Microsoft: Windows 11 22H2 reaches end of service in October

Microsoft reminded customers today that multiple editions of Windows 11, version 22H2, will reach the end of servicing (EOS) in three months, on October 8, 2024.

This applies to Windows 11 22H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions released on September 20, 2022.

"The upcoming October 2024 security update, to be released on October 8, 2024, will be the last update available for these editions," Microsoft said on Monday.

"After this date, devices running these editions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats."

On the same day, Windows 11 21H2 Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions will also reach EOS, one year after the Home and Pro editions.

Customers can refer to the Windows Lifecycle FAQ page and the Lifecycle Policy search tool for more details about end-of-service dates for other Windows releases.

Redmond also provides users with a list of all products that will reach the end of their support or be retired in the coming months.

Microsoft ​force-installing the Windows 11 2023 Update

​Windows 11 22H2 (aka the Windows 11 2023 Update) started rolling out in September to Release Preview Insiders for enterprise testing and was released as an enablement package on October 31.

Microsoft started force-installing this update in February on eligible systems that had reached or were close to their end-of-service date.

"Windows 11, version 23H2, also known as the Windows 11 2023 Update, is now entering a new rollout phase. We are starting to update eligible Windows 11 devices automatically to version 23H2," Microsoft said.

"This automatic update targets Windows 11 devices that have reached or are approaching end of servicing and it follows the machine learning-based (ML) training we have utilized so far."

The forced rollout phase came after systems running multiple Windows 11 21H2 editions were automatically updated to Windows 11 22H2 before they reached the end of support on October 11.

You can verify if your PC is eligible for the Windows 11 2023 Update by checking the Windows 11 specifications, features, and system requirements or using the PC Health Check app.

Redmond also provides a guided walk-through and a support document to help customers resolve any issues experienced during the upgrade.