Every Windows 11 PC runs a specific version, such as 24H2, 25H2 or the new 26H2, and each version receives security updates only for a fixed period. Knowing which one you have tells you whether your PC is still protected and whether an update is due. This guide shows how to check your version and how to move to the latest release safely.
| Windows 11 version | Released | Updates end: Home and Pro | Updates end: Enterprise and Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26H2 | 29 September 2026 | 10 October 2028 | 9 October 2029 |
| 26H1 (new devices only) | 10 February 2026 | 14 March 2028 | 13 March 2029 |
| 25H2 | 30 September 2025 | 12 October 2027 | 10 October 2028 |
| 24H2 | 1 October 2024 | 13 October 2026 | 12 October 2027 |
| 23H2 | 31 October 2023 | Ended | 10 November 2026 |
Dates are from Microsoft's Windows 11 release information page as published in October 2026; check it for later changes.
How do you check which version of Windows 11 you have?
The quickest way to check your Windows 11 version is to press Windows key + R, type winver and press Enter, which opens a window showing the version, such as 25H2, and the OS build number, or you can open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications for the edition, version and build together.
- Press Windows key + R, type winver and press Enter.
- Read the line that shows the version and OS build, for example "Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.xxxx)".
- For the edition as well, right-click Start > Settings > System > About.
- Under Windows specifications, note the Edition, Version and OS build.
Microsoft describes the Settings route on its find information about your Windows device page. The About page also shows whether the system is 64-bit and how much RAM is installed.
What do Windows 11 version numbers like 25H2 and 26H2 mean?
Windows 11 version names combine the year and the half of the year in which the version was finished: 25H2 is the second-half 2025 release and 26H2 is the second-half 2026 release, while the OS build number, such as 26200 for 25H2 or 26300 for 26H2, identifies the version precisely and its last part shows the latest monthly update installed.
Microsoft states that Windows 11 has an annual feature update cadence, with feature updates released in the second half of the year. Each one is supported for 24 months on Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations, and 36 months on Enterprise and Education.
Advanced nuance: 26H1 is an exception. Microsoft states it is scoped to new devices that came to market in early 2026, and that it is not offered as an in-place update from 24H2 or 25H2. If winver shows 26H1, your PC shipped with it rather than updating to it.
What is the latest version of Windows 11?
The latest version of Windows 11 for existing PCs is version 26H2, the Windows 11 2026 Update, which Microsoft released to general availability on 29 September 2026 with OS build 26300, and because Microsoft is rolling it out in phases, eligible PCs receive the offer over several months rather than all on the same day.
Microsoft's release health status for 26H2 says the update is delivered using servicing technology and that a single restart completes the installation on eligible 24H2 and 25H2 devices. Microsoft may also apply safeguard holds, which temporarily block the offer on PCs with a known compatibility issue.
What we commonly see: users read that 26H2 is out, check Windows Update and see nothing. A phased rollout or a safeguard hold is the usual reason, not a licence or activation problem.
How do you update to the latest Windows 11 version?
To update to the latest Windows 11 version, open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install everything offered, and turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they're available so your PC is first in line for 26H2. When the feature update appears, select Download and install and restart when asked.
- Back up important files.
- Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Install all pending cumulative updates and restart.
- Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they're available.
- When the Windows 11 2026 Update is offered, select Download and install.
- Restart, then run winver to confirm the version reads 26H2.
Cause and effect: Microsoft delivers 26H2 to eligible 24H2 and 25H2 devices using servicing technology, so an up-to-date PC installs it much like a monthly update. That is why the move needs a single restart rather than a full reinstall.
Using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant
If Windows Update does not offer the latest version, Microsoft's Windows 11 software download page provides the Installation Assistant, which currently lists Windows 11 2026 Update version 26H2. Microsoft lists these requirements:
- A Windows 10 or Windows 11 licence and a PC that meets the Windows 11 device specifications.
- Windows 10 version 2004 or later already installed.
- 9 GB of free disk space and administrator rights.
- An x64 processor; the Installation Assistant does not run on Arm-based PCs.
Advanced nuance: if Windows Update is holding the offer back, there may be a safeguard hold for your hardware. Check the known issues on Microsoft's release health pages before forcing the update manually. For a clean install instead, see our guide to creating a Windows 11 bootable USB.
Why does an older Windows 11 version stop getting security updates?
An older Windows 11 version stops getting security updates because Microsoft supports each feature update for a fixed period, 24 months for Home and Pro and 36 months for Enterprise and Education, and then ends monthly security fixes for that version. Updating to a newer version restarts the support clock without changing your licence.
For example, Microsoft lists 13 October 2026 as the end of updates for version 24H2 on Home and Pro. A Home or Pro PC still on 24H2 after that date no longer receives monthly security fixes until it moves to 25H2 or 26H2.
Your product key and activation are unaffected by version updates. A Windows 11 Pro licence activates every Windows 11 version, so there is no need to buy anything to move from 24H2 to 26H2.
What we commonly see: PCs stuck on an old version because the drive is nearly full or the hardware no longer meets the requirements. Our guide to Windows 11 system requirements and TPM 2.0 helps you check the second case.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 11 26H2 a free update?
Yes, Windows 11 version 26H2 is a free feature update for eligible PCs that already run an activated copy of Windows 11. It arrives through Windows Update and keeps your edition, files and apps. You do not need a new product key, because your existing Windows 11 Home or Pro licence covers newer versions.
Do I have to install every Windows 11 feature update?
You do not have to install each feature update as soon as it is released, but you should move to a supported version before your current one reaches its end of updates date. Microsoft lists those dates on its Windows 11 release information page, so check it at least once a year.
Does updating Windows 11 to a new version delete my files?
A feature update through Windows Update keeps your files, apps and settings, because it updates the existing installation rather than replacing it. The move from 24H2 or 25H2 to 26H2 uses servicing technology with a single restart. Back up important files first anyway, since any system update can be interrupted.
Why can't I see 26H2 in Windows Update?
Microsoft is rolling out 26H2 in phases, starting with eligible 24H2 and 25H2 devices that have Get the latest updates as soon as they're available turned on. Your PC may also have a safeguard hold for a known compatibility issue, or be missing earlier cumulative updates. Install pending updates and check again later.
Is winver the same as the Windows edition?
No, winver shows the Windows version and build, such as 25H2 and OS build 26200, while the edition, such as Home or Pro, determines which features you have. Settings > System > About lists the edition and the version together under Windows specifications, which is the clearest place to check both.