The Windows 11 24H2 end of support has arrived: Home and Pro editions stopped getting security updates on October 13, 2026. If your PC still shows version 24H2, the fix is a free update to 26H2 that takes one restart.
The PC won’t stop working. It just won’t get new security patches, and that gap starts to matter from November.
Here are the facts you need at a glance.
- Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro lost updates on October 13, 2026, per gHacks.
- The October 2026 security update was the last one for these editions.
- Enterprise and Education editions of 24H2 stay supported until October 12, 2027.
- Microsoft recommends Windows 11 26H2, which is a free update.
Windows 11 24H2 end of support: what actually changed
From now on, Home and Pro PCs on 24H2 get no monthly security updates and no optional preview updates. Microsoft’s release health notice also covers technical support, which ends too.
Your apps, files and settings stay exactly as they are. The risk is slow: every new vulnerability found after October stays open on your machine.
Business and school editions get more time, as the table shows.
| Edition | 24H2 support ends |
|---|---|
| Home and Pro | October 13, 2026 |
| Enterprise and Education | October 12, 2027 |
| Windows 11 SE | October 2026, with no further feature update |
How to check which Windows version you have
Open Settings, go to System, then About, and look at the Version line. You can also press the Windows key and R, type winver, and hit Enter.
If it says 24H2, keep reading. If it says 25H2 or 26H2, you’re covered and can stop here.
How to upgrade to Windows 11 26H2
26H2 reached general availability in September 2026 as an enablement package, so it installs quickly and keeps your files. Consumer editions get support until October 2029, according to gHacks.
Follow these steps to get it now.
- Back up anything important.
- Open Settings, then Windows Update.
- Turn on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.”
- Select Check for updates and install the Windows 11, version 26H2 feature update if it’s listed.
- Restart when prompted.
Microsoft says the rollout is phased and will “expand over the next few months,” so the offer may not appear yet. Leave the toggle on and check again in a few days.
Some guides point 24H2 users to 25H2 instead. Make Tech Easier says unmanaged Home and Pro PCs on 24H2 will also be moved to 25H2 automatically. Either way, you end up on a supported version, but 26H2 is the one Microsoft names.
What happens if you stay on 24H2
Nothing breaks on day one. Over the following months, though, new security holes pile up with no patches, and that’s how most real-world attacks on home PCs succeed.
Microsoft also warned that PCs on unsupported Windows versions will stop receiving security updates after next year’s Windows Update certificate rotation, per gHacks. That makes waiting a bad bet.
If an update ever misbehaves for you, our guide on the KB5127648 Wi-Fi fix shows how to handle a bad October patch. Switching to a new PC instead? Read what happened to Windows 11 PC-to-PC migration first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows 11 24H2 still safe to use?
It still runs, but it no longer gets security patches on Home and Pro. Each month you wait leaves more known holes unfixed.
Is the 26H2 update free?
Yes. It’s a free feature update through Windows Update for eligible Windows 11 PCs.
I don’t see 26H2 in Windows Update. What now?
The rollout is phased. Turn on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available,” install pending updates, and check again later.
Does Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2 lose support too?
Not yet. Enterprise and Education editions are supported until October 12, 2027.
My take: update this week
Don’t wait for the automatic push. The upgrade is free, quick and needs one restart, while staying put means running an unpatched PC from November on. Back up, flip the toggle, and get it done before the next Patch Tuesday.
Leave a Reply