Windows 11 24H2 end of support for Home and Pro editions arrived on 13 October 2026, when the October security update became the last one those versions will ever receive. If your PC still runs 24H2, the fix is quick: move to Windows 11 version 26H2, which installs as a small enablement package with a single restart.
| Windows 11 version | Released | Home and Pro support ends | Enterprise and Education support ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23H2 | 31 October 2023 | Ended 11 November 2025 | 10 November 2026 |
| 24H2 | 1 October 2024 | Ended 13 October 2026 | 12 October 2027 |
| 25H2 | 30 September 2025 | 12 October 2027 | 10 October 2028 |
| 26H2 | 29 September 2026 | 10 October 2028 | 9 October 2029 |
Dates come from Microsoft's Windows 11 release information page and the Windows 11 Home and Pro lifecycle listing. Each version gets 24 months of updates on Home and Pro and 36 months on Enterprise and Education.
When did Windows 11 24H2 reach end of support?
Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of servicing on 13 October 2026, the October Patch Tuesday. That month's cumulative update was the final one. Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise editions of 24H2 keep receiving updates until 12 October 2027, and the 24H2-based LTSC release is supported much longer.
"End of servicing" means no more monthly security fixes, no non-security preview updates, no time zone changes and no Microsoft technical support for that version. It does not mean Windows 11 itself is ending. The operating system continues; only this particular annual version has timed out.
For a wider view of every release, including older ones that have already expired, our Windows 11 end of support dates guide keeps a version-by-version timeline.
What happens if I keep using Windows 11 24H2?
Your PC will keep starting, running apps and opening files exactly as before, but it no longer receives security patches. Any vulnerability discovered after October 2026 stays open on that machine, so the risk grows month by month, particularly for PCs used for email, browsing, online banking or remote work.
Your licence and activation are unaffected. A Windows 11 Home or Pro licence covers every Windows 11 version, so staying on 24H2 does not save you anything and moving to 26H2 costs nothing.
Cause and effect: because 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2 share the same core system files, a 24H2 PC that misses the October update is not just "one version behind". It falls out of the monthly patch stream entirely, while neighbouring PCs on 25H2 or 26H2 keep receiving fixes built from the same code.
What is Windows 11 26H2 and how is it different?
Windows 11 26H2, also called the Windows 11 2026 Update, is the annual feature release that became generally available on 29 September 2026 with OS build 26300. For 24H2 and 25H2 PCs it is delivered as an enablement package that switches on features already shipped, dormant, in recent monthly updates.
Highlights reported for 26H2 include a more flexible Start menu and taskbar, improved Windows Search, Administrator Protection for on-demand elevation, Smart App Control that can be toggled without reinstalling Windows, and point-in-time restore switched on more widely. It also removes default kernel trust for old cross-signed drivers.
Advanced nuance: PCs that shipped with Windows 11 26H1 (a release for certain new devices from early 2026) use a different Windows core and cannot take the 26H2 enablement package. Microsoft says those devices will get a path to a later release instead.
How do I upgrade from Windows 11 24H2 to 26H2?
The simplest route is Windows Update. Install the latest cumulative update first, then switch on the option to get updates as soon as they are available and check again. When "Windows 11, version 26H2 is available" appears, select Download and install and restart once to finish.
- Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install everything offered and restart if asked.
- Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they're available.
- Select Check for updates again.
- When Windows 11, version 26H2 is available appears, select Download & install.
- Save your work and restart. Then run
winverto confirm the version reads 26H2.
Microsoft's KB5121794 support article lists the prerequisite: the device must already run 24H2 or 25H2 with the 22 September 2026 preview update (KB5124010) or a later cumulative update installed. If you are unsure which version you have, our guide to checking your Windows 11 version shows every method.
Why is the 26H2 update not showing on my PC?
The 26H2 rollout is phased, so eligible PCs receive the offer gradually over several months. The update may also be missing because the latest cumulative update is not installed yet, the PC is on 26H1 or 23H2, a safeguard hold is blocking a known compatibility problem, or an organisation's policy is deferring feature updates.
- Missing prerequisite: install all pending cumulative updates, restart, and check again.
- Safeguard hold: Microsoft blocks the offer on hardware or drivers with known issues. Waiting is safer than forcing the upgrade.
- Managed PC: on a work device, update rings or WSUS decide when 26H2 arrives. Ask your IT team.
- Older version: PCs on 23H2 need a full feature update rather than the enablement package.
If Windows Update returns an error code or stalls at a percentage, work through our Windows 11 update stuck or failed fixes before trying the manual options below.
Will Microsoft upgrade my 24H2 PC automatically?
For most home PCs, yes. Since April 2026 Microsoft has been moving unmanaged Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro devices to 25H2 automatically, and 26H2 is now being offered to eligible PCs in phases. You can choose when to restart or pause updates for a while, but once the pause ends Windows installs the newer version.
PCs joined to a domain or managed through Intune, Windows Autopatch or WSUS follow their organisation's policies, not the consumer rollout. That is why 24H2 machines tend to linger in small offices without central management or with feature updates deferred and forgotten.
What we commonly see: PCs left on 24H2 usually have updates paused indefinitely, a nearly full system drive, or an old driver that triggered a safeguard hold. Freeing disk space and updating drivers clears most of these cases without any reinstall.
Can I install 26H2 manually without waiting?
Yes. You can download the enablement package (KB5121794) from the Microsoft Update Catalog, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, or run an in-place upgrade from the Windows 11 26H2 ISO. Microsoft's software download page now lists Windows 11 2026 Update, version 26H2, as the current release.
- Enablement package: fastest for 24H2 and 25H2 PCs that already have the September 2026 or later cumulative update. One restart.
- Installation Assistant: downloads and installs the full release; it needs at least 9 GB of free space.
-
ISO in-place upgrade: mount the ISO, run
setup.exeand choose to keep personal files and apps. Useful when Windows Update itself is broken.
For the ISO route, our guide to creating a Windows 11 bootable USB covers the Media Creation Tool. Back up important files before any feature upgrade, even a small enablement package.
Do I need a new licence or product key to move to 26H2?
No. Upgrading from 24H2 to 26H2 keeps your existing activation, whether that is a digital licence or a product key, because every Windows 11 version uses the same licence. A new key is only needed if Windows is not activated, if you change edition from Home to Pro, or if you build a new PC.
If your PC is unactivated, or you want Pro features such as BitLocker, Group Policy and Hyper-V, a Windows 11 Pro key activates any current version, including 26H2. Already on Home? An upgrade key from Home to Pro switches edition without reinstalling.
What if my PC is not on Windows 11 at all?
Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates now run until 12 October 2027, but that only buys time. A Windows 10 PC that meets Windows 11 hardware requirements can upgrade directly to 26H2 with the Installation Assistant.
Our article on upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 in 2026 covers whether that upgrade is free in your case and what to do if TPM 2.0 or the processor blocks it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 11 24H2 still safe to use?
It still works, but it is no longer patched. Home and Pro editions of 24H2 received their final security update on 13 October 2026, so any flaw found afterwards stays open. For a PC that connects to the internet, moving to 26H2 or at least 25H2 is the safer choice, and the upgrade is free.
Should I upgrade to 25H2 or go straight to 26H2?
Go straight to 26H2 if Windows Update offers it. It is supported on Home and Pro until 10 October 2028, a year longer than 25H2, and it installs with the same small enablement package and one restart. Choose 25H2 only if a specific app or driver has a confirmed problem with 26H2.
How long does the 26H2 enablement package take to install?
Usually only a few minutes, because most of the 26H2 code is already on your PC from recent monthly updates. The package itself is tiny and needs one restart. A full in-place upgrade from an ISO or the Installation Assistant takes considerably longer because it reinstalls the whole operating system.
Will upgrading to 26H2 delete my files or apps?
No. The enablement package and the in-place upgrade both keep personal files, installed apps and most settings. It is still sensible to back up important documents first, because any upgrade can fail partway, and old drivers that rely on cross-signed certificates may stop loading under 26H2's stricter driver rules.
Can I uninstall 26H2 and return to 24H2?
You can sometimes roll back shortly after upgrading, through Settings > System > Recovery, but returning to 24H2 Home or Pro makes little sense now that it receives no security updates. If 26H2 causes a problem, fix the specific driver or app instead. A PC that came from 25H2 can go back to it, since 25H2 is supported until 12 October 2027.
Related guides
- Windows 11 end of support: every version date
- How to check your Windows 11 version
- Windows 11 update stuck or failed? Fixes
- Windows 11 Pro vs Home: which to buy
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 release information | External | Microsoft's official servicing table with dates and builds |
| Windows 11 Home and Pro lifecycle | External | Official end-of-servicing dates per version |
| Windows 11 end of support dates | Internal | Full version-by-version timeline |
| KB5121794 support article | External | Microsoft's 26H2 enablement package details and prerequisites |
| Check your Windows 11 version | Internal | Confirms whether you are on 24H2, 25H2 or 26H2 |
| Windows 11 update stuck or failed | Internal | Fixes when the upgrade will not install |
| Create a Windows 11 bootable USB | Internal | Media for an in-place or clean install |
| Windows 11 Pro key | Internal | Activates any current Windows 11 version |
| Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro | Internal | Edition change without reinstalling |
| Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 in 2026 | Internal | Next step for PCs still on Windows 10 |
| Windows 11 Pro vs Home | Internal | Helps decide whether Pro features are worth it |