Microsoft has acknowledged and resolved a critical software bug that was actively preventing certain Windows 10 PCs from successfully enrolling in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, leaving them vulnerable after the official end-of-support date.
The ESU program is designed as a lifeline for users who are either unable to upgrade to Windows 11 or require additional time to transition, allowing them to continue receiving essential security updates for Windows 10 through October 2026.
This is a significant issue considering the high number of machines still relying on the older operating system; it is estimated that approximately 41.74% of global PCs currently run Windows 10.
The enrollment is managed through a built-in wizard within the Windows Update settings. However, Microsoft confirmed that this enrollment wizard was failing for an unspecified number of consumer devices during the sign-up process.
The company explicitly stated that the new update “addresses an issue in the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Update (ESU) enrollment process, where the enrollment wizard may fail during enrollment.”
To rectify this critical flaw, Microsoft has released an “out-of-band” update, meaning the patch was rolled out immediately outside of the regular monthly schedule due to the severity of the issue, despite Windows 10 no longer receiving official mainstream support.
Microsoft classified the fix as a security update even for non-ESU enrolled devices, emphasizing that it resolves the issue that was specifically “preventing affected customers from receiving essential security updates.”
Affected users are instructed to navigate to the Windows Update settings, select Check for updates, and manually install the update labeled KB5071959, which necessitates a system restart to complete the installation.
Once the bug fix is applied, users can then proceed to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to access and successfully complete the ESU enrollment process via the wizard.
Access to the ESU program is provided through various options: users can enroll for free by syncing their Windows backup to Microsoft OneDrive or by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or they can pay a fee of $30 for a year of security patches through October 2026.