Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions will stop receiving security and feature updates starting October 13, 2026, as announced by Microsoft. This end of support affects only these editions; Enterprise and Education editions remain supported until October 2027. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11 25H2, available since September 2024, to continue receiving updates. Devices not managed by IT will automatically upgrade but allow user control over restart timing. The cessation of updates means that any new vulnerabilities discovered after the cutoff date will not be patched on these editions, potentially increasing security risks if users do not upgrade.

After October 13, 2026, Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions will no longer receive security updates, leaving systems potentially vulnerable to newly discovered threats. This increases the risk of exploitation if users do not upgrade to a supported version. However, Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 24H2 remain supported until October 2027, continuing to receive updates. The automatic upgrade mechanism to Windows 11 25H2 for unmanaged devices helps mitigate risk by facilitating transition to a supported version.

Users and administrators should plan to upgrade Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions to version 25H2 before the October 13, 2026 end-of-support date to continue receiving security updates. Devices not managed by IT will automatically upgrade to 25H2, but users can control restart timing. No additional mitigation is required beyond upgrading to a supported version. Enterprise and Education edition users should note their support continues until October 2027.