If your PC runs Windows 11 Home or Pro version 24H2, Microsoft stopped sending it security updates on October 13, 2026. The PC still starts and your apps still work. What you lose is protection against new security problems. The fix is free: update to Windows 11 version 26H2, a small update that most people finish with a single restart.
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Dates come from Microsoft’s lifecycle information as reported by the sources listed at the end.
Which Windows 11 versions are affected?
Windows 11 gets one big update a year, and every version has a fixed end date. Home and Pro editions get 24 months of updates. Enterprise and Education editions get 36 months. This is where each version stands today.
| Version | Home and Pro, end of support | Enterprise and Education, end of support |
|---|---|---|
| 23H2 | November 11, 2025 (ended) | November 10, 2026 |
| 24H2 | October 13, 2026 (ended) | October 12, 2027 |
| 25H2 | October 12, 2027 | October 10, 2028 |
| 26H2 | October 10, 2028 | October 9, 2029 |
Microsoft’s own lifecycle pages use Pacific time, so you may see some of these dates listed a day earlier. That is a time zone difference, not a different plan.
The people who need to act right now are Home and Pro users on 24H2. If you are on 25H2, you are covered until October 2027. If you are still on 23H2 Home or Pro, you have been without updates since November 2025, so catch up today.
How to check your Windows 11 version
- Press the Windows key and R together to open the Run box.
- Type winver and press Enter.
- Read the line that begins with “Version”. It will say 23H2, 24H2, 25H2 or 26H2.
You can also open Settings, go to System, then About, and scroll down to Windows specifications. The same version number is listed there.
What happens if you stay on 24H2
Nothing dramatic happens on the day support ends. Your files are fine and your programs keep running. The October 2026 update was the last one for these editions, so the monthly security fixes stop, and so do the optional preview updates.
Think of a door lock that nobody will ever repair again. It holds until someone works out how to get past it. Attackers read every new Windows fix to see what was broken, and PCs that never installed the fix are the easy targets. Your browser still updates by itself, which helps, but it cannot close holes in Windows. That is our own reading of the risk and not a Microsoft quote, but it is why we would not wait.
There is also a good chance 26H2 arrives whether you act or not. Microsoft is rolling it out in phases, and on eligible PCs it downloads and installs on its own and then asks for one restart. Updating yourself only means you pick the moment.
How to update to Windows 11 26H2
Microsoft calls 26H2 the Windows 11 2026 Update. It started rolling out on September 29, 2026 and keeps reaching more PCs over several months. This is the route that works for most people.
- Back up what matters. Copy documents and photos to OneDrive or an external drive. Ten minutes now can save a bad day later.
- Plug in your laptop and close open work.
- Open Settings and choose Windows Update.
- Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Microsoft says this option has to be on for 26H2 to arrive early.
- Select Check for updates. When “Windows 11, version 26H2” appears, choose Download and install.
- Restart when asked, then run winver again. It should now say 26H2.
If 26H2 does not show up
- Give it a few days. The rollout is phased, so some PCs see the update later than others even when they qualify.
- Install every other pending update first and restart. The 26H2 package builds on your monthly updates, so a PC that is behind may not be offered it.
- Check that updates are not paused on the Windows Update screen.
- Use Microsoft’s own download page if you want to move at once. Skip ISO files from forums and third party sites.
Why the 26H2 update is so small
Microsoft sends much of each new version’s code ahead of time inside the monthly updates, with the new features switched off. The 26H2 package switches them on. That is why it feels like a normal monthly update instead of a reinstall, and why it works for PCs on either 24H2 or 25H2. Microsoft does not promise a fixed time, and the real time varies from PC to PC.
You may also read about Windows 11 version 26H1. It is a separate branch made for certain new devices and cannot be installed with this package, so you can ignore it unless your new PC shipped with it.
What about Enterprise and Education PCs?
Work and school PCs follow a longer schedule. 24H2 Enterprise and Education stay supported until October 12, 2027, and 23H2 Enterprise and Education end on November 10, 2026. If your employer or school manages your PC, the IT team decides when 26H2 arrives, so ask them before forcing anything. Admins can roll it out in stages with tools such as Intune, Windows Autopatch and WSUS.
Windows 11 end of support: common questions
Is Windows 11 24H2 safe to use after October 13, 2026?
It still runs, but it no longer gets security fixes, so the risk grows with every month that passes. Update to 26H2 soon.
Will I lose my files or apps when I update to 26H2?
No. The update is an enablement package, which switches on features already stored on your PC, so it does not wipe anything. Back up first anyway, because any update can fail on a rare occasion.
Do I have to pay for Windows 11 26H2?
No. It is a free update for eligible Windows 11 PCs.
How long will Windows 11 26H2 be supported?
Home and Pro editions get 24 months, which points to October 2028. Enterprise and Education editions get 36 months, which points to October 2029. Microsoft’s lifecycle pages list the exact day.
Can I stay on 25H2 instead?
You can. 25H2 Home and Pro is supported until October 12, 2027. But 26H2 uses the same small package and gives you about a year more, so there is little reason to wait.
What if Windows Update never offers 26H2?
Install every pending update, restart, and check again after a few days. If it still does not appear after a couple of weeks, use Microsoft’s official Windows 11 download page, or ask your PC maker whether your model has a compatibility hold.
Sources
- BleepingComputer: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of support
- XenoSpectrum: Windows 11 26H2 update guide
- Notebookcheck: Microsoft details the 26H2 rollout
- Techdows: 26H2 end of support date and servicing timeline
- Pureinfotech: Windows 11 lifecycle for Home and Pro
Also on ProInfoDesk: PHP2Shell leak, which hosts are safe and who still needs to update PHP, another case where a missed update is the real risk.
