Windows 10 End Date: Get an Extra Year Free
Okay, here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on how to get the free extended security updates for Windows 10:
What’s happening?
* Microsoft is offering a year of free extended security updates for Windows 10, but there’s a catch.
* To get these updates, you need to connect your Windows 10 machine to a Microsoft account.
How to get the free updates:
- Sign in with a Microsoft Account: You need to sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account (meaning you use an email address and password associated with Microsoft - if you’re using a local account, you’ll need to switch). this essentially ties you into the Microsoft ecosystem (CoPilot, Office 365, GamePass, OneDrive, etc.).
- Enroll for Extended Security Updates: After signing in, a window will pop up asking if you wont to “add this device to receive extended Security Updates.” Click Add Device and then Done.
Vital Considerations:
* Storage Limit: The free backup that comes with signing in only covers the first 5 GB of storage on OneDrive. You’ll need to pay for more storage if you exceed that limit.You can manage what gets backed up in Settings > OneDrive to stay within the free limit.
* Microsoft account Required: The biggest takeaway is that this is a move to encourage users to adopt Microsoft accounts and become more integrated with their services.
* Temporary Solution: This is only a one-year extension. You’ll need to upgrade to Windows 11 or find another solution after that year is up.
In short, it’s a free year of security, but it comes with the trade-off of being more connected to microsoft’s cloud services.