Quick answer: Support for Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro ended on October 13, 2026. The October 2026 security update was the last one those editions will get. Enterprise and Education editions of 24H2 are supported until October 12, 2027. If your PC is still on 24H2 Home or Pro, open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates and install Windows 11 version 26H2. It’s a small update that needs one restart.
In this guide
When support ended, by edition
Microsoft’s lifecycle page and release information table give these dates for version 24H2:
| Edition | End of updates for 24H2 |
|---|---|
| Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations | October 13, 2026 (ended) |
| Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise | October 12, 2027 |
| SE | 24H2 was the last supported version of Windows 11 SE |
The gap comes from Microsoft’s servicing rules. Its lifecycle FAQ says Home and Pro versions get 24 months of updates from release, and Enterprise and Education get 36 months. Version 24H2 came out on October 1, 2024.
Microsoft confirmed the end date in a Windows message center post on October 13, 2026, saying these editions “will no longer receive monthly security and non-security preview updates”. The September 2026 preview update (KB5124010) was the last optional update for 24H2, and the October 2026 security update (KB5127648) was the last update of any kind for Home and Pro.
What end of support means for your PC
- Your PC keeps working. Nothing switches off and your files and apps stay as they are.
- It stops getting monthly security fixes. Any Windows flaw found after October 2026 stays open on that PC.
- It stops getting non-security fixes and new features delivered through preview updates.
- Over time, some apps and security software may stop supporting the old version.
The risk grows with every month you stay on it, so plan to move within weeks, not months. If you see a pop-up saying your version has reached end of service, this guide to the end-of-service message explains it.
Check which version you have
Right-click Start, select Settings, then System > About. Under Windows specifications, read the Edition and Version lines. You can also press Windows + R and run winver for a quick pop-up.
The OS build number tells you the version even if the label is unclear:
| Build starts with | Version | Home/Pro updates until |
|---|---|---|
| 26100 | 24H2 | Ended October 13, 2026 |
| 26200 | 25H2 | October 12, 2027 |
| 26300 | 26H2 | October 10, 2028 |
Dates are from Microsoft’s release information table. If you’re on 26200 or 26300, you’re already on a supported version and don’t need to do anything now.
26H2 or 25H2: which to move to
Microsoft’s end-of-support notice recommends moving to either version. For most home users, 26H2 is the better choice:
- 26H2 is supported for Home and Pro until October 10, 2028, the longest of the three. It’s the current release and the one Windows Update offers first.
- 25H2 is supported until October 12, 2027. It’s fine if you’d rather stay one step behind, but you’ll face the same decision again in a year.
Both arrive on a 24H2 PC as an enablement package: the new features are already on the PC in a switched-off state, and the package turns them on. That’s why the upgrade is quick and needs only one restart, unlike a full reinstall.
How to upgrade from 24H2
Option 1: Windows Update (recommended)
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Optionally turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available to be offered the new version sooner.
- Select Check for updates. When you see Windows 11, version 26H2 is available, select Download & install.
- Restart when asked. One restart completes it.
According to Microsoft’s KB5121794 page, the 26H2 enablement package needs the September 22, 2026 update (KB5124010) or a later one installed first. If Windows Update offers other updates first, install them, restart, then check again. Our full guide to installing 26H2 covers this step by step.
Option 2: Installation Assistant
If Windows Update won’t offer it, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft’s download page. Select Download Now, run the file, choose Accept and Install, and select Restart Now when it’s ready. Microsoft lists these requirements: at least 9 GB of free disk space, administrator rights and an x64 processor. The Assistant doesn’t run on Arm-based PCs, which should use Windows Update. Expect several restarts; your files and apps are kept.
If the update isn’t offered
- Install every pending update first and restart. The enablement package won’t appear until the prerequisite update is on the PC.
- Make sure you have free disk space and you’re not on a metered connection that pauses downloads.
- Check whether updates are paused under Settings > Windows Update and select Resume updates if so.
- If Windows Update itself is stuck, work through how to force Windows Update to check and install updates.
- If an offline installer says it doesn’t apply, see “The update is not applicable to your computer”.
Microsoft’s lifecycle FAQ says Home edition can’t defer feature updates and will “typically” receive a new version before the end date. Many 24H2 Home PCs have already moved on their own, but don’t assume yours has. Check the build number.
Work and school PCs
If your PC runs 24H2 Enterprise or Education, it’s supported until October 12, 2027, so there’s no immediate deadline. If it’s a Pro PC that your organisation manages, upgrades may be held back by policy. Contact your IT team rather than changing update settings yourself. Small businesses running Pro without IT management should treat their PCs like home PCs and upgrade now.
Related guides
- How to get and install Windows 11 version 26H2 (the 2026 Update)
- “Your version of Windows has reached the end of service”: how to fix it
- How to force Windows Update to check and install updates
- “The update is not applicable to your computer”: causes and fixes
- Windows 10 ESU extended to 2027: who qualifies and how to enroll
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