Windows 10 and October 13: What Changes for Your SME's Computers (and What Doesn't)

This Tuesday, October 13, 2026, is the second Tuesday of the month, the day Microsoft ships its security patches, and for Windows 10 it is a date that has been widely repeated as "the final end". It is not, for everyone. Microsoft extended its free update program for personal computers to October 12, 2027, as BleepingComputer reported. But that program does not cover a company's managed PCs, and for organizations, October 13 does close the first year of the paid program.

Many guides published last year still say everything ends this week. Here is what really changes, for which computers, and what to decide at your SME.

First, the context

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Since then, according to Microsoft's documentation, PCs keep working, but only those enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program get security patches. There are two versions of that program, and the difference between them is what matters this week.

The program for individuals: free and extended to 2027

According to the official program page:

• Until when: updates arrive until October 12, 2027. If you were already enrolled, you don't need to do anything; if not, you can enroll any time until that date.
• How to enroll: free if you sync your PC settings to your Microsoft account, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time $30 payment. One license covers up to 10 devices.
• Requirements: Windows 10 version 22H2 in the Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations edition, with a Microsoft account that is an administrator.
• Who is left out: devices joined to an Active Directory domain, joined to Microsoft Entra, enrolled in a mobile device management (MDM) tool, or in kiosk mode.

That last point is easy to miss: if your company's computers are centrally managed, this program is not for them.

The program for businesses: year one ends this Tuesday

For organizations, Microsoft sells ESU through volume licensing. According to its documentation:

• Price: $61 per device for the first year, and the price doubles every year, for a maximum of three years. That puts year two at $122 per device.
• It is cumulative: you can't buy single months or skip a year. If you join in year two, you also pay for year one; that is why joining now costs $183 per device (61 + 122).
• From one license: there is no minimum purchase.
• Free in the cloud: ESU is included at no extra cost for Windows 10 virtual machines on Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and other Azure services.
• What it does not include: new features, non-security fixes or general technical support.

Microsoft does not announce the end of year one with a press release; the dates follow its patch calendar. That year 1 covers through October 13, 2026 and year 2 starts on the 14th is detailed by, among others, PC Server and Parts and Progress, which agree. If your company paid for year one and does not renew, its PCs will stop receiving patches after this Tuesday's.

What it means for your SME

The question is not "is Windows 10 ending?" but "how many of my company's computers are still on Windows 10, and which program is each one in?". In practice there are three cases:

• Managed devices (domain, Entra or MDM): only the paid ESU applies. Each year costs twice as much, so compare that cost with upgrading or replacing the device.
• Standalone devices, with no central management: they meet the conditions of the free program through 2027 if they run version 22H2 and have a Microsoft administrator account. Check on each one that it is actually enrolled.
• Devices in no program: they have gone a year without patches. They should not be used for online banking, electronic invoicing or company email.

ESU is a bridge, not a destination: it buys time to migrate in an orderly way, but adds nothing new to the system.

What to do this week

1. Take inventory. On each computer, type winver in the Start menu to see the version. Note which ones are still on Windows 10 and whether they run 22H2.
2. Check enrollment. Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update shows whether the device is enrolled in ESU.
3. Check whether it can move to Windows 11. Microsoft's free PC Health Check app tells you whether the device meets the requirements.
4. Decide device by device: upgrade to Windows 11 if it is compatible, pay for ESU if you need time, or replace it if it has reached its limit. Put a date on each decision.
5. Back up before migrating. Copy the data following the 3-2-1 rule and test that the backup can be restored.

How We Approach It at SimCodec

At SimCodec we help SMEs in Quito and across Ecuador handle this change without stopping operations: we inventory the devices, check which ones can move to Windows 11, build the migration plan with cloud backups before touching anything, and leave the devices managed and fully patched. When it makes sense, we also evaluate cloud desktops, which include ESU at no extra cost.

If you want to know how many of your computers are exposed and what each option costs, write to us or call our AI assistant Cyntia at +593 99 726 6838.