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Windows 11 Updates: What's Changing and Why

You may have heard from us recently about updating your Windows 11 devices. Here's a quick rundown of what's going on and why it matters.

Carly Waldeck

What “Windows 11 version” actually means

Microsoft releases a new feature update for Windows 11 about once a year, each labeled with a version number like 23H2, 24H2, or 25H2.

Each version comes with a support window — once that window closes, the device stops receiving security updates.

That means the operating system keeps running, but it’s no longer protected against new vulnerabilities.

Here’s where the versions relevant to our current upgrade effort stand:

  • 22H2 (released 2022) — Support ended October 8, 2024. Devices still on this version are a top priority.

  • 23H2 (released late 2023) — Support ended November 11, 2025.

  • 24H2 (released 2024) — Support ends October 13, 2026.

  • 25H2 — Our current target version, with support running through 2027.

  • 26H1 — Applies only to devices with Snapdragon processors (more on this below).

Why we’re standardizing on 25H2

Windows 11 25H2 is Microsoft’s current standard release for most existing PCs, offering the longest support runway before the next upgrade cycle is needed.

It’s the version we’re moving all applicable devices to.

You may also notice 26H1 listed as a newer release.

It’s worth clarifying that 26H1 is built specifically for devices with Snapdragon processors and isn’t available as an upgrade path for standard hardware.

A higher version number doesn’t mean it’s the next step for most devices, 25H2 remains the right target for the vast majority of our fleet.

How we’re rolling this out

We’re prioritizing updates based on urgency:

  • Devices on versions that have already reached the end of support are being addressed first.

  • Remaining devices are queued according to how close they are to their own support deadline.

  • Updates are being rolled out on a per-client basis, with compatibility checks completed beforehand to minimize disruption.

The bottom line

Most of our managed devices are already on the current, supported version.

For the rest, we have a clear plan in place to get everyone updated well ahead of their respective deadlines.

We’ll continue to share progress as this rollout continues.