If your business PCs run Windows 11 Pro, some of them may have just stopped receiving security updates. Windows 11 24H2 end of support for the Home and Pro editions arrived on 13 October 2026, and October’s Patch Tuesday release was the last security update those devices will get. The good news: unlike the Windows 10 end of support deadline, fixing this is usually a free, quick update rather than a hardware refresh.
Key takeaways
- Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro no longer receive security updates after 13 October 2026.
- Enterprise and Education editions of 24H2 remain supported until 12 October 2027.
- Moving to version 25H2 or 26H2 is a free update that normally needs just one restart.
- Unsupported software can put your Cyber Essentials certification at risk, so check every device now.
What Windows 11 24H2 end of support actually means
Microsoft releases a new version of Windows 11 every autumn and supports each one for a fixed period. For Home and Pro editions, that’s roughly two years. According to Microsoft’s Windows 11 Home and Pro lifecycle page, version 24H2 was released on 1 October 2024 and its servicing has now ended.
Your PCs will carry on working as normal. What changes is that they no longer receive monthly security fixes, so any new weakness found in Windows from now on stays open on those devices. Attackers know this, and unpatched machines remain one of the most common ways into a business network.
Which versions are affected?
- Windows 11 Home and Pro, version 24H2: no longer supported.
- Windows 11 Enterprise and Education, version 24H2: supported until 12 October 2027.
- Windows 11 version 25H2: Home and Pro supported until 12 October 2027.
- Windows 11 version 26H2: the latest release, available since 29 September 2026, with Home and Pro supported until 10 October 2028.
Most small businesses run Windows 11 Pro, so the Windows 11 24H2 end of support is worth checking even if you believe your updates are “automatic”.
How to check which version your PCs are running
On any Windows 11 PC, press the Windows key and R together, type winver and press Enter. The window that opens shows the version (for example “Version 24H2”) and the build number. You’ll also find it under Settings, then System, then About.
Checking machines one at a time is fine for a handful of devices. For anything more, a device management tool or your IT provider’s monitoring platform can give you a single report showing every PC’s version and update status.
Why some PCs get left behind
Microsoft rolls out new Windows 11 versions in phases, and eligible devices receive them automatically. As BleepingComputer reported, the upgrade downloads and installs in the background and completes with a single restart. In practice, though, PCs often miss out because:
- updates were paused or deferred and never resumed
- the device is rarely switched on, such as a spare laptop or a shared PC
- there isn’t enough free disk space for the update
- an older driver or business application is blocking the upgrade
- update settings were configured years ago and nobody has reviewed them since
The Cyber Essentials angle
If you hold Cyber Essentials, or you’re working towards it, this matters beyond day-to-day security. The NCSC’s Cyber Essentials requirements for IT infrastructure state that software on in-scope devices must be licensed and supported, and that unsupported software must be removed or taken out of scope. Critical and high-risk security updates must also be installed within 14 days of release.
Since the Windows 11 24H2 end of support date, a Pro laptop still on version 24H2 is running an unsupported operating system. Left as it is, it could cause problems at your next assessment, so it’s far better to deal with it now.
A simple five-step plan
- Take stock. List every Windows PC and laptop, with its edition and version.
- Update 24H2 devices. Move them to 26H2, or at least 25H2, through Settings and Windows Update, with “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” switched on.
- Clear the blockers. Free up disk space, update drivers and confirm your key business apps are compatible.
- Review your update settings. Make sure feature updates aren’t deferred indefinitely and security updates install within 14 days.
- Diarise the next deadline. Windows 11 25H2 Home and Pro reaches end of support on 12 October 2027, so plan ahead rather than react.
Our free SME Cyber Security Checklist is a handy way to spot other gaps at the same time.
How LevelUp Networks can help
Keeping Windows up to date across a business shouldn’t depend on someone remembering to click “restart”. With our managed IT services, we monitor your devices, manage Windows updates and version upgrades, and flag any PC that falls behind, so end-of-support dates don’t catch you out. If you’re preparing for Cyber Essentials or want a wider review, our cyber security services can help too.
Not sure where your PCs stand after the Windows 11 24H2 end of support date? Email us at [email protected] or get in touch through our contact page and we’ll help you check. Existing clients can simply email our service desk.