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

Millions of computers in homes and small offices still run Windows 10, a full year after Microsoft ended mainstream support on 14 October 2025. Many of them are still safe to use, but only because they are enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme. Many others are quietly unprotected.

Microsoft has extended the consumer ESU programme so that eligible personal devices keep receiving security fixes through 12 October 2027, a year longer than originally planned. On 13 October 2026, it released the latest ESU update, KB5126657. This guide shows you how to confirm your PC is covered and fully up to date.

Who qualifies for consumer ESU

The consumer programme is for personal-use devices. According to Microsoft’s updated documentation, as reported by BleepingComputer:

• Computers joined to an Active Directory domain or managed through mobile device management (MDM) are not eligible for the consumer programme.
• Personal devices that are only registered with Microsoft Entra (for example, a work account added to a home PC) still qualify.
• Devices already enrolled are covered automatically until the new end date, with nothing extra to do.
• One ESU licence can cover up to 10 devices tied to the same Microsoft account.

There are several ways to enrol: sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account using Windows Backup (free), redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or make a one-time payment of $30. In the European Economic Area, signing in with a Microsoft account is enough.

Businesses with managed PCs need Microsoft’s commercial ESU instead. BleepingComputer reports this can run for up to three years at a total of $427 per device, so it is worth comparing that cost with replacing or upgrading the machine.

Step 1: Check your Windows 10 version

1. Press the Windows key + R, type winver and press Enter.
2. Check the version and build number. ESU updates are delivered to Windows 10 version 22H2.
3. If you see an older version such as 21H2 on a Home or Pro edition, install the 22H2 feature update first through Windows Update.

Step 2: Check ESU enrolment

1. Open Settings and go to Update & Security, then Windows Update.
2. If your PC is eligible but not enrolled, you should see an option to enrol in Extended Security Updates. Select it and follow the prompts to choose an enrolment method.
3. If you choose the free Windows Backup route, make sure you are signed in with a Microsoft account and allow settings to sync.
4. Once enrolled, the Windows Update page should indicate that your device is enrolled in Extended Security Updates.

If you do not see any enrolment option, check that your PC is on version 22H2, that all earlier updates are installed, and that you are signed in with an administrator account.

Step 3: Install the October 2026 update

1. On the Windows Update page, select Check for updates.
2. Download and install KB5126657, then restart when prompted.
3. Run winver again. After the update, Windows 10 22H2 should show build 19045.7807.

KB5126657 includes the October 2026 Patch Tuesday security fixes. It also fixes a File History bug that could show a false “Reconnect your drive” message during backups to external or network drives, and continues the rollout of updated Secure Boot certificates.

A known issue to watch

BleepingComputer notes that some USB Audio Class 1.0 devices, such as certain USB headsets and sound adapters, have had problems since the September 2026 updates, including Code 10 errors or no sound. Microsoft has partly fixed this, but some issues remain. If an audio device stops working after updating, check Microsoft’s release health page before uninstalling security updates.

Step 4: Plan your next move

ESU buys time; it is not a long-term solution. It delivers security fixes only, not new features. Use the extra year wisely:

• Check Windows 11 compatibility with the PC Health Check app. If your PC qualifies, schedule the free upgrade at a quiet time and back up first.
• Budget for replacements if older machines cannot run Windows 11. Spreading purchases across the next 12 months is easier than replacing everything at once.
• Keep your apps updated. Browsers, office software and antivirus tools may stop supporting Windows 10 on their own timelines.
• Keep a register of every Windows 10 PC in your office, its ESU status and its planned replacement date.

Quick checklist

• Windows 10 version 22H2 installed
• ESU enrolment confirmed on the Windows Update page
• KB5126657 installed, build 19045.7807
• Backups working and tested
• Upgrade or replacement plan dated before October 2027

Fifteen minutes per PC is all it takes to know you are covered. An unpatched Windows 10 machine on your network is a risk to every other device connected to it.

Sources

• Microsoft quietly extends free Windows 10 ESU support to October 2027 – BleepingComputer
• Microsoft releases Windows 10 KB5126657 extended security update – BleepingComputer
• Microsoft extends free Windows 10 security updates for a second year – Tom’s Hardware