2026 will see the release of Windows 10, an update that enhances computer performance and gets rid of obsolete parts.

For computers that are unable to upgrade to Windows 11 for a variety of reasons, extended security updates for Windows 10 have emerged as the main remedy.

Users who are still running Windows 10 have received their first update for 2026 through the Extended Updates program, which has been accessible since February of last year.

KB5073724, Microsoft's first extended security patch package of the year, is a crucial update for Windows 10 users. The main goal of this update is to improve system security by requiring fixes that guard against recently found vulnerabilities.

This update brings several important system-level changes along with security updates. It primarily deals with out-of-date drivers. Several outdated modem drivers that don't adhere to modern security standards have been formally removed by Microsoft. Consequently, after the update is installed, devices that depend solely on these drivers will stop working.

The Secure Boot feature is another significant modification. Highly dependable hardware hash data is included in Windows quality updates as of this release. As long as compatible computers show a stable and successful history during the update process, this enables them to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates.

Microsoft has verified that there are no known issues with this update. The patch will be installed automatically by Windows Update for the majority of users.

If you would rather do the installation by hand, you can download the standalone installer from the official Microsoft Update Catalog or search for the update in the system settings menu.