"Today, October 13, 2026, Windows 11, version 24H2 Home and Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 have reached end of updates. The October 2026 monthly security update is the last update available for these editions," Microsoft said in a message center update.
Microsoft's announcement and what it ends
On October 13, 2026, Microsoft declared that devices running Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro have reached end of support and "will no longer receive monthly security and non-security preview updates." The company identified the October 2026 monthly security update as the final update for those consumer editions. The message also named Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 as reaching end of updates on the same date.
Upgrade path: Windows 11 26H2 (the Windows 11 2026 Update)
Microsoft advised customers to upgrade to Windows 11 26H2, also called the Windows 11 2026 Update. According to the announcement, 26H2 "became generally available in September 2026 as an enablement package" and will remain supported for consumers until October 2029. The company described the rollout as phased: "Windows 11, version 26H2 rollout is phased and will expand over the next few months. If the update is ready for your device, it will download and install automatically, and a single restart will complete the process."
Microsoft also specified an enrollment condition for the phased rollout: devices eligible to receive the enablement package are those where the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option has been enabled.
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End the scrambleEnterprise, education, and server timelines
Not all editions share the same cutoff. Per Microsoft's lifecycle policy, Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions remain under mainstream support until October 12, 2027. The company separately reminded customers last week about Windows 11 23H2: systems running Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions will also stop receiving security updates in 30 days, after Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro editions reached end of support in November 2025, Microsoft said.
Microsoft also noted other lifecycle moves earlier this year: it extended the free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for home users, and it announced Windows Server 2022 reaches the end of mainstream support today but "will remain under extended support until October 2031."
Finally, the company warned customers that unsupported versions of Windows will stop receiving security updates after next year's Windows Update certificate rotation, urging administrators and users to upgrade proactively.
How technologists, enterprises, and end users are affected
- Technologists and security teams: expect to move remaining 24H2 Home and Pro devices to 26H2 or to segregate them, since those devices "will no longer receive monthly security and non-security preview updates" and the October 2026 security update was the last available for these editions.
- Affected enterprises and procurement leaders: note the different timelines — 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions retain mainstream support until October 12, 2027, while consumer support for 26H2 continues through October 2029 — and plan upgrades or extended-support options accordingly.
- End users and the general public: devices that do not install 26H2 will stop getting monthly protections from the latest security threats; enabling "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" controls eligibility for the phased 26H2 rollout.
Where to get official guidance and further reading
Microsoft directs customers to the Windows Lifecycle FAQ page and the Lifecycle Policy search tool for detailed servicing dates and policy specifics. The company is also hosting industry-focused programming: a digital summit featuring Mikko Hyppönen and security leaders from the NFL, CHANEL, and Atlassian that addresses fast-moving attacks and defense at machine speed.
Microsoft's bulletin is definitive for those particular editions: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro will no longer receive monthly security updates after October 2026, and the company is encouraging migration to Windows 11 26H2. For administrators and users with mixed edition estates, the differing end-of-support dates — and the looming Windows Update certificate rotation — are practical constraints that will shape upgrade schedules and risk calculus over the coming months.
