Windows 11 as a whole has no announced end of support date. Instead, each Windows 11 version has its own end date: Home and Pro editions get 24 months of updates and Enterprise and Education get 36 months. The current version, 26H2, is supported until 10 October 2028 for Home and Pro. Staying on a supported version keeps your PC protected.
| Windows 11 version | Released | Home / Pro updates end | Enterprise / Education updates end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26H2 (build 26300) | 29 Sep 2026 | 10 Oct 2028 | 9 Oct 2029 |
| 26H1 (new devices only) | 10 Feb 2026 | 14 Mar 2028 | 13 Mar 2029 |
| 25H2 (build 26200) | 30 Sep 2025 | 12 Oct 2027 | 10 Oct 2028 |
| 24H2 | 1 Oct 2024 | Ended 13 Oct 2026 | 12 Oct 2027 |
| 23H2 | 31 Oct 2023 | Ended 11 Nov 2025 | 10 Nov 2026 |
| 22H2 | 20 Sep 2022 | Ended Oct 2024 | Ended |
| 21H2 | 4 Oct 2021 | Ended Oct 2023 | Ended |
| Enterprise LTSC 2024 | 1 Oct 2024 | Not applicable | 9 Oct 2029 (IoT Enterprise LTSC: 10 Oct 2034) |
Dates come from Microsoft's Windows 11 release information page, which is the place to confirm them if Microsoft ever changes a schedule.
Does Windows 11 have an end of support date?
No single end date has been announced for Windows 11 itself. Windows 11 Home and Pro follow Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy, which supports the product continuously as long as you stay on a current version. Support ends version by version instead, so what matters is which version your PC runs, not Windows 11 as a whole.
The Modern Lifecycle Policy sets three conditions: you must stay current with the published servicing and system requirements, you must be licensed to use the product, and Microsoft must still offer support for it. It also commits Microsoft to at least 12 months' notice before ending support where no successor product is offered.
Cause and effect: this is very different from Windows 10, which had a fixed product end date of 14 October 2025. With Windows 11, keeping up with annual feature updates is what keeps you supported. Our Windows 10 end of support guide explains how that older model played out.
How long is each Windows 11 version supported?
Each annual Windows 11 feature update, released in the second half of the year, gets 24 months of support for Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations and Pro Education editions, and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions. Updating once a year, or at least every second year, keeps a Home or Pro PC continuously within support.
Version names follow a simple pattern: the year, then H1 or H2 for the half of the year it was released. 26H2 therefore arrived in the second half of 2026.
Advanced nuance: 26H1 is an exception. Microsoft describes it as scoped to new devices arriving in early 2026, and it is not offered as an in-place update to existing PCs on 24H2 or 25H2. If your PC did not ship with 26H1, your upgrade path is to 26H2.
What happens when your Windows 11 version reaches end of support?
When a version reaches end of servicing, it stops receiving monthly security and quality updates, so newly discovered vulnerabilities stay unpatched. Your PC keeps working and your files stay put, but the risk from malware rises over time. Windows Update will typically offer a newer supported version before that point.
What stays the same and what changes:
- Keeps working: apps, files, activation and your licence.
- Stops: security patches, bug fixes and free Microsoft technical support for that version.
- Gradually affected: newer apps, drivers and games may require a supported version.
What we commonly see: PCs stuck on an old version because an update repeatedly failed or was paused and forgotten, rather than because the user chose to stay behind. Checking your version twice a year catches this early.
How do you check which Windows 11 version you have?
Press Win + R, type winver and press Enter, or open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications. Both show the version, such as 25H2 or 26H2, and the OS build number. Compare the version with the table above to see how long it remains supported.
The build number is a quick shortcut: builds starting 26300 are 26H2, and builds starting 26200 are 25H2. Our guide to checking your version and updating to 26H2 includes screenshots and troubleshooting if the update is not offered.
How do you stay on a supported version of Windows 11?
Keep Windows Update switched on, install the annual feature update when it is offered, and make sure Windows is activated with a genuine licence. Feature updates arrive under Settings > Windows Update; turning on Get the latest updates as soon as they're available brings them to you sooner.
- Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- If a feature update such as Windows 11, version 26H2 appears, select Download and install.
- Save your work and restart when prompted. The update keeps your apps and files.
- Confirm the new version with
winverafterwards.
If updates are not appearing at all, check that your PC is activated under Settings > System > Activation. The Modern Lifecycle Policy's support conditions include being licensed, and a genuine Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro key keeps a new build or clean install properly covered. Moving between editions is explained in our Pro vs Home comparison.
If a feature update repeatedly fails, a damaged recovery partition can sometimes be involved. Our fix for "Could not find the recovery environment" covers repairing it, and a repair install from installation media is a reliable fallback.
What is Windows 11 LTSC, and does it last longer?
Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a special edition that receives security updates for years without feature changes. Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 is supported until 9 October 2029, and IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 until 10 October 2034. It is designed for fixed-purpose devices, not everyday home or office PCs.
Microsoft's LTSC overview describes it as intended for special-purpose devices that perform a single important task and do not need frequent feature updates. Because its feature set never changes, some apps and tools may drop support for it over time. For home and small business PCs, Home or Pro on the latest version is the better choice.
Frequently asked questions
When will Windows 11 be discontinued?
Microsoft has not announced an end date for Windows 11 as a product. It follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy, under which Microsoft commits to at least 12 months' notice before ending support where there is no successor. Individual versions retire on fixed dates, so keeping up with feature updates keeps you supported.
Is Windows 11 24H2 still supported?
For Home and Pro editions, Windows 11 version 24H2 reached end of updates on 13 October 2026. Enterprise and Education editions on 24H2 continue receiving updates until 12 October 2027. Home and Pro users on 24H2 should install 25H2 or, preferably, 26H2 through Windows Update to keep receiving security fixes.
Will my PC automatically update to a supported version?
On Home and Pro editions, Windows Update offers newer feature updates to eligible PCs, and as a version nears end of servicing it typically moves the PC to a supported version. Managed business devices follow their organisation's policies instead. Paused updates, insufficient storage or failed installations can stop the update, so check your version periodically.
Can I keep using Windows 11 after my version's support ends?
Yes, the PC keeps working and stays activated, but it no longer receives security updates, which increases the risk from new threats. Updating to a supported version is free on genuine, activated Windows 11 and keeps your apps and files, so there is rarely a reason to stay on an unsupported version.
Does the 24 or 36 month rule depend on my edition?
Yes. Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations and Pro Education receive 24 months per feature update, while Enterprise and Education receive 36 months. Upgrading from Home to Pro adds business features but does not extend the support window for a version; the extra year only applies to Enterprise and Education.
Related guides
- Check your Windows 11 version and update to 26H2
- Windows 10 end of support: what to do
- Windows 11 vs Windows 10: key differences
- Windows 11 Pro vs Home
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Version check and update guide | Internal | Find your version and move to 26H2 |
| Windows 10 end of support | Internal | How the fixed-date lifecycle ended Windows 10 |
| Windows 11 Pro vs Home | Internal | Edition differences beyond support length |
| Recovery environment fix | Internal | Repair a damaged recovery setup |
| Windows 11 Home | Internal | Genuine licence to stay covered |
| Windows 11 Pro | Internal | Genuine Pro licence with business features |
| Windows 11 release information | External | Official version dates and end of servicing |
| Modern Lifecycle Policy | External | The rules behind Windows 11 support |
| LTSC overview | External | Who the long-term channel is for |