Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021 Lose Support on October 13, 2026

Microsoft's October 2026 Patch Tuesday, on October 13, delivers the last updates for Windows 11 version 24H2 in its Home and Pro editions and for Office 2021. The date that many Windows 10 users had marked is no longer a cutoff: Microsoft has moved the end of its consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to October 12, 2027.

Below is what changes on October 13, what does not, and what to do on each affected machine. All dates come from Microsoft's lifecycle and release-health pages, as of October 2026.

What reaches end of support on October 13, 2026

Microsoft's list of products ending support in 2026 names these products for October 13; the Windows message center repeats the Windows dates:

• Windows 11, version 24H2 in the Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations editions. After this date these PCs no longer receive monthly security or preview updates.
• Office 2021: the one-time purchase suites (Home and Student, Home and Business and Professional, plus the Mac editions of Home and Student and Home and Business) and the standalone 2021 apps such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Office LTSC 2021 and its apps, including Office LTSC 2021 for Mac.
• Windows 10 2016 LTSB and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016.
• Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2: Year 3 of their Extended Security Updates ends.

The same day, Windows Server 2022 leaves mainstream support and moves to extended support, which keeps monthly security updates coming through October 14, 2031.

Windows 10: the ESU deadline moved to 2027

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Home users can keep receiving critical and important security fixes through the consumer ESU program, which was originally set to end in October 2026. Microsoft's ESU page now says the program ends on October 12, 2027, and that coverage for devices already enrolled continues automatically, with no action needed. BleepingComputer reported the quiet change in June 2026.

Enrollment stays open until the program ends. Microsoft lists three ways to enroll:

• at no additional cost if you sync your PC settings to a Microsoft account;
• by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points;
• with a one-time payment of $30, or the local equivalent, plus tax.

One license covers up to 10 devices. The PC must run Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates, including the ESU licensing preparation package KB5126256, and the person enrolling needs an administrator account (child accounts are not eligible). Enrollment starts from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, where eligible PCs show an enrollment link. Microsoft notes that options and timing can differ in the European Economic Area.

Organizations use a separate paid program: $61 per device for the first year, with the price doubling each year for a maximum of three years after end of support, according to Microsoft Learn.

Windows 11 24H2 PCs: move to 25H2 or 26H2

A PC on 24H2 needs a feature update, not new hardware. Microsoft released Windows 11 version 26H2 on September 29, 2026, as an enablement package for devices running 24H2 and 25H2, a small update that switches on features already delivered through monthly patches (Windows Experience Blog). Open Settings > Windows Update to check for it; typing winver in the Start menu shows the installed version.

According to Microsoft's Windows 11 release information, Home and Pro editions are supported until:

• version 25H2: October 12, 2027;
• version 26H2: October 10, 2028.

Enterprise and Education editions of 24H2 are not affected this month; they receive updates until October 12, 2027. Version 26H1 is not an upgrade path for existing PCs, because Microsoft scoped it to new devices that reached the market in early 2026.

Office 2021 users

For Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021, end of support means Microsoft stops providing security updates, non-security fixes and assisted support. The current one-time purchase edition, Office 2024, is listed with a retirement date of October 9, 2029 (Microsoft Lifecycle); the other route is a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Next on the calendar: November 10

The November 2026 Patch Tuesday brings the next set of cutoffs. Windows 11 version 23H2 in Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise editions, .NET 8 (LTS) and PowerShell 7.4 (LTS) all reach end of servicing on November 10, 2026. We cover developer platforms in our Developers section, and Microsoft's wider product moves under Big Tech and Software.

Frequently asked questions

Does Windows 10 stop getting updates on October 13, 2026?

Not on PCs enrolled in consumer ESU. Microsoft extended the program to October 12, 2027, and existing enrollments continue automatically.

When does Windows 11 24H2 reach end of support?

Home and Pro editions get their last update on October 13, 2026. Enterprise and Education editions are supported until October 12, 2027.

What does Office 2021 end of support mean?

After October 13, 2026, Microsoft no longer ships security updates, bug fixes or assisted support for Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021.