IT administrators have four days left on a deadline that affects millions of PCs. On October 13, 2026, Windows 11 version 24H2 in Home and Pro editions reaches end of updates, alongside Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and Office 2021. After that date, those editions stop receiving Microsoft's monthly security and non-security updates.
The critical detail is the edition, not the version. A PC running Windows 11 Pro 24H2 gets no security patches after October's Patch Tuesday — while the same 24H2 build in Enterprise or Education keeps receiving them until October 12, 2027. Fleet reporting that groups devices by version or build number alone will not surface which machines are actually affected.
Microsoft's recommended path is Windows 11 25H2, also known as the Windows 11 2025 Update, which installs as a standard feature update for most eligible PCs rather than a full reinstall. Devices running Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro that aren't managed by IT will receive 25H2 automatically, though users can postpone the update or choose when to restart. Managed fleets need a plan now: inventory every 24H2 Home and Pro machine, schedule the upgrades, and confirm application compatibility.
The October 13 cutoff is part of a crowded autumn servicing calendar. On the same day, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 reach end of extended support — Microsoft points those organizations to Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 or Extended Security Updates — and Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021, Project 2021, and Visio 2021 lose support. The third year of Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 also ends, and the first commercial ESU year for Windows 10 22H2 closes, with year-two pricing doubling. On November 10, Windows 11 version 23H2 follows for Enterprise and Education editions.
One nuance worth noting: only mainstream support ends for Windows Server 2022 — security updates continue under extended support at no extra cost until October 2031.
For IT leaders, the practical lesson is process, not panic. Servicing deadlines are predictable, published years in advance, and the tooling to track them — Microsoft's Lifecycle Policy search, the Windows release information pages — is free. The organizations caught flat-footed on October 13 won't be victims of surprise; they'll be victims of drift. Audit the fleet, mind the edition, and keep the update pipeline moving.