If you’ve been running Windows 11 23H2 on your personal or client machines, heads up: Microsoft has officially marked November 11, 2025 as the end of servicing for the Home and Pro editions. I’ve got a couple of test devices still on 23H2, mostly for compatibility checks, and this announcement nudged me to start prepping for the upgrade cycle.
Why I’m Paying Attention to This Now
I’ve seen what happens when you ignore end-of-support dates—back in 2020, I had a client still running Windows 7 Pro on a legacy POS system. No updates, no support, and one ransomware hit later, they were rebuilding from scratch. So when Microsoft drops a date like November 11, I take it seriously.
For 23H2, the clock’s ticking. After that November Patch Tuesday, no more security updates, no bug fixes, no preview builds. If you’re still on Home or Pro, you’re flying without a parachute.
What I’ve Checked So Far
- My lab ThinkPad (running 23H2 Pro) flagged the lifecycle notice in Windows Update last week.
- I confirmed that 24H2 is already available—rolled out in September 2024—and it’s stable enough for most setups.
- For longer runway, I’m eyeing 25H2, which should land later this year. If you’re managing devices for clients or teams, that’s probably the smarter move.
Gotchas to Watch For
- Devices with older TPM chips or unsupported CPUs might not take the upgrade smoothly. I had one Ryzen 2000-series desktop that refused 24H2 without a clean install.
- Some third-party antivirus tools still throw compatibility warnings post-upgrade. I had to uninstall and reinstall Bitdefender on two machines after moving to 24H2.
Lessons Learned
- Don’t wait till November to start testing. I’m using Hyper-V snapshots to trial 24H2 on different profiles—standard user, admin, kiosk mode.
- Keep an eye on driver support. Intel’s newer Wi-Fi drivers didn’t play nice with my 23H2 build, but worked fine after the upgrade.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft’s lifecycle model is pretty clear: 24 months of support for Home and Pro, 36 for Enterprise and Education. If you’re still running 23H2, you’ve got less than a month to plan your move. I’m treating this like a mini migration project—inventory, test, upgrade, validate.
Ever had a patch break your VPN setup the night before a client demo? That’s why I don’t leave upgrades to the last minute anymore.
