Microsoft issued a warning to its customers regarding the impending end-of-service (EOS) for various editions of Windows 11, version 21H2. These editions, including Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations, which were released in October 2021, will reach the end-of-service milestone in three months, specifically on October 10, 2023.
On Monday, Microsoft said “These editions will no longer receive security update after October 10th 2023.”
Following the end-of-service date, Microsoft Support will guide customers to update their devices to the latest version of Windows 11 to continue receiving support. After the specified date, Windows 10 21H2 devices utilising the mentioned Home and Pro editions will no longer be eligible for security updates and monthly quality updates containing bug fixes and patches for newly identified security issues.
Earlier this month, several editions of Windows 10 21H2 (commonly referred to as the Windows November 10, 2021 Update) also reached their end-of-service milestone.
In addition, Microsoft offers users a comprehensive list of all products that are approaching their end of support or retirement in the upcoming months.
For detailed information about the specific end-of-service dates for Windows, customers can consult the Windows Lifecycle FAQ and utilise the Lifecycle Policy search tool.
Windows 11 2022 update now force-installing on devices
Some devices are now experiencing the forced installation of the Windows 11 2022 Update. The widespread availability of Windows 11 22H2 (also known as the Windows 11 2022 Update) has been active since October for Windows devices that meet the necessary eligibility criteria.
To verify if your device is eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade, you can review the Windows 11 specifications, features, and computer requirements or utilise the PC Health Check app for assistance.
It is worth noting that Microsoft is implementing force installations of this update on systems currently operating on Windows 11 21H2, as the latter version is rapidly approaching its end-of-service (EOS) date.
According to the Windows release health dashboard, starting from January 2023, Windows 11, version 21H2 Home and Pro consumer devices, as well as non-managed business devices, are being automatically updated to version 22H2.
Since Windows 10, Microsoft has been dedicated to ensuring that Windows users stay secure and up to date through automatic updates. This same approach is being employed for Windows 11, aiming to keep users protected and productive. It's important to note that you have the flexibility to select a convenient time for your device to restart and complete the update.
To assist users during the Windows 11 22H2 upgrade, Microsoft has provided a support document and a step-by-step walk-through to help resolve any encountered issues.
