If your office PCs or personal laptop run Windows 11 Home or Pro, there is one update you should not put off. Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions reached end of support on 13 October 2026, the same day as Microsoft’s October Patch Tuesday. That release was the last scheduled monthly security update for those editions.

A PC on 24H2 will not stop working. It will boot, open your files and run your apps as before. What changes is that Microsoft no longer sends it security fixes, bug fixes or time zone updates, and it is no longer covered by technical support. Every month from now on, newly discovered vulnerabilities will stay open on those machines, which is exactly the kind of gap attackers look for.

The fix is usually simple and free. This guide walks you through it.

Who is affected

• Windows 11 Home and Pro, version 24H2: support ended on 13 October 2026. These devices need to upgrade.
• Windows 11 Enterprise and Education, version 24H2: supported until 12 October 2027, following Microsoft’s usual extra year for these editions.
• Windows 11 version 25H2: still supported and receiving monthly updates.
• Windows 11 version 26H2: Microsoft’s latest annual feature update, released on 29 September 2026.

Because 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2 share the same underlying foundation, moving between them is far less disruptive than older Windows upgrades. For PCs already on 25H2, the move to 26H2 arrives as a small enablement package that installs much like a normal monthly update.

Step 1: Check which version you are running

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Select System, then scroll down and select About.
3. Under Windows specifications, look at Edition (Home, Pro, Enterprise and so on) and Version (24H2, 25H2 or 26H2).

A faster alternative is to press Windows key + R, type winver and press Enter. A small window shows the version number.

If you manage several computers, record the edition and version for each one in a simple spreadsheet so you know which machines still need attention.

Step 2: Prepare the PC

Feature updates are generally reliable, but a few minutes of preparation prevents most problems:

1. Back up important files. Copy documents, accounting data and photos to an external drive or a cloud service such as OneDrive. For business data, confirm the backup actually opens.
2. Plug in the power. Connect laptops to the charger, and if your area has unstable power, run desktops from a UPS during the update.
3. Check free space. Go to Settings, then System, then Storage. Clear out downloads and temporary files if the drive is nearly full.
4. Install pending updates first. Make sure the PC has all current monthly updates before the version upgrade.
5. Note key software. If you rely on specialist software such as accounting, POS or industry applications, check with the vendor that it supports the newer Windows version.

Step 3: Upgrade through Windows Update

1. Open Settings and select Windows Update.
2. Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.
3. Select Check for updates.
4. When the feature update to a newer Windows 11 version appears, select Download and install.
5. Save your work and restart when prompted. The PC may restart more than once.

The offer can take a little time to appear on some devices, because Microsoft rolls updates out gradually and may hold them back where a known compatibility issue exists. PCWorld notes that some users have reported known issues with 26H2, so if the newest version is not offered, moving to 25H2 is a perfectly good choice: it is supported and keeps receiving monthly security updates.

Step 4: Confirm it worked

1. Go back to Settings, then System, then About, and confirm the new version number.
2. Open Windows Update again and install anything else it offers.
3. Open your main business apps and check that printers, scanners and network drives still work.
4. Update your device list with the new version and the date.

If something goes wrong

• Update fails or stalls: restart the PC, make sure you have enough free storage and a stable internet connection, then try again. If it still fails, search Settings for the Windows Update troubleshooter or ask your IT support.
• A problem appears after upgrading: Windows usually lets you go back for a short period under Settings, then System, then Recovery. Remember that going back to 24H2 leaves you unsupported, so treat it only as a temporary step while you fix the issue.
• Many PCs to manage: consider asking your IT provider to manage feature updates centrally so no device is left behind.

Do not forget Office

October 13 was also the end of support for Office LTSC 2021, Visio LTSC 2021 and Project LTSC 2021. If your business bought these perpetual-licence versions, plan a move to a supported version of Office so that your documents and email software keep receiving security fixes too.

Sources

• PCWorld: Still on Windows 11 24H2? You have one week to upgrade
• Pureinfotech: Windows 11 24H2 gets its final update on October 13 as version 26H2 takes over

Featured image: Photo: “The New Study” by KevinJump, CC BY 2.0, via Openverse — source