KB5072653: Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package for Windows 10

Introduction

The Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program gives customers the option to receive security updates for PCs enrolled in the program. ESU is a paid program that provides individuals and organizations of all sizes with the option to extend the use of Windows 10 devices past the end of support date in a more secure manner. For more information about the Windows 10 lifecycle, see the Windows Lifecycle FAQ.

Individuals or organizations who elect to continue using Windows 10 after support ends on October 14, 2025, will have the option of enrolling their PCs into a paid ESU subscription. The ESU program enables PCs to continue to receive critical and important security updates through an annual subscription service after support ends.

For more information about the ESU program, see Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10.

Prerequisites for the ESU program 

To enable ESU for Windows 10, the following must be applied in the following order: 

• Windows 10, version 22H2 with KB5066791, or a later update installed.

• This Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package for Windows 10 (KB5072653). Note this preparation package must be installed after the October 2025 security update (KB5066791) is installed.

• Your device will restart automatically after installing this preparation package.

For additional information, see the following resources: 

• For consumers

  • Windows 10 Extended Security Updates

• For organizations

  • Preparing commercial Windows 10 devices for ESUs

  • Enable Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU)

  • Enable Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) for clients accessing cloud and virtual machines

How to get this update

Install this update

To install this update, use one of the following release channels.

File information

The English (United States) version of this software update installs files that have the following attributes. This update might contain files for additional languages.