If your PC is still running Windows 11 version 24H2, the clock is running out. Windows 11 24H2 end of support officially arrives on October 13, 2026, for the Home and Pro editions, and after that date, Microsoft stops sending the monthly security patches that keep newly discovered vulnerabilities from turning into real problems. That is now under three weeks away, and a surprising number of everyday users have no idea it is coming.
What Actually Ends on October 13
Microsoft confirmed the date in its own Windows message center: on October 13, 2026, Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions, along with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016, stop receiving monthly security and non-security updates. The device itself keeps working exactly as before. Nothing shuts off, no warning screen locks you out, and your files and programs stay untouched. What actually stops is the safety net: newly discovered security flaws in Windows will no longer get patched on that version, leaving the operating system to slowly accumulate known, unfixed vulnerabilities the longer it stays in that state.
Windows 11 24H2 end of support , also called the Windows 11 2024 Update, first shipped on October 1, 2024, and brought a redesigned Settings app, expanded Copilot+ PC features, and deeper Microsoft Teams integration. Consumer editions of a Windows 11 feature update are supported for 24 months under Microsoft’s lifecycle policy, and that window closes almost exactly two years after release.
Who Is Affected, and Who Gets an Extra Year
This deadline does not apply evenly across every copy of Windows 11 24H2. Home and Pro editions, along with Pro Education and Pro for Workstations, all lose support on October 13, 2026. Enterprise and Education editions of the exact same version get a full extra year, staying supported until October 12, 2027, because those editions carry a longer 36 month lifecycle under Microsoft’s policy. That creates a confusing situation for households and small offices with a mix of device types, since two computers can display the same “Windows 11, version 24H2” label in Settings while running on completely different patch timelines.
How to Check If Your PC Is Affected
Before doing anything else, confirm which version and edition your PC is actually running:
- Open Settings, then go to System, then About.
- Look for the “Windows specifications” section.
- Check the value next to “Version.” If it says 24H2, your device is on the version reaching its deadline.
- Check the value next to “Edition.” If it says Home or Pro, the October 13 date applies to you. If it says Enterprise or Education, you have until October 2027.
If your PC already shows version 25H2, there is nothing you need to do. Windows 11 25H2 is the current release and is not affected by this particular deadline.
How to Upgrade to Windows 11 25H2
For most Home and Pro users, moving off ‘Windows 11 24H2 end of support’ is a small, low-effort update rather than a full reinstall, since 25H2 ships as an enablement package on top of the existing 24H2 files:
- Open Settings, then Windows Update, then select “Check for updates.”
- If your device is eligible, Windows Update will offer version 25H2 as a download.
- Install the update and restart when convenient. You can typically choose the exact time the restart happens.
- Confirm the upgrade worked by checking System, then About, and looking for “25H2” next to Version.
Microsoft has said that unmanaged Home and Pro devices will eventually be moved to 25H2 automatically if no action is taken, though users can still control exactly when the restart to finish installing it takes place.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
A PC left on an unsupported version of Windows does not stop functioning, and there is no dramatic shutdown moment. The real risk builds slowly. Security researchers routinely discover new flaws in every major operating system, and on a supported version, Microsoft patches those flaws every month. Once support ends, any flaw found afterward simply stays open on that device indefinitely, which matters far more for anyone who banks, shops, or handles sensitive work documents on that machine than for a computer used only offline. Our related look at session hijacking warning signs covers a similar category of risk that becomes easier to pull off once a system stops getting security fixes.
The Bottom Line on Windows 11 24H2 end of support
Windows 11 24H2 end of support is not a dramatic event, but it is a real one, and the fix is genuinely a five minute task for most Home and Pro users. Check your version and edition in Settings, run Windows Update, and install 25H2 if it is offered. As BleepingComputer reported, Microsoft has been reminding customers of this deadline since July, which means there is no confusion about the date, just a fairly common gap in whether everyday users have actually seen the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact date of Windows 11 24H2 end of support?
October 13, 2026, for the Home and Pro editions. Enterprise and Education editions of the same version remain supported until October 12, 2027.
Will my computer stop working after the deadline?
No. The device continues to function normally. What stops is Microsoft’s monthly security and non-security updates for that specific version and edition.
Is upgrading to Windows 11 25H2 free?
Yes. For eligible devices already on 24H2, moving to 25H2 is a free update delivered through Windows Update.
Running Windows 10 instead? Microsoft separately extended free security updates for Windows 10 through October 2027 — see our Windows 10 ESU 2027 guide for who qualifies and how to enroll.
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