Windows 11 24H2 End of Support: What Happens After October 13, 2026

Published: October 23, 2026 | Updated: October 23, 2026

Last reviewed: October 2026. Microsoft can change rollout and servicing guidance, so confirm current requirements before changing a production environment.

Windows 11 24H2 end of support arrived on October 13, 2026 for Home and Pro editions, but your PC did not stop working that morning. End of support affects Microsoft’s servicing commitment rather than switching off the software. Windows still starts, your apps still open, and your files stay exactly where you left them.

What changed is quieter and more important. The October 2026 cumulative update was the last security update for version 24H2 on Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations. Enterprise and Education editions on the same version keep receiving updates until October 12, 2027.

So the practical questions are simple. Is your PC affected? Do you need a new license? Should you move to version 26H2, and is that a full reinstall or a quick restart?

This guide explains the Windows 11 24H2 end of support dates by edition, what actually stops, how to check your version and how to move to a supported release safely.

Windows 11 24H2 End of Support: Quick Answer

Here is the current position as of October 2026:

• The Windows 11 24H2 end of support date for Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations was October 13, 2026.
• The October 2026 security update (KB5127648, build 26100.9711) was the final update for those editions.
• Version 24H2 Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise and Enterprise multi-session remain supported until October 12, 2027.
• Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024, which is also built on 24H2, is not affected and is serviced until October 9, 2029.
• Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11, version 26H2, released on September 29, 2026.
• On a 24H2 PC, 26H2 installs as a small enablement package with a single restart.
• Updating to a newer version of the same edition does not require a new product key.

In short, a 24H2 Home or Pro PC still works after the Windows 11 24H2 end of support date, but it no longer receives security fixes until you move it to version 25H2 or 26H2.

Is Windows 11 24H2 Still Supported?

No, not for Home and Pro editions. Yes, for Enterprise and Education editions, until October 12, 2027.

Windows 11 gives each annual feature update a fixed support window, and that window depends on the edition rather than the version number alone. Microsoft states that feature updates come with 24 months of support for Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations and Pro Education, and 36 months for Enterprise and Education.

Here is how the Windows 11 24H2 end of support schedule plays out by edition:

A few terms in that table are worth defining:

• Modern Lifecycle Policy: Microsoft’s model for continuously updated products, where each version gets a fixed support period instead of separate mainstream and extended phases.
• End of servicing: the date after which a version receives no more security or quality updates. Microsoft also calls it end of updates.
• LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel): a separate, slow-changing Windows release for specialized devices, with its own longer dates.

Microsoft also lists 24H2 as the last supported version of Windows 11 SE, the cloud-first edition built for low-cost classroom devices. SE devices are therefore covered by the same Windows 11 24H2 end of support date. Microsoft’s official Windows 11 Home and Pro lifecycle page provides the full release table.

Windows 11 End-of-Support Dates by Version

The Windows 11 24H2 end of support date is only one row in a longer schedule. The table below lists the versions you are most likely to find on a PC today, newest first:

If you run Home or Pro on an existing PC, version 25H2 or 26H2 is now the supported choice, and 26H2 gives you the longest runway.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 release information page lists the latest build numbers for every version and is the best place to confirm a date before you plan a rollout.

What Happens to Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro After October 13, 2026?

After the Windows 11 24H2 end of support date, the PC keeps running, but the stream of fixes has stopped. Microsoft states that devices on these editions no longer receive monthly security updates or non-security preview updates.

The risk of Windows 11 24H2 end of support grows over time rather than on day one. Each month, Microsoft fixes newly discovered vulnerabilities in supported versions. A 24H2 Home or Pro PC will not receive those fixes, so its exposure grows gradually rather than all at once.

For most home users and students, the answer is pleasantly boring. Version 26H2 is offered through Windows Update, installs as an enablement package and finishes with a single restart. It is less of a migration and more of a slightly longer reboot.

For freelancers and small businesses, the same path applies. The only difference is that you should check business-critical apps, such as accounting software or a VPN client, before updating every machine on the same afternoon.

What About Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and Education?

They are still supported, because the Windows 11 24H2 end of support date for these editions is a year later. Version 24H2 Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise and Enterprise multi-session receive updates until October 12, 2027, which gives IT teams a full year to test and deploy a newer version.

The more urgent date for many organizations is actually November 10, 2026. That is when version 23H2 Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise reach end of servicing. If any devices in your fleet are still on 23H2, they should move before then.

For managed environments, follow your normal feature-update process: pilot group first, then staged deployment. If your organization relies on Windows Update for Business, Intune or Configuration Manager policies, you may want an experienced administrator to confirm that target-version settings are not holding devices on an old release.

Schools comparing editions may find our guide to Windows 11 Education vs Pro useful, because the two follow different support windows.

Is Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 Affected?

No. Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 shares the 24H2 code base, but it follows its own Long-Term Servicing Channel lifecycle.

Microsoft lists end of updates for Enterprise LTSC 2024 on October 9, 2029. Microsoft also states that only Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 receives extended support, until October 10, 2034. LTSC devices therefore continue receiving monthly updates after the Windows 11 24H2 end of support date for Home and Pro.

What Is Windows 11 26H1, and Can You Upgrade to It?

No, you cannot install it as an upgrade. Windows 11, version 26H1 (build 28000) was released on February 10, 2026, for new devices that started arriving in early 2026.

Microsoft states that 26H1 is not designed as a feature update for existing devices and is not offered as an in-place update from 24H2 or 25H2. If your PC came with 26H1, keep it updated. Microsoft has indicated that those devices will move to a future Windows release rather than to 26H2.

For an existing PC facing Windows 11 24H2 end of support, the realistic choices are 25H2 or 26H2. Version numbers that look newer are not automatically the right target for every machine.

Does Windows 11 24H2 End of Support Mean Your PC Will Stop Working?

Usually not. Windows 11 24H2 end of support does not lock the desktop, delete files or deactivate your license.

Here is what stops for 24H2 Home and Pro editions:

• Monthly security updates
• Non-security preview updates
• Fixes for vulnerabilities discovered after October 2026
• Version-specific bug fixes from Microsoft

Here is what keeps working:

• Windows activation and your existing license
• Installed apps and saved files
• The option to update to 25H2 or 26H2 at any time

Other software has its own lifecycle, separate from the Windows version. Microsoft Edge, Microsoft 365 apps and perpetual Office versions follow their own schedules. For example, Office 2021 reached its own end of support on the same day, which our guide to Office 2021 end of support covers in detail.

After Windows 11 24H2 end of support, third-party software makers may also stop testing on unsupported versions over time. That usually shows up as an installer that politely refuses to continue, rather than anything dramatic.

How to Check Your Windows 11 Version

Checking whether Windows 11 24H2 end of support affects you takes less than a minute. Use either method below:

1. Press Windows + R, type winver and press Enter.
2. Read the line that shows Version and OS Build, for example “Version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.9711)”.
3. Alternatively, open Settings → System → About and look under Windows specifications for Edition, Version and OS build.

IT admins can query the version from Command Prompt:

reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v DisplayVersion
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v CurrentBuild

Use this table to read the build number:

Also check the Edition line, because Windows 11 24H2 end of support depends on edition. A 24H2 PC running Enterprise or Education is still supported, while the same build on Pro is not.

How to Update from Windows 11 24H2 to 26H2

The easiest response to Windows 11 24H2 end of support is the 26H2 update. Microsoft states that 26H2 is delivered as an enablement package for eligible devices running 24H2 or 25H2. An enablement package switches on features that are already present in the system files, so the download is small and one restart completes the process.

IMPORTANT: Back up your files before any feature update, and make sure you can find your BitLocker recovery key if device encryption is turned on.

Follow these steps on a Home or Pro PC:

1. Back up important files to OneDrive, an external drive or another trusted location.
2. Open Settings → Windows Update and install all pending updates, including the October 2026 update.
3. Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.
4. Select Check for updates.
5. When Windows 11, version 26H2 appears, select Download and install.
6. Restart when prompted.
7. Run winver again and confirm the build now starts with 26300.

If 26H2 does not appear, do not force it. Microsoft rolls feature updates out in phases and may place a safeguard hold on devices with a known compatibility issue. Check again later, and update device drivers from your PC maker if a hold persists.

If you ever need installation media, download it only from Microsoft’s official Download Windows 11 page. Avoid unofficial ISO files and “pre-activated” builds, which can contain modified system files. Microsoft’s Windows Experience Blog post on the Windows 11 2026 Update explains the rollout in more detail.

Before updating several business PCs, test these components first:

• Line-of-business and accounting apps
• VPN and remote-access clients
• Printers, scanners and label printers
• Security and endpoint management software
• Specialized drivers, such as audio interfaces or lab equipment

A pilot group of two or three representative PCs is enough for most small offices. Ten minutes of testing can save an afternoon of explaining why the receipt printer has gone quiet.

Do You Need a New Product Key After Windows 11 24H2 End of Support?

No. Windows 11 24H2 end of support does not affect your license, and moving from 24H2 to 25H2 or 26H2 keeps your edition and your activation. Servicing updates and feature updates do not require a new key.

A new license is only relevant in a few situations:

• You are building or rebuilding a PC that has no Windows 11 license
• You want to change edition, for example from Home to Pro
• You are adding PCs to a small office

For edition changes, a Microsoft Windows 11 Pro key activates Windows 11 Pro on one PC and adds BitLocker, Remote Desktop hosting and Group Policy. A Microsoft Windows 11 Home retail key suits a single home PC that does not need those business features. The key must match the edition you install.

Small offices that need several machines can look at Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 5PC, which covers five PCs on the Pro edition. For help choosing between the two main editions, read our guide to Windows 11 Home vs Pro.

If activation reports an error after a rebuild, our guide to Windows activation error 0xC0000272 covers a common case. Need to activate by phone? Use the Bcdkey Get Confirmation ID tool, and see Confirmation ID Explained for how phone activation works. Purchased keys are always available in My Account.

Should You Stay on Windows 11 24H2 or Upgrade to 26H2?

After Windows 11 24H2 end of support, the answer for Home and Pro is almost always to update. For Enterprise and Education, you have time to do it properly.

Stay with 24H2 for now when:

• You run Enterprise or Education and are still testing 26H2
• A safeguard hold is blocking the update on your device
• A critical app vendor has not yet confirmed support for 26H2
• You are partway through a planned rollout with a fixed schedule

Consider 26H2 when:

• You run Home, Pro, Pro Education or Pro for Workstations on 24H2
• You want the longest support window available for an existing PC
• Your apps and drivers already work on 25H2 or 26H2
• You prefer one update now rather than another one next year

Version 25H2 is also supported, until October 12, 2027 on Home and Pro. It is a reasonable resting point for organizations that already standardized on it, but on a 24H2 PC, moving straight to 26H2 buys an extra year.

Wondering whether to wait for something newer instead? Our Windows 12 release date guide explains what is known, and waiting on an unsupported version is not a security strategy.

Recommended Action by Installed Version

Use this table to decide your next step after Windows 11 24H2 end of support:

Final Thoughts

Windows 11 24H2 end of support is not really about your PC breaking. It is about whether your PC keeps receiving the security fixes that keep it safe to use online.

For Home and Pro, Windows 11 24H2 end of support stopped that stream on October 13, 2026. The simplest fix is also the smallest one: version 26H2 installs as an enablement package with a single restart and is supported until October 10, 2028.

Organizations on Enterprise or Education have until October 12, 2027 for 24H2, but should look first at any 23H2 devices, which lose support on November 10, 2026.

The one thing worth doing today is running winver on each PC you look after. If it says 24H2 and the edition is Home or Pro, Windows 11 24H2 end of support applies, so update it this week.

When you are ready to choose an edition for a new or rebuilt PC, compare Windows 11 licenses on Bcdkey.

FAQ About Windows 11 24H2 End of Support: What Happens After October 13, 2026

When Was the Windows 11 24H2 End of Support Date?

October 13, 2026. Windows 11 24H2 end of support applies to Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations, and the October 2026 cumulative update, build 26100.9711, was the last update for those editions.

Will My PC Stop Working After Windows 11 24H2 End of Support?

No. Windows keeps running, stays activated and keeps your files and apps. It simply stops receiving security and quality updates until you move to 25H2 or 26H2.

Is Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise Still Supported?

Yes. Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise and Enterprise multi-session remain supported until October 12, 2027.

Do I Need a New Product Key to Upgrade from 24H2 to 26H2?

No. Updating to a newer version of the same edition keeps your existing activation. A new key is only needed for a different edition or an unlicensed PC.

How Long Does the 24H2 to 26H2 Update Take?

Normally, not long. Microsoft delivers 26H2 to 24H2 PCs as a small enablement package that completes with a single restart, although total time depends on your device and connection.

Can I Upgrade Windows 11 24H2 to 26H1?

No. Microsoft states that 26H1 is scoped to new devices and is not offered as an in-place update from 24H2 or 25H2.

Is Windows 11 LTSC 2024 Affected by the 24H2 End of Support?

No. Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 follows its own lifecycle and receives updates until October 9, 2029, while IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is supported until October 10, 2034.

What Should I Do If Windows Update Does Not Offer 26H2?

Normally, wait and check again. Microsoft rolls out feature updates in phases and may apply a safeguard hold to devices with a known compatibility issue, so updating drivers from your PC maker can help.

Does Windows 11 24H2 End of Support Affect Microsoft Office?

No. Office follows its own lifecycle, separate from the Windows version. Office 2021 did reach its own end of support on October 13, 2026, but that is an unrelated date.

Still have a question about your license? Open a Bcdkey support ticket and our team will help.