Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro are out of support: prepare your upgrade

Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reached the end of support on October 13, 2026. Microsoft confirms the end of regular security and preview updates for those editions. That is not an instruction to switch off the computer, but it is a reason to check the installed version and plan a move. This guide covers personal PCs as of October 20.

Check both the version and the edition

Open Settings, choose System, then About, and locate Windows specifications. Microsoft’s device information guide shows where to find the edition and version. Record both values, such as Home and 24H2. “Windows 11” alone is not enough to determine support status. Recording the device model is also useful if you later need the manufacturer’s help with compatibility.

You can also check the version quickly with winver: enter it in Windows search and open the result. We suggest saving this information before the update so you can compare it afterwards. If you take a screenshot for support, leave out unnecessary personal details or recovery keys. Keep the useful diagnostic information separate from anything that could give another person access to your device.

According to Microsoft’s release and support table, 24H2 Enterprise and Education have a different deadline: October 12, 2027. Support for 25H2 Home/Pro also continues until October 12, 2027, while 26H2 Home/Pro runs until October 10, 2028. The 24H2 announcement therefore does not mean that every Windows 11 PC has reached the end of support.

Which update to look for

A personal PC running 24H2 needs a move to a supported release, 25H2 or 26H2. An ordinary cumulative update and a change of Windows version are different things: after installing fixes, check the version designation itself. We have already covered Windows 11 26H2 availability; the priority here is keeping a supported configuration rather than listing new features.

Do not choose solely by the largest number in the name. Microsoft specifically describes 26H1 as a release for new devices, not the ordinary upgrade path for existing 24H2 or 25H2 PCs. If your computer already runs supported 25H2, this news alone is no reason to force a different release onto it today. Choose the appropriate supported path for the actual device.

Before installation: files and the recovery key

Start with a short list of what you cannot afford to lose: work documents, photographs, local projects and necessary exports from applications. Our recommendation is to test the copy by opening a few files on the backup destination and checking that recent changes are present. Merely connecting an external drive is not enough. The 3–2–1 backup rule explains the broader approach.

If you use Windows Backup, keep its scope in mind. It can save selected personal folders to OneDrive and preserve some settings; it is not a complete image of every drive and installed application. The free personal storage allowance is 5 GB. Check available space and whether syncing has finished. Large local folders may need a separate copy on an external drive.

If the drive is encrypted, locate the BitLocker recovery key in advance. This 48-digit number is used when the drive cannot unlock automatically. Depending on your setup, it may be in a personal Microsoft account, held by your organisation or stored in your own separate copy. Make sure you can retrieve it from another device. A normal update does not mean it will necessarily be required, but finding it after a lockout is much harder.

Use the normal Windows Update route

Open Settings, go to Windows Update and check for updates. If a supported feature release is offered, read the message and follow the installation steps. Microsoft provides an option to schedule the restart for a convenient time. Keep a laptop powered, save open work and choose a period when you do not need the device for an urgent call or deadline.

Our advice is to avoid combining this upgrade with several other major changes, such as reinstalling work applications, using an unfamiliar cleanup utility or replacing hardware. If something fails, one clearly identified change makes diagnosis easier. When the installer asks for more space, begin with your own unnecessary files after checking the backup, rather than randomly deleting system folders. Keep a note of any message that interrupts the process.

What if Windows Update offers no new version?

An absent offer can reflect a staged rollout or compatibility. Microsoft uses safeguard holds when a known problem could harm a device’s operation. The company recommends waiting for such a restriction to be lifted instead of bypassing it with a manual installation. Read any message explaining that an update is not ready before looking for a different installer. An absent offer alone does not identify the cause.

If you remain on unsupported Home/Pro 24H2, do not let waiting become an indefinite plan. Record the PC model, installed version, exact message and any error code, then contact the device manufacturer or Microsoft support. For a work computer, ask the administrator about the rollout plan first: the organisation may manage versions, deployment dates and recovery keys. Those details are more useful to support than a general report that updating “does not work”.

What to check after restarting

Check the Windows version again, look for available updates, then open your everyday applications and a few personal documents. Our short practical check also includes networking, sound, an external display and a printer if you use them. Keep the backup until you have confirmed that normal work is possible. This gives you a clear result to assess instead of assuming everything succeeded solely because the desktop appeared.