Microsoft Warns Windows 11 24H2 Users to Upgrade Before Support Ends

Microsoft has warned Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro users that the release will soon reach the end of support, according to Windows Central.

Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions will stop receiving updates on October 13, 2026. After that date, affected PCs will no longer receive monthly security updates.

The end of support also means users will stop getting preview updates, technical support, time zone updates, and fixes for known issues. Devices will continue to work, but they will become more exposed over time if users stay on an unsupported version.

Windows 11 24H2 support ends in October 2026

The deadline applies to consumer editions of Windows 11 24H2. Microsoft supports Windows 11 Home and Pro feature releases for 24 months, while commercial editions receive a longer 36-month support window.

Since Windows 11 24H2 launched in 2024, its consumer support cycle is now nearing its end. Microsoft is encouraging users who remain on 24H2 to move to Windows 11 25H2.

Windows 11 25H2 is the current shipping version and remains fully supported. For Home and Pro users, it will continue receiving updates until October 2027.

Upgrade to Windows 11 25H2 should be small

The move from Windows 11 24H2 to Windows 11 25H2 should not feel like a major platform upgrade. Both versions share the same underlying codebase, so Microsoft treats the update as an enablement-style upgrade.

That means the update mainly turns on newer features and version changes already present in the system, instead of replacing the OS with a large new platform release.

The same approach is expected for Windows 11 26H2. Microsoft has indicated that the enablement package is less than 200KB for most users, making the upgrade much smaller than a traditional feature update.

Windows 11 26H2 will also be an option

Users who do not want to move to Windows 11 25H2 right away can wait for Windows 11 26H2, which is expected to roll out in fall 2026.

Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 all use the Germanium platform release. Because the underlying OS platform remains the same, upgrading from 24H2 should carry fewer compatibility risks than a full platform jump.

This should help users and IT teams avoid some of the disruption usually linked to larger Windows feature updates.

Commercial Windows 11 24H2 users get more time

The October 13, 2026 deadline does not apply to commercial customers running Windows 11 24H2. Commercial editions receive 36 months of support instead of 24 months.

Windows 11 24H2 commercial editions will remain supported until October 12, 2027.

For regular Home and Pro users, however, the message is clear: Windows 11 24H2 is approaching the end of support, and upgrading to Windows 11 25H2 or 26H2 will soon become necessary to keep receiving security updates.

In other news, Microsoft has extended Windows Server 2022 hotpatching support until 2027.