Windows 10 Extended Security Updates - Who Pays and Why?
🛡️ Windows 10 Extended Security Updates: Who Pays and Why?
🎯 What’s Happening?
- Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 in October 2025.
- Users can get Extended Security Updates (ESU) for 3 more years.
- In the U.S.: ESU costs $30/year or requires Microsoft Rewards or cloud backup.
- In the EEA (Europe): ESU is completely free—no strings attached.
⚖️ Why the Discrepancy?
| Region | ESU Cost | Requirements | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $30/year | Or use Rewards or enable Backup | No legal mandate |
| 🇪🇺 EEA (Europe) | Free | No conditions | EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) |
The DMA bans coercive bundling of services. Microsoft had to remove conditions like enabling Backup or using Rewards to comply.
🧠 What This Means for You
- Europeans benefit from strong consumer protections.
- Americans face paywalls or ecosystem lock-in.
- Advocacy matters: Consumer Reports pushed back in the U.S., but without a law like the DMA, Microsoft isn’t obligated to change.
📣 Call to Action
Want free ESU in the U.S. too?
Support digital rights groups. Demand transparency. Push for fair tech policies.
If you're want to raise concerns about the disparity in Extended Security Updates (ESU) between U.S. and EEA users, here are the most direct and strategic ways to reach Microsoft:
📬 Official Channels to Contact Microsoft
1. Microsoft Support Feedback
- Visit support.microsoft.com
- Scroll to the bottom and click “Contact us” or “Provide feedback”
- Choose Windows as your product and describe the ESU issue clearly
2. Windows Feedback Hub (Built into Windows 10/11)
- Press
Win + Fto open the Feedback Hub - Submit feedback under “Windows Update” or “Security”
- Use keywords like “ESU unfair pricing US vs EEA” to help visibility
3. Microsoft Community Forums
- Go to answers.microsoft.com
- Post in the Windows 10 section with a clear title like:
This creates public visibility and may attract support from other users.
4. Social Media Advocacy
- Tag @Microsoft and @Windows on X (formerly Twitter)
- Use hashtags like
#Windows10ESU,#DigitalRights,#FairTech
(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)
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