- Microsoft has revealed another nuance with the way the additional year of free updates for Windows 10 will work
- It will force you to be connected to a Microsoft account on a continuous basis
- It is a question of avoiding someone registering for extended updates with a Microsoft account, then going to a room for the rest of the year
We have had another development in the torsion saga and extended support for Windows 10, and a new revelation on how the offer of an additional year of free security updates will work that could be bad news for some.
Even the non -tied offer that recently emerged for those who live in Europe – the EEE or the European economic field, to be precise – forces you to connect to a Microsoft account, and it seems that this applies to more than the initial registration for the extended program of security updates (ESU).
As Windows has reported, Microsoft has confirmed that people who use the ESU program should not only be connected to a Microsoft account when they take the offer, but they will have to stay connected to this account at least once every 60 days.
Microsoft told the technological site: “If your MSA [Microsoft account] is not used to connect for a period of up to 60 days, the updates will be interrupted, and you will have to re -register by signing using the same MSA. “”
As you probably know now, Windows 10 lacks support on October 14, 2025 and ESU is the only way to stay safely on the operating system, obtaining security updates until October 2026.
Analysis: no local escape –
What does this mean in practice? This measure is implemented to stop those who wish to obtain free security updates for Windows 10 after October 2025, while using a local account with the operating system. In other words, an installation of Windows 10 which is not linked to a Microsoft account.
Some people would have thought that they could get the ESU by connecting with a Microsoft account freshly created on their PC, then returning to their local account, and ignore this Microsoft account – essentially dodging this requirement.
However, this cannot be done, because as indicated, Microsoft will check if you remain signed on the Microsoft account linked to ESU registration.
Of course, you can register for ESU, switch to a local account, then register two months later, then return to your local account, etc. However, it’s a bit of hassles, and clearly, Microsoft wants to dissuade those who try to compel their requirement to have a Microsoft account for prolonged updates.
What is not clear is whether Microsoft will check users outside of Europe to see if they stop synchronizing their PC parameters on OneDrive, which is a requirement for everyone outside the EEE to obtain the free update offer. Those of the EEE are not subject to this stipulation due to the regulations of this region – in particular the law on digital markets, which has forced Microsoft to considerably modify its behavior with regard to certain elements of Windows. (Note that earlier this week, we also saw an index that a significant change made to Microsoft concerning Edge and Bing in Europe could simply happen to the rest of the world – which would be excellent news if that happens.)
It should also be noted that even those who pay for prolonged support – which costs $ 30 for the year, or the equivalent in your local currency – must have a Microsoft account (and are probably subject to the same two -month checks mentioned here).
