Windows 10 ESU

[robintech]

Given up waiting and deployed it by GPO startup script WMI filtered to Windows 10 activating year 1  , they all say licenced for ESU if i reboot them so can't do much more.

 

cscript.exe //nologo C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs /ipk AAAAA-BBBBB-AAAAA-BBBBB-AAAAA
cscript.exe //nologo C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs /ato f520e45e-7413-4a34-a497-d2765967d094

 

[3s-gtech]

I added a line to write to a txt file in the root of C if the licence installs, then does a check at the start of the script for the presence of the file and skips the steps if so.

 

It never did work, but that’s a minor aside…I’ve tried testing it with Powershell instead now, might work.

[jmak]

Microsoft have acknowledged that there's a problem with the or of support message in the GUI:

 

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-clarifies-it-is-not-actually-ending-support-for-many-windows-10-pcs/

[3s-gtech]

On 31/10/2025 at 17:55, 3s-gtech said:

I added a line to write to a txt file in the root of C if the licence installs, then does a check at the start of the script for the presence of the file and skips the steps if so.

 

It never did work, but that’s a minor aside…I’ve tried testing it with Powershell instead now, might work.

 

$targetFileName = 'C:\windows_10_esu_2025.txt'

$testTargetPresent = Test-Path $targetFileName

if (!$testTargetPresent) {

slmgr.vbs /ipk YOUR-KEY
slmgr.vbs /ato YOUR-ID
echo ESU key installed >> "C:\windows_10_esu_2025.txt"

}

This works better.

Edited November 5, 2025 by 3s-gtech

[toffee_paul]

Yeah it's taken them a few weeks to publically acknowledge the issue but it's here now along with workaround. Here's the Microsoft article.

 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-10-22h2#3706msgdesc

 

I've tested the workaround this afternoon (on one device) and can confirm that on fully up-to-date devices that have the ESU MAK product key installed and activated, the Windows Update now reports "You're up to date", instead of the previous message about it being unsupported.

 

I used the Group Polixy ADMX/L central store method and targetted the policy at a test device, ran gpupdate /force, restarted, and all was good.

Edited November 5, 2025 by toffee_paul

[andy_b]

Quote

This issue only involves the incorrect display of the "end of support" message.

    Windows 10 devices that have an activated ESU license will continue to receive security updates.

 

Quote

We are working to include the resolution in a future Windows update. Once the update with the resolution is released, organizations will not need to install and configure this Group Policy to address this issue. 

 

Going to wait for the windows update if it is just a display problem.

[toffee_paul]

Yep, no actual need to implement the manual workaround. I done it on a single test devices I had a spare few mins and natural curiosity took over to see if it actually did work as with MS you never know!

[robintech]

On 05/11/2025 at 17:22, andy_b said:

 

 

Going to wait for the windows update if it is just a display problem.

 

Seems to be fixed now in November 11, 2025—KB5068781 (OS Builds 19044.6575 and 19045.6575) automatic update 

[andy_b]

13 minutes ago, robintech said:

 

Seems to be fixed now in November 11, 2025—KB5068781 (OS Builds 19044.6575 and 19045.6575) automatic update 

Yea, warning has gone

[robintech]

Anyone know if you can free up claims for ESU, have already hit our activation limit from reimaging some i3-7100T with Windows 10 clean install , no hardware changed but it must be triggering something when i try to apply the key again. All the others work only these "new" ones error out

 

Quote

Activating Windows(R), Client-ESU-Year1 add-on for Education,EducationN,Enterprise..
....
Error: 0xC004C020 The activation server reported that the Multiple Activation Key has exceeded its limit

 

 

[psydii]

I was  recently told they are no longer free    Year 1 is now a whole £1.

[Dan23]

4 hours ago, robintech said:

Anyone know if you can free up claims for ESU, have already hit our activation limit from reimaging some i3-7100T with Windows 10 clean install , no hardware changed but it must be triggering something when i try to apply the key again. All the others work only these "new" ones error out

 

 

 

I've checked our ESU licences in 365 Admin Center to see if it keeps a count for us and it shows how many we purchased but for Assigned Licenses and Available Licenses it says "Doesn't Apply". We only purchased enough license to cover the machines we had plus about 5-10 extra. But I have reimaged several machines since installing the ESU MAKs end of last year and never had this come up before. We got our licenses through a reseller/partner.

 

Depending on how you obtained your license either contact Microsoft direct or speak to your resller/partner and hopefully you can get your activation count bumped up. 

 

[robintech]

@Dan23 yes we have the same "doesn't apply" and i'm purchasing some more licences from a reseller but annoyingly it may be a different key I think Microsoft can increase the claim limit bur reseller may not be able to. 

 

Not sure what we are doing that causes Microsoft to think a reimaged computer is a new one unless the MAK is one time use as I've only seen consumer accounts have the ability to free up ESU claims.

[andy_b]

On 26/05/2026 at 13:51, psydii said:

I was  recently told they are no longer free    Year 1 is now a whole £1.

Yr 2 appear to be £2 each now.

[psydii]

I recall that always being the deal. Yr1 = £1 Yr2 =£2 Yr3= £3

With yr1 at £0 only appearing as a temporary offer some time after the the initial announcement.

[FN-GM]

On 23/07/2026 at 23:06, andy_b said:

Yr 2 appear to be £2 each now.

For commercial customers, it doubles each year.

[Olliedawg]

Does anyone know when Year 2 will be available?

[andy_b]

7 minutes ago, Olliedawg said:

Does anyone know when Year 2 will be available?

Not sure when they'll be issued, but our supplier was asking for numbers last week.

[andy_b]

5 hours ago, FN-GM said:

For commercial customers, it doubles each year.

We got them for 0 last time 😉