Short answer
Windows 11 does not have one single end of life date. Each version is supported separately: Home and Pro for 24 months, Enterprise and Education for 36 months. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro ends on 13 October 2026. Update to a newer version in time and you keep receiving security updates. Updating costs nothing.
How does the Windows 11 lifecycle work?
Windows 11 consists of several editions. These editions do not all have the same end of life date. Windows 11 falls under Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy. There is no single date on which Windows 11 as a whole goes out of support. Instead, every annual version gets its own end date.
Home and Pro are supported for 24 months, Enterprise and Education for 36 months. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise follows the same term as Enterprise and Education. As long as you update to a newer version within that term, you remain supported.
Sources: Windows 11 Home and Pro and Windows 11 Enterprise and Education on Microsoft Lifecycle.
Status table of Windows 11 versions
| Version | Home and Pro | Enterprise and Education |
|---|---|---|
| 21H2 | 10 October 2023 | 8 October 2024 |
| 22H2 | 8 October 2024 | 14 October 2025 |
| 23H2 | 11 November 2025 | 10 November 2026 |
| 24H2 | 13 October 2026 | 12 October 2027 |
| 25H2 | 12 October 2027 | 10 October 2028 |
| 26H1 | 14 March 2028 | 13 March 2029 |
What are the consequences after the end date?
An expired Windows version keeps working. Microsoft does not switch it off and your files and programs remain available. All features included in the last update of your licence stay in place.
What stops are the monthly security updates. Every security flaw found after the end date stays open in that version. Unlike Windows 10, there is no paid ESU programme for Windows 11 that lets you receive those updates anyway. Updating to a supported version is the only option.
How do you check which version you are running?
Open Settings, go to System and then to About. Under Windows specifications you will find the version, for example 24H2. For one or two devices the winver command is quicker. For more devices, read the versions from your management environment.
Which edition suits your organisation?
Windows 11 Pro gets 24 months of support per version, Windows 11 Enterprise 36 months. With Enterprise you update once every three years instead of once every two.
If you would rather not work with annual versions, the LTSC edition is worth considering. It has its own lifecycle and receives no new features.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 have an end of life date?
No. Windows 11 falls under the Modern Lifecycle Policy and has no end date as a product. Every version does have its own end date. This differs per edition.
What does it cost to update to a newer version?
Nothing. Updating from 23H2 to 24H2, for example, goes through Windows Update and is included in your licence.
Is there an ESU programme for Windows 11?
No. The paid ESU programme exists for Windows 10 and for a number of server products, not for Windows 11. Updating to a supported version is the only way to keep receiving security updates.
Advice on your situation?
Would you like to know what Windows 11 costs your organisation? Softtrader supplies Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Enterprise as pre-owned volume licences, with savings of up to 70% on the original price. Contact us for more information or request a no-obligation quote.
This page was translated from Dutch with the help of AI and checked by our account manager.
