When does Windows 11 24H2 support end? How to check and update your PCs

Most of the attention this October has gone to Office 2021 and Windows Server 2012. There is a quieter deadline on the same day that affects far more desks. On 13 October 2026, Microsoft stops issuing security updates for the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 version 24H2. Windows 11 itself is not going anywhere, but any PC left on that version becomes an unpatched machine on your network.

What is Windows 11 24H2?

24H2 is a version of Windows 11, not a separate product. The name is a date code: 24 for 2024 and H2 for the second half of the year. Microsoft releases one major Windows 11 update a year, and each one is only supported for a fixed period.

For Home and Pro editions, that period is 24 months. 24H2 arrived in October 2024, so its time is up. The version that replaces it is 25H2.

When does Windows 11 24H2 support end?

The date depends on the edition installed, which is where many businesses get caught out. Microsoft’s Windows 11 release information lists two different end dates for the same version:

• Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations: 13 October 2026.
• Enterprise and Education: 12 October 2027.

Most small and mid-sized businesses run Windows 11 Pro, because that is what ships on business laptops and desktops. If that is you, the October 2026 date applies.

What actually stops on 13 October?

The PC will carry on working as normal. What stops is the monthly security and quality updates. Every vulnerability found in 24H2 after that date stays open on those machines until they are moved to a newer version.

How do I check which version my PC is running?

It takes about 10 seconds per machine:

• Press the Windows key + R.
• Type winver and press Enter.
• Read the version line in the box that appears. If it says Version 24H2, that PC needs updating.

The same box shows the edition (Home, Pro or Enterprise), so you can confirm which deadline applies. If it already says 25H2, that PC is covered until October 2027.

How do I update from 24H2 to 25H2?

Go to Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates and install the Windows 11 version 25H2 update when it is offered. It is free and uses your existing licence. Because 25H2 is built on the same foundations as 24H2, the update is usually quick and needs a single restart.

Microsoft has said that Home and Pro PCs that are not managed by an IT team will be offered 25H2 automatically. That only helps if someone actually lets the update install and restarts the machine, so do not assume it has happened.

What if the update fails or is not offered?

There are a few usual suspects:

• Low storage: the PC does not have enough free disk space to download and install the update.
• Paused updates: someone has paused or deferred updates, or a policy is holding the PC on its current version.
• Compatibility holds: an old driver or application is blocking the update until it is fixed.
• Ageing hardware: the device is struggling and is due for replacement anyway.

One PC is easy to fix by hand. Twenty PCs across two offices and several home workers is a different job, and it is the one that tends to slip.

Why does an out-of-date Windows version matter for compliance?

Unsupported software is an easy target. Attackers study each month’s patches to see what was fixed, then go looking for machines that never received them.

It is also a compliance problem. Cyber Essentials requires all in-scope software to be supported and security updates to be applied promptly. A PC sitting on an unsupported Windows version puts your certification at risk at the next assessment. If you hold ISO 27001, you are expected to manage technical vulnerabilities across your estate, and an unpatched operating system is hard to justify to an auditor. Our managed Cyber Essentials certification service checks for exactly this.

Can someone handle this for you?

Yes. We have put together a security package designed to take the complexity out of patching and keep downtime to a minimum. It includes a full deployment of the core tools every business should have in place:

• RMM (remote monitoring and management): shows the Windows version and health of every PC, and lets us fix problems remotely.
• EDR (endpoint detection and response): spots and stops suspicious activity on each device.
• Patch and vulnerability scanning: finds missing updates and known weaknesses, then closes them on a schedule.

Together these form the baseline of a stronger security posture. They also mean the next Windows deadline is dealt with long before it reaches your inbox. You can read more about how we approach this on our managed cyber security page.

Windows versions will keep expiring every year, so this is worth solving once rather than chasing every October. Run winver on a handful of PCs this week and you will know quickly whether you have a problem. If you would rather have the whole estate checked and updated for you, get in touch and our managed IT support team will take it from there.