These Home windows and Workplace variations might be discontinued in 2026
Abstract created by Sensible Solutions AI
In abstract:
- PCWorld studies that Microsoft is discontinuing help for Home windows 11 SE, Home windows 11 24H2, and Workplace 2021 on October 13, 2026.
- These modifications have an effect on academic customers counting on Home windows 11 SE and companies utilizing Workplace 2021, creating potential safety vulnerabilities after help ends.
- Customers ought to improve to Home windows 11 25H2 and both Workplace 2024 or Microsoft 365 subscriptions earlier than the deadline to take care of safety updates.
In 2026, it’s time to say goodbye once more—to widespread applications that we’ve been working with day in and time out. Microsoft is discontinuing a number of variations of Home windows, Workplace, and different merchandise this yr. Right here’s what that you must know for those who’re nonetheless utilizing these merchandise.
Home windows 11 24H2
Microsoft is discontinuing help for Home windows 11 24H2—each Dwelling and Professional editions—in keeping with this help web page, with the tip date slated for October thirteenth, 2026. That’s when the following main Home windows 11 replace might be launched. (This was additionally the case in 2025 when help for Home windows 11 23H2 ended within the fall.)
On October thirteenth, 2026, anticipate to obtain the final replace for Home windows 11 24H2. After that, it’s best to replace to a more recent Home windows model, which is able to seemingly be Home windows 11 25H2. (Home windows 11 25H2, which launched final fall, will obtain updates till October twelfth, 2027.)
Home windows 11 24H2, which introduced a number of new options to the working system, additionally brought on complications for a lot of customers. For some, the set up failed; for others, there was a hail of error messages and crashes; for others but, the taskbar stored freezing, body charges dropped drastically in some video video games, and a few Workplace apps stopped working.
Home windows 11 SE
The tip of help for Home windows 11 24H2 has a aspect impact: Home windows 11 SE can also be lastly coming to its finish.
Microsoft touted Home windows 11 SE as an alternative choice to Google’s Chrome OS again in November 2021, however Home windows 11 SE was unable to ascertain itself out there. SE was primarily supposed for cheap notebooks for college use. We reported on this discontinuation final yr:
Home windows 11 SE was introduced in late 2021 and launched in January of 2022, explicitly designed for the schooling market. Whereas it shares many of the codebase and options of Home windows 11, it’s additionally way more locked down, with commonplace customers unable to put in third-party 32-bit apps and even apps from the Home windows Retailer with out admin help. Home windows 11 SE lacks widgets and a few Snap Format choices for the sake of being “distraction-free,” it’s much more insistent upon Microsoft functions like Workplace and Edge, and it must be managed by way of the Intune system.
Home windows 11 SE was meant to be a successor to Home windows 10 S, which didn’t make a very large splash, both. It’s straightforward to think about how faculty directors, used to plain Home windows 10/11 or Google’s widespread and low-cost Chromebook schooling setup, wouldn’t be eager on sacrificing superior options.
Microsoft will present updates for the final time in October 2026, as defined on this help web page. Afterwards, there might be no extra help or updates for Home windows 11 SE.
Home windows 11 23H2
November tenth, 2026 additionally marks the tip of help for Home windows 11 23H2 Enterprise, Schooling, and IoT Enterprise, in keeping with this help web page. In the meantime, Home windows 11 23H2 Dwelling and Professional had been already discontinued again in November 2025.
Microsoft Workplace 2021
Microsoft Workplace 2021, which was launched again in October 2021 and is the predecessor to the now-current Workplace 2024, can even be discontinued on October thirteenth, 2026 alongside Home windows 11 24H2. That features discontinued help for Workplace LTSC 2021 and Workplace LTSC 2021 for Mac, as reported by Home windows Newest.
Though you’ll be able to proceed to use Workplace 2021 after the tip of help, the software program received’t be getting new updates, which suggests any newly found safety vulnerabilities will stay unfixed. In different phrases, it’s a safety danger to maintain utilizing Workplace 2021 post-support.
Affected prospects ought to due to this fact swap to both Microsoft Workplace 2024 (a non-subscription one-time cost with solely safety updates) or Microsoft 365 (a subscription cost that features each characteristic and safety updates). Sadly, Microsoft doesn’t provide a reduction for upgrading from Workplace 2021 to Workplace 2024.
Unsure which option to go? Study extra about whether or not it’s best to subscribe to Microsoft 365 or purchase Microsoft Workplace 2024.
Numerous Home windows options
Along with the above merchandise being discontinued, Microsoft has additionally eliminated a number of options from Home windows over 2025. Listed here are probably the most notable ones price realizing about:
- Location Historical past (API for Cortana)
- Line Printer Daemon (older printer protocol)
- Home windows UWP Map Management and Home windows Maps Platform API (changed by Azure Maps)
- Home windows Maps (changed by Bing Maps)
- Machine Metadata (partially changed by INF)
- Dev Dwelling (partially moved to Settings)
- Home windows PowerShell 2.0 (newer variations nonetheless accessible)
- Home windows Administration Instrumentation Command-Line (has been changed by Home windows PowerShell for WMI)
- Legacy Net Parts (partially changed by WebView2)
What options might be faraway from Home windows in 2026? Effectively, that continues to be to be seen.
This text initially appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
