This week, Microsoft alerted its customer base that the Home and Pro variants of Windows 11 24H2 will cease receiving updates beginning next month. In contrast, the Enterprise and Education versions of the same release maintain mainstream support coverage through October 2027 under Microsoft's support lifecycle rules.
According to a message center notification from Microsoft, "On October 13, 2026, Windows 11, version 24H2 Home and Pro editions, and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 will reach end of updates." The company further stated that "After this date, devices running these editions will no longer receive monthly security and non-security preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats."
Migration path to 25H2
Microsoft is directing users to transition to Windows 11 25H2, the current Windows 11 release also referred to as the Windows 11 2025 Update. This version became available for general deployment in September 2024 as a minor update delivered via an enablement package.
For unmanaged systems, Microsoft has implemented automatic upgrade behavior: machines running Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro will be upgraded to Windows 11 25H2 automatically, though users retain the ability to select their restart timing or defer the installation.
To check for availability, users can navigate to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Once the device qualifies, the interface will display the option to "Download and install Windows 11, version 25H2."
Additional support lifecycle changes
Microsoft maintains comprehensive documentation on support timelines through its Windows Lifecycle FAQ page and the Lifecycle Policy search tool. The company also publishes a catalog of all products and services approaching retirement or end-of-support status on its support website.
In a related announcement last week, Microsoft disclosed that Windows Server 2022 is nearing the conclusion of its mainstream support phase. The platform will transition to extended support on October 13, continuing through October 14, 2031.
Earlier in the year, Microsoft quietly extended the complimentary Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for consumer users until October 2027. The company also halted security update delivery to devices running Windows 11 Home and Pro 23H2 starting in November 2025.