ZDNET's key takeaways
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The first major update is here for Windows 10 PCs with ESU.
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The update fixes a couple of bugs that affected ESU registrations.
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The update also patches 66 security flaws for Windows 11 and 10 with ESU.
Windows 10 users who signed up for Microsoft's Extended Security Updates can now grab their first major update under the program. With this month's Patch Tuesday, Microsoft has kicked off the November update dubbed KB5068781 for qualifying Windows 10 devices.
With Windows 10 no longer officially supported by Microsoft , the ESU program scores you at least another year of security updates. Still running Windows 10 and haven't registered for the program? Individual consumers can join using a few different methods.
Also: How to get free Windows 10 security updates through October 2026
If you don't mind shelling out a few dollars, the program costs a flat fee of $30. Otherwise, you can redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points by running searches using Microsoft Bing . But the cheapest option is to use the built-in Windows Backup tool to back up and sync your settings to the cloud. For that, you'll need to sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account.
Companies have to pay a much steeper price . A three-year ESU subscription will cost organizations $61 per PC for the first year, $122 per PC for the second year, and $244 per PC for the third year. That's a total of $427 for each Windows 10 computer at your business.
What does the security update bring?
Assuming you've joined the program, what does the November update carry with it?
First up, there's a fix for a display bug in which the Windows Update screen mistakenly told you that your version of Windows had reached the end of support even though you signed up for the ESU program. Now, if you go to the Update screen, you should be told that your PC is enrolled to get extended security updates.
Along with the regular security update, an out-of-band patch resolves an error that prevented some Windows 10 users from enrolling in the ESU program. After this patch is installed, you should now be able to sign up for the program via the ESU wizard.
Also: Microsoft said my PC couldn't run Windows 11, but I upgraded in 5 minutes anyway - here's how
On the actual security front, the November Patch Tuesday updates squash 66 different vulnerabilities for both Windows 10 with ESU and Windows 11. Among these bugs, five are rated as critical, while one is classified as a zero-day vulnerability affecting the Windows Kernel, according to patch management provider Action1 . The Windows Kernel is an important piece, as it manages memory, hardware, and other system processes.
An attacker able to exploit the zero-day flaw could access higher privileges, such as a System or Administrator account. Through this higher level of access, they could then steal or manipulate passwords and other confidential data.
New and improved features
For Windows 11, the November Patch Tuesday update also officially adds a host of new and improved features, including a revamped Start menu , changes to File Explorer and the Taskbar, and tweaks to the Click To Do feature and Voice access on Copilot+ PCs .
Also: 10 open-source Windows apps I can't live without - and they're all free
The update is mandatory for both Windows 10 and 11, so it should install automatically. If not, head to the Windows Update screen, click the button to check for updates, and then allow the latest ones to download and install.
