table of contents
one last warning
if you clicked through here, you're probably hoping i'll give you some magic trick that'll let you keep using windows 10 for as long as you want. i've already spelled this out in the main guide, but one more time, nice and clear: this is a very temporary fix. these methods can buy you maybe a few more years of useful time on windows 10. chances are that by 2028 at the latest, you'll already be having serious compatibility issues with newer software, and certain programs you use and depend on will be complaining and telling you to upgrade to windows 11, if not refusing to work outright. if this is enough time for you to prepare a plan B, such as getting ready to switch to linux or buying a new computer, great! go ahead! but if you're still planning to use windows 10 forever, take it from someone who tried the same with windows 7: you're in for a world of pain in a few years. don't say i didn't warn you.
that being said...
extended security updates [ESU]
the people at https://massgrave.dev/ have developed a way to easily unlock 3 years of official security updates for windows 10, keeping you safe and secure until october 2028. if you're currently running unsupported windows 10, go over there and follow the instructions front and center on the site - you have to open powershell and copy-paste one thing in there. it'll pop up a menu with a bunch of options: you should select TSForge, which can activate ESU for you.
this should be enough time for most people. remember: these updates don't make windows 10 compatible with windows 11-only software or add any new features, they are only for security. by 2028, you'll be having software compatibility problems, and you'll already need a windows 11 or linux computer to do certain things. it will continue to get harder and harder to use windows 10 the longer you wait after that. if you are REALLY set on it, though, no matter how much it sucks: there is another path, which i'll cover below.
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021
this niche version of windows 10 will receive security updates until january 13th, 2032. however:
- it doesn't include all of the functionality in normal windows 10, and some windows 10 applications will not work.
- windows 11 exclusive apps and games will also never work on this edition, leaving you with lots of compatibility problems and applications no longer working in a few years.
- if the upgrade process goes wrong, you can lose all your apps and data.
- it is only officially available in english, and if you want the OS in another language, there is a complex activation process to do so.
- there is no legal way for an end user to purchase or activate this edition - you will be running an obviously pirated copy of windows 10, with all of the consequences of this.
if you still want to proceed, you can head to https://massgrave.dev/windows10_eol#upgrade-windows-10-home-pro-etc-to-windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021-keep-files--apps and follow the instructions in the first drop-down menu.