While individual versions expire, the operating system itself has a lifecycle end date. Microsoft has committed to supporting the Windows 11 platform until , for early versions, but the current lifecycle policy suggests a longer tail.
23H2 is the first version where Enterprise/Education gets the full 36 months. windows 11 lifecycle
If you install Windows 11 version 23H2, Microsoft will provide security updates and bug fixes for that specific installation for two years. Once that period expires, you must update to a newer feature version (e.g., 24H2) to continue receiving security patches. If you install Windows 11 version 23H2, Microsoft
Based on the current date, here are the critical dates for recent versions: Windows 11 Version Support End Date Home / Pro November 11, 2025 (Expired) 24H2 Home / Pro October 13, 2026 25H2 Home / Pro October 12, 2027 25H2 Enterprise / Education September 30, 2028 3. How Updates Work How Updates Work The Windows 11 lifecycle is
The Windows 11 lifecycle is currently evolving into an AI-centric era. Microsoft is heavily investing in "Copilot+ PCs," which require specialized hardware (NPUs - Neural Processing Units).
This requirement effectively cut the lifecycle short for millions of perfectly functional PCs built before 2018. While users can install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware via workarounds, Microsoft does not guarantee updates or support for these machines. This has created a bifurcated lifecycle: