Microsoft Confirms Forced 23H2 Upgrade for Those on Unsupported Windows 11 Versions

The release of Windows 11 version 24H2 isn’t the only major milestone for the PC platform in October: Two previous Windows 11 versions–Windows 11 versions 21H2 and 22H2–will exit support on October 8, 2024. And now Microsoft has confirmed what will happen to PCs running those systems.

“The upcoming October 2024 security update, to be released on October 8, 2024, will be the last update available for Windows 11 version 21H2 (Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions) and Windows 11 version 22H2 (Home and Pro editions),” the Windows message center on Microsoft Learn notes in a new update. “After this date, devices running these editions will … reach end of servicing [and] will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats.”

Unmanaged PCs–that is, PCs owned by individuals or those not managed by IT in corporate environments–running these older Windows 11 versions will receive the Windows 11 version 23H2 Feature Update in October, as expected, to ensure that they remain supported and up-to-date with security updates. This is how Microsoft has historically handled these end of servicing milestones, and though Windows 11 24H2 is expected in October as well, the firm generally sticks the oldest supported version for forced upgrades.

Managed PCs and devices–that is, those managed via corporate policies via IT in businesses–face a more nuanced future. These systems have a longer support lifecycle than the consumer versions of Windows 11, and IT has more leeway regarding the timing of the updates it approves or defers. In short, though Microsoft “requires” these customers to keep PCs on supported Windows versions, updating the devices is mostly IT’s responsibility.