Summary Windows 10 ends non-security support today; however, ESU (Extended Security Updates) continues to provide security updates for enrolled users. Microsoft Defender will maintain detection and protection on Windows 10 during ESU. For full protection, consider enrolling in ESU or upgrading to Windows 11.

As of today, Windows 10 will no longer receive non-security support. As long as you're enrolled in the extended support plan, you'll continue to get security-critical updates for at least another year. This should keep the operating system safe to connect to the internet, but it does mean that you won't get any more cool features or patches for annoying issues.

But what about its built-in antivirus, Microsoft Defender? Will it lose support today, or will it continue getting updates for Windows 10? If you're wondering the same thing, Microsoft has taken to its website to clarify what we can expect, and it's good news for everyone.

Microsoft Defender will continue to support Windows 10, says Microsoft

As spotted by Neowin, Microsoft has made a post on the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Blog. Titled "End of Windows 10 Support: What Defender Customers Need to Know," Microsoft clarifies what Windows 10 users can expect from Microsoft Defender as we move into the Extended Security Updates (ESU) period.

Here's what Microsoft says about Defender support for Windows 10:

Defender supports a range of legacy systems, including Windows 10. (See here for a full list of supported operating systems.) Microsoft Defender will continue to provide detection and protection capabilities to the extent possible on Windows 10 and other legacy systems. Keep in mind that security solutions on legacy systems are inherently less secure and may not be able to receive all new features, so please review the next section for important actions you can take.

For Windows 10 customers without Defender, Microsoft will continue to provide security intelligence updates for the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus protection through October 2028. Of course, Defender Antivirus alone isn't a comprehensive risk mitigation posture without Microsoft Defender detection and response deployed across your digital estate.

So, it sounds like Microsoft Defender will at least continue to work on Windows 10 for the next ESU year. The company hasn't clarified how long the support will continue, but from what I can guess, there's a good chance it'll continue to be used until the ESU expires. Given how Microsoft has previously stated that it plans for three more years of support for those enrolled, I'd wager that Microsoft Defender will be along for the ride for at least that long.

Of course, right after that passage, Microsoft recommends either continuing with Windows 10 under ESU or upgrading to Windows 11. Regardless of how much support Microsoft Defender receives in the coming years, enrolling in the ESU is still recommended to keep the operating system up to date.