Windows 10 ESU Extends Security to 2026 — Should You Wait to Upgrade to Windows 11?

I’ve been putting off the full switch to Windows 11 — and I’m not alone: recent developments from Microsoft have made it rational for many users to stay on Windows 10 for now. The vendor’s rollout of a consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) option, growing reports of performance and stability oddities in Windows 11 24H2, and a string of hardware compatibility headaches (notably SSD-related Blue Screen reports) have combined to make a deliberate, measured migration the safest course for a surprising number of PCs. The original TechRadar first-person account that kicked off this debate captured the practical calculus: free ESU options reduce the urgency to upgrade, while real-world performance quirks and reported bugs give pause.

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Background / Overview​

Microsoft has set the final end-of-support date for Windows 10 as October 14, 2025 — after that date the OS will no longer receive security patches or feature updates from Microsoft. This is the single most important calendar milestone shaping upgrade decisions for individuals and businesses. (support.microsoft.com)
In response to user friction and the sizable Windows 10 install base, Microsoft announced a consumer ESU program that allows eligible Windows 10 devices to receive security updates for an extra year — through October 13, 2026. Critically for many consumers, enrollment options include a free path: syncing PC settings to OneDrive (or redeeming Microsoft Rewards points) can give eligible Home users access to ESU at no cash cost; otherwise a one-time consumer fee of roughly $30 is available. Microsoft’s own client-facing guidance and product pages outline these enrollment mechanisms and prerequisites. (support.microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)
At the same time, Windows 11’s ongoing evolution — the 24H2 refresh and the pending 25H2 series — has exposed performance regressions and compatibility issues across varied hardware. Independent coverage and user reports have highlighted problems ranging from File Explorer sluggishness to SSD firmware incompatibilities that in some cases caused system crashes after 24H2 installs. Microsoft has acknowledged the broader performance debate and introduced targeted telemetry and fixes in preview builds while SSD manufacturers and Microsoft have coordinated firmware and update blocks for affected models. (theverge.com, windowslatest.com, pcworld.com)

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Why free Extended Security Updates change the upgrade calculus​

The hard deadline — and the bridge option​

The Windows 10 end-of-support deadline is fixed and non-negotiable: October 14, 2025. For many users, that date drove a simple plan: upgrade now to stay protected. But the ESU program is an explicit safety valve. It does not add features or general bug fixes; it simply delivers critical and important security patches for enrolled devices for one year beyond end of life. For consumers who aren’t ready to change hardware or want time to plan, that’s a meaningful reprieve. (support.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)

How the consumer ESU enrollment works​

Microsoft created three enrollment paths for individual users:

• Sync PC settings to OneDrive (no cash cost).
• Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points (no cash cost).
• Pay a one-time fee (about $30 USD).

Enrollment is executed via a guided wizard surfaced in the Windows Update settings; there have been rollout delays and an enrollment bug that Microsoft patched with a recent update (so some users had trouble signing up until August’s fixes landed). The technical prerequisites require Windows 10 version 22H2 and a Microsoft account to tie the ESU license. (support.microsoft.com, techradar.com)

Practical takeaway​

The free OneDrive path neutralizes the single biggest practical incentive for immediate migration — cost. For users who already use Microsoft account sign-in and settings sync (a common default on modern machines), the ESU option turns a hard push into a planning calendar: migrate when convenient, rather than under duress.

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Windows 11 performance: reported sluggishness and Microsoft’s response​

File Explorer lag and perceived slowness​

A recurring complaint since the 24H2 refresh has been File Explorer sluggishness — slow launches, delayed rendering of the Home tab, and intermittent freezes. Multiple outlets documented the issue and Microsoft has made performance-focused fixes available in cumulative and optional updates (for example, KB releases intended to improve File Explorer initialization and the “Home” experience). Microsoft’s telemetry-driven initiative in preview builds now gathers detailed logs for “slow or sluggish” behaviors reported through Feedback Hub; the intent is to help engineers identify regressions and root causes faster. (windowslatest.com, techradar.com, theverge.com)

Why File Explorer can be slower in Windows 11​

Several structural changes explain the regressions:

• File Explorer on Windows 11 includes modernized UI components built with WinUI frameworks and deeper integration with cloud services and Microsoft 365 suggestions. These enhancements increase initialization work.
• The “Home” tab aggregates recent files, cloud content, and shell extensions, which can cause longer startup times, particularly on older hardware or systems with heavy OneDrive activity.
• New security defaults and background telemetry/sync processes sometimes add I/O and CPU contention that users notice as lag.

Microsoft has acknowledged these trade-offs and progressively pared back or optimized behaviors where feasible; recent cumulative updates show measurable improvements, although experiences vary by hardware and configuration. (berrall.com, en.ittrip.xyz)

Why that matters for the cautious user​

If a machine is used for productivity or gaming where responsiveness matters, a one-off upgrade that introduces noticeable lag is a poor experience. Staying on Windows 10 for a controlled period — during which only security patches arrive under ESU — eliminates the “new features that might degrade responsiveness” variable while preserving safety.

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The SSD story: concrete examples of hardware breakage and the response​

What happened​

Following the Windows 11 24H2 rollout some users reported Blue Screens (BSOD) or system crashes linked to certain NVMe SSD models from major vendors (notably Western Digital and Sandisk). Investigations tied the failures to Host Memory Buffer (HMB) behavior and specific firmware/hardware combos where the OS assumed a different HMB handling than the drive firmware supported. The result: systems with older SSD firmware could crash after the update. (pcworld.com, windowslatest.com)

Microsoft and vendor remediation​

The coordinated response had two parts:

• SSD vendors issued firmware updates to correct the drives’ behavior.
• Microsoft temporarily blocked the 24H2 upgrade for systems with affected SSD firmware versions to prevent further installs while fixes were deployed.

Manufacturers also released guidance and tooling to update drive firmware; a registry workaround (disabling HMBAllocationPolicy) was identified as a short-term mitigation for advanced users while firmware updates propagated. (pcworld.com, windowslatest.com)

What to do if you rely on an NVMe SSD​

• Verify your SSD model and cross-check vendor support pages for firmware advisories.
• If you have an affected drive, update firmware before upgrading Windows or enroll in ESU and delay the Windows 11 migration until fixes are applied and the update is unblocked.
• If already upgraded and experiencing instability, consult vendor support for firmware or consider rolling back until a safe path is available.

This sequence underscores a larger truth: sometimes bone-deep OS changes reveal latent hardware assumptions, and rushed upgrades can expose those mismatches.

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Risk profile and the rational decision to wait​

Stability vs. novelty​

Upgrading an OS is inherently probabilistic: outcomes vary by device configuration, driver stack, and installed software. For many users — particularly gamers, creatives, and professionals who require predictable performance — known stability (Windows 10 with security parity via ESU) trumps the uncertain benefits of early Windows 11 adoption.

Business and power-user constraints​

Enterprises and power users should treat the October 2025 deadline and the ESU window as a migration planning window. The ESU mechanism provides breathing room to:

• Audit hardware compatibility.
• Validate key applications and drivers on Windows 11 test fleets.
• Stage firmware and driver updates before a broad rollout.

This is how responsible IT organizations migrate without surprise outages.

Cultural and privacy friction​

Many users dislike the continuous feature churn and increased cloud integration in Windows 11. The OneDrive-dependent free path for ESU ironically increases the cloud touchpoint for continued security support — a trade some privacy-minded users may not prefer. Yet for those who already use Microsoft account and sync settings, the OneDrive route is low-friction and pragmatic.

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A practical migration checklist (for those planning to upgrade later)​

• Inventory hardware and software: record CPU, TPM state, SSD model, GPU, and critical apps.
• Check Windows 11 compatibility with Microsoft’s PC Health Check and verify driver availability from OEMs.
• Enroll in the ESU program if delaying the move beyond October 14, 2025 (use OneDrive sync, Rewards, or the paid option).
• Hold off on major OS upgrades until vendor firmware and driver updates have rolled out and been validated.
• Back up everything — disk image backups and file backups — before performing major upgrades or firmware updates.
• Test in a spare partition or secondary PC first, especially for mission-critical workflows or gaming setups.

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Strengths, risks, and final verdict​

Strengths of staying on Windows 10 through ESU​

• Predictability: Security-only updates minimize the chance of new regressions introduced by feature patches.
• Cost control: The consumer OneDrive/Rewards route eliminates the immediate financial pressure to upgrade hardware or pay for ESU.
• Time to plan: Organizations and serious users get a full year to test and stage migrations safely.

Risks and limitations​

• Short timeline: ESU is a bridge, not a permit—coverage ends October 13, 2026. Long-term use of Windows 10 beyond that date without other mitigations is risky.
• Partial support: ESU covers only critical and important security updates — not features or non-security fixes.
• Cloud requirement: The free route requires a Microsoft account and settings sync — a privacy or administrative hurdle for some users.

The tradeoff summarized​

For users with stable setups who value reliability over new bells and whistles, the combination of ESU and the current state of Windows 11 makes staying on Windows 10 a defensible, rational choice for the near term. The decision is not laziness; it’s risk management.

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Conclusion​

The rollout of the consumer ESU program — including a no-cash path via OneDrive sync — significantly changed the upgrade equation for millions of Windows 10 users. Paired with real-world reports of Windows 11 24H2 performance quirks (notably File Explorer lag) and concrete hardware compatibility incidents (SSD-related crashes and subsequent blocks), there is now a sensible window to delay migration without sacrificing security.
The right approach combines pragmatism and preparation: enroll in ESU if that aligns with privacy and account preferences, patch firmware and drivers proactively, and stage Windows 11 upgrades in controlled test groups rather than leaping immediately. That path protects productivity and systems while still preserving an orderly transition to Microsoft’s next-generation desktop OS. (support.microsoft.com, theverge.com, windowslatest.com)

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Source: TechRadar I'm ignoring Microsoft's Windows 11 warnings and sticking with Windows 10 for now - here's why