Windows 11 24H2 support ends 13 October 2026: time to move to 25H2

From 13 October 2026, Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions stop receiving updates from Microsoft. After that date, devices running 24H2 will no longer get monthly security fixes, bug fixes or time zone updates, and Microsoft will not provide technical support for them. Any PC left on 24H2 becomes a growing security risk the longer it stays unpatched.

The fix is straightforward: move to Windows 11 version 25H2, the current release, which is supported with monthly updates until October 2027.

Who is affected

• Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro. Support ends 13 October 2026. This covers most small business PCs.
• Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and Education. Supported until October 2027, though I would still recommend moving sooner rather than later.
• Older versions such as 23H2. Already out of support on Home and Pro, so these devices need attention urgently.

Most unmanaged home PCs will be moved to 25H2 automatically by Windows Update. Business devices under management, and anything Microsoft cannot update automatically, need a deliberate upgrade, and that is where planning matters.

If you are a managed client, I can do this overnight

If you are on one of my managed support agreements, the 25H2 upgrade is included in what I do. I can roll the upgrade out across your devices overnight, outside working hours, so nobody walks in to a machine mid-update.

A small number of devices will need a manual upgrade rather than an automatic one, for example machines that do not pick up the update cleanly or that need a check first. For those, you have two options:

• We schedule time together. I book a slot with you, upgrade the device with you, and confirm everything works before you carry on with your day.
• You do it yourself. The Windows 11 Installation Assistant is on the approved software list, so you are welcome to run it yourself following the guide below.

If you are not sure which of your devices are already on 25H2, get in touch and I will check your estate and tell you exactly what needs doing.

Which version am I on?

Quick check on any Windows PC:

• Press the Windows key, type winver and press Enter. A small window shows the Windows version, look for 24H2 or 25H2.
• Or open Settings > System > About and read the Windows specifications section.

If it says anything other than 25H2, that device needs attention before 13 October 2026.

First, check the device is eligible: the PC Health Check app

Before upgrading, confirm the PC meets Windows 11 25H2 requirements (a compatible processor, TPM 2.0, 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage). Microsoft's PC Health Check app tells you in a couple of minutes:

1. Download it. Go to https://aka.ms/PCHealthCheck and choose Download PC Health Check app. 2. Install and open it. Run the downloaded file, accept the licence terms, then open the app. 3. Run the check. At the top of the app, select Check now next to Windows 11 eligibility. 4. Read the result. You will either see a green tick confirming the PC can run Windows 11, or a clear list of what is not compliant, such as TPM 2.0 being switched off in the BIOS or an unsupported processor.

If the check flags TPM 2.0 disabled, that is often just a motherboard setting rather than a hardware limit, and it is a five minute fix. If the processor is genuinely unsupported, the device will need replacing before support ends, and that is a conversation worth having now rather than in October.

Upgrading a device yourself: the Windows 11 Installation Assistant

For a device already on Windows 11 24H2 (or on Windows 10 with compatible hardware), the simplest self-service route is Microsoft's Windows 11 Installation Assistant:

1. Back up first. Make sure your files are synced or backed up before starting. If you are my client, your backup is already running, but a quick sanity check costs nothing. 2. Download the assistant. On the Windows 11 download page, scroll to the Windows 11 Installation Assistant section and select Download now. 3. Run it. Open the downloaded Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file and select Yes if Windows asks for permission. 4. Accept and restart. Select Restart now when prompted, or pick a time that suits you. The device will restart several times. 5. Wait it out. The upgrade typically takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the device. Leave it plugged in and switched on, do not force a shutdown mid-upgrade. 6. Confirm the result. After the final restart, run winver again and check it now says 25H2.

The bottom line

13 October 2026 is a hard cut-off, not a suggestion. Devices left on 24H2 after that date stop receiving security updates and become an avoidable risk to your business. If you are a managed client, I will handle the rollout overnight and schedule time for anything that needs a manual touch. If you would rather do it yourself, the Installation Assistant is approved and the guide above will walk you through it.

Not sure where you stand, or want me to audit every device and tell you exactly what is on what? Get in touch and I will sort it.