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Windows 11 24H2 support ends October 13: get ready for 25H2

By the Brightfix team. Updated October 7, 2026. Applies to Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro (and PCs already on 25H2 or 26H2).

Quick answer

Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro stop receiving security updates on October 13, 2026. Windows moves these PCs to version 25H2 automatically with a small update and one restart. You can choose the restart time or postpone it.

Before you start

  • Create a restore point before the upgrade so you have a way back.
  • Back up your personal files with Windows Backup or a copy to an external drive.
  • Do not delete the Windows.old folder for the first 10 days after any upgrade. Going back needs it.
  • Do not turn off Windows Update to avoid the upgrade. After October 13, 24H2 gets no security fixes.

1Check which version of Windows 11 you have

Only PCs on 24H2 need to act. If you are already on 25H2 or 26H2, you are fine.

  1. Press Windows + R, type winver and press Enter.
  2. Read the version line. 24H2 shows OS Build 26100, 25H2 shows 26200 and 26H2 shows 26300.
  3. To see your edition too, open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications.
What you should see

A version and edition, for example Windows 11 Home, Version 24H2.

If it did not work: If the edition is Enterprise or Education, or the PC is managed by work or school, your IT team controls the upgrade and this date does not apply in the same way.

Undo: Nothing to undo. This only looks.

2Prepare: restore point, files and free space

A restore point and a file backup give you a safe way back, and free space lets the update install cleanly.

  1. Select Start, type Create a restore point and open the result.
  2. On the System Protection tab, select your Windows drive. If protection is off, select Configure, choose Turn on system protection and select OK.
  3. Select Create, type a name such as Before 25H2 and select Create again.
  4. Back up your files: open Settings > Accounts > Windows Backup, or copy your folders to an external drive.
  5. Open Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations and remove items you do not need, such as temporary files.
What you should see

A message that the restore point was created successfully, a finished backup, and free space showing under Settings > System > Storage.

If it did not work: If restore point creation fails, make sure system protection is on for the Windows drive and try again after a restart.

Undo: Restore points and backups do not need undoing. Files removed by Cleanup recommendations cannot be brought back, so read each category before you select it.

3Install 25H2 now, or postpone it for a while

Installing on your schedule avoids a surprise restart. Pausing gives you up to 35 days if the timing is bad.

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
  2. If you see Windows 11, version 25H2 with a Download and install option, select it.
  3. When it asks to restart, save your work and restart. 25H2 installs with a single restart.
  4. If you need more time, select Pick a date on the Pause updates control instead. You can pause for up to 35 days and resume at any time.
What you should see

After the restart, winver shows Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200).

If it did not work: If 25H2 is not offered yet, the rollout may not have reached your PC, or Microsoft may be holding it back while a compatibility issue is fixed. Check again in a few days. If updates fail with an error, fix Windows Update first.

Undo: To end a pause early, select Resume updates on the Windows Update page.

4Something broke after the upgrade? Fix it or go back

Most problems are fixed by removing one recent update. Going back to 24H2 is the last resort, because 24H2 no longer gets security fixes.

  1. Check Microsoft's Windows release health page for 25H2 to see whether your problem is a known issue with a workaround.
  2. If the problem started after a monthly update, open Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, select that update and select Uninstall.
  3. To leave 25H2, look in the same Uninstall updates list for an entry for Windows 11, version 25H2 (enablement package, KB5054156). If it is there, select Uninstall and restart.
  4. If it is not listed, open Settings > System > Recovery and select Go back if it is available. In most cases this option lasts 10 days after an upgrade.
  5. Follow the prompts. Your personal files are kept.
What you should see

After the restart, winver shows the version you chose, and the problem is gone.

If it did not work: If neither option is available, open Settings > System > Recovery and select Reinstall now under Fix problems using Windows Update. It repairs Windows and keeps your files, apps and settings. You can also use the restore point you made.

Undo: If you went back to 24H2, Windows will offer 25H2 again. Install it once the issue is fixed, because 24H2 no longer receives security updates.

Windows 11 versionReleasedHome and Pro updates end
24H2 (build 26100)October 1, 2024October 13, 2026
25H2 (build 26200)September 30, 2025October 12, 2027
26H2 (build 26300)September 29, 2026October 2028

Why this happens

Each Windows 11 version gets about two years of updates on Home and Pro. When that time ends, called end of servicing, Windows Update stops sending security fixes, fixes for known issues and time zone updates to that version. For 24H2, that day is October 13, 2026. To keep PCs protected, Windows Update moves unmanaged 24H2 Home and Pro PCs to 25H2 on its own. Versions 24H2 and 25H2 share the same core system files, so the new features are already on your PC in a switched-off state. A small enablement package (KB5054156) turns them on, which is why the move takes one restart instead of a full reinstall. Version 26H2 is newer and optional for now.

Still stuck?

Will my PC stop working on October 13, 2026?

No. A PC on 24H2 keeps starting and running normally. It simply stops receiving security updates, fixes for known issues and technical support for that version. That is why Microsoft moves Home and Pro PCs to 25H2 automatically. Once you are on 25H2, monthly security updates continue until October 12, 2027.

Can I skip 25H2 and go straight to 26H2?

Possibly. Microsoft is rolling out 26H2 in phases, starting with 24H2 and 25H2 PCs where Get the latest updates as soon as they are available is turned on in Settings > Windows Update. If 26H2 is offered, it installs with a single restart. Either version keeps you supported, so there is no need to wait for one or the other.

Will the upgrade delete my files or apps?

Upgrading from 24H2 to 25H2 uses a small enablement package that switches on features already on your PC, and it keeps your files, apps and settings. It is still wise to back up your files and make a restore point first, as with any update, in case something unrelated goes wrong.

How long can I pause the upgrade?

You can pause updates for up to 35 days from today using Pick a date on the Pause updates control in Settings > Windows Update. When the pause ends, Windows checks for and installs the latest updates. Keep in mind that a paused 24H2 PC gets no security fixes after October 13, 2026.

Is it safe to delete Windows.old after upgrading?

Wait until you are sure everything works. Going back to the previous version needs the Windows.old folder, and in most cases you have 10 days. Within that time, Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations lists your previous version of Windows as something you can delete. Deleting it cannot be undone, and going back is no longer possible afterwards.

Related guides

How we checked this guide

Steps checked against Microsoft documentation (Windows release health, the KB5054156 article and Microsoft Support pages on pausing, uninstalling updates and going back) on October 7, 2026. The rollback steps have not yet been tested on a 25H2 test PC. Screenshots coming soon.

Changes

  • October 7, 2026: First published.

Sources

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