Microsoft has issued an update to resolve a bug preventing some Windows 10 PCs from enrolling in its Extended Security Updates program. The issue, which blocked access to free security patches, affected users trying to extend support beyond the operating system's end-of-life last month. The patch is now available to all eligible devices.
Windows 10 reached the end of its official support in October 2025, over a decade after its initial release. Despite this, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to keep devices secure, providing one year of free updates for individual users until October 2026. Businesses and large customers can pay for additional years, up to three in total.
However, a bug initially reported by Windows Latest disrupted this process. It caused the ESU enrollment wizard to fail on some Windows 10 PCs, preventing manual enrollment and blocking essential security updates. As Microsoft requires each device to be enrolled individually, affected users were left vulnerable.
To address the problem, Microsoft released update KB5071959 for Windows 10 version 22H2 this week. The update "acknowledges and fixes an issue where the enrollment wizard may fail during enrollment." It is being offered to all Windows 10 PCs, regardless of ESU status, "as it resolves an issue that was preventing affected customers from receiving essential security updates."
Once installed, the enrollment process should function normally, allowing users to access future security and bug-fixing updates, which will require ESU enrollment. While the program provides a bridge for those unable to upgrade to Windows 11, the manual enrollment adds friction. Microsoft has described 2025 as "the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh," suggesting the setup encourages hardware upgrades.