When is Windows 11 end of life? What happens after Windows 11 support ends? What should you do after Windows 11 end of life date? In this post, MiniTool shows you answers to these questions and let’s go to see details on Windows 11 lifecycle.
As is well known, Windows 11 was officially released on October 5, 2021. It has multiple editions including Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise, Pro Education, etc. Like other Windows operating systems, Windows 11 will end its support eventually although currently it is the mainstream system. So, do you know when is Windows 11 end of life (EOL)?
In terms of Windows 10, its last build is Windows 10 22H2 which will end its life on October 14, 2025. Refer to this post - Last Version - Windows 10 22H2 End of Life: How to Upgrade to know details.
Windows 11 End of Life Date
Currently, Microsoft has released two main versions of Windows 11 operating system – 21H2 and 22H2. Its new version Windows 11 23H2 is under development and will come to the public in the fall of this year. Each version of Windows has its own support cycle.
So when is Windows 11 21H2 end of life or Windows 11 22H2 end of life?
According to Microsoft, multiple editions of Windows 11, version 21H2, will end its supports/services on October 10, 2023. This Windows 11 end of life date applies to 21H2 editions released in October 2021 including Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, and Pro Education. Besides, Microsoft mentions the Windows 11 21H2 end of life date for Enterprise and Education on its website of Windows 11 lifecycle is on Oct 8, 2024.
In addition, in terms of Windows 11 22H2 end of life, Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations will be supported until Oct 8, 2024, while Enterprise and Education will be supported until Oct 14, 2025.
Microsoft hasn’t disclosed an end-of-service date for Windows 11 as a whole. In consideration of the lifecycle of previous Windows versions, someone speculates and gets a verdict – Windows 11 end of life 2031. That is, Windows 11 may be supported until at least 2031. Of course, this is an assumption. According to reports, Windows 12 will come soon.
Related post: Windows 11 Lifespan: How Long Will Windows 11 Be Supported?
What Happens After Windows 11 End of Life
After the end-of-service date, your device won’t receive security and monthly quality updates to fix discovered bugs and security issues. Feature updates and patches are not offered since the operating system is not up-to-date.
Your PC is vulnerable to viruses and malware. From then on, hackers will use the existing bugs to steal your data for criminal activities and the consequence is unimaginable.
What to Do After Windows 11 End of Life Date
When your Windows 11 reaches its end-of-service date, the important thing is to update to the latest version. Do this before the expiration date based on your version of Windows.
If you are using Windows 11 21H2 Pro, Pro for Workstations, and Pro Education now, try to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2 before October 10, 2023. Windows 11 2022 Update is widely available on Windows devices that meet the eligibility criteria.
Just go to Settings > Windows Update and check for updates. Then, download and install available updates including Windows 11 22H2.
Kind Reminder:
Before installing Windows updates, you had better create a backup for your PC since some potential update issues could cause some issues including blue screen errors, system crashes, data loss, and more. To back up the computer, run the professional PC backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker. This tool can help back up your data and create a system image.
Just get it by tapping on the following download button. Then, follow the guide – How to Back up Windows 11 (Focuses on Files & System) to finish the backup.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Vera is an editor of the MiniTool Team since 2016 who has more than 7 years’ writing experiences in the field of technical articles. Her articles mainly focus on disk & partition management, PC data recovery, video conversion, as well as PC backup & restore, helping users to solve some errors and issues when using their computers. In her spare times, she likes shopping, playing games and reading some articles.