 200 to 400 million cannot upgrade.
To get around the threat of a cyber security nightmare on October 14, Microsoft offers a 12-month extended security update (ESU). To get this you pay $30 or spend some Microsoft Rewards or use a OneDrive subscription to backup your PC settings.
But in Europe, Microsoft has confirmed the $30 fee and even the OneDrive requirement have been dropped, making the ESU completely free. All you need is a Microsoft Account and you can secure your PC until October 2026.
If your Windows region is set to Europe, Windows Latest confirms that “users get a clear option to extend device protection and no longer need to back up settings, apps, credentials or engage with Microsoft Rewards.”
But here’s the workaround for everyone else.
“Microsoft officials won’t tell you this on record,” Windows Latest says, “remember it takes a few minutes to change the system region and pick any European country. Once you’ve made the change, you just need to sign up for Windows 10 Extended Updates.”
You still need to be logged into a Microsoft Account, but this isn’t cross-checked against your regional settings. There’s no $30 fee and “you won’t be asked to sync Settings to OneDrive or use Windows Backup because you’ve switched the region to the EU.”
Windows 11 upgrade and Windows 10 update workarounds are often shutdown when they come to light, so if this is something you’re considering it might not be around indefinitely. That said, the ESU can essentially be secured for free anyway and there are less than 3 weeks before the October 13 deadline, by which you need to opt in.
With interesting timing, Windows 11’s market share has finally overtaken Windows 10 in Europe, matching what we have seen in the U.S. for some time. We don’t have any data as to how many users have opted into the ESU in Europe or anywhere else, and so as things stand the scale of the October 14 cyber cliff edge remains unknown.