What is current right now
- Windows 11 is the main system. The current version is 26H2 (released September 2026); 25H2 is also supported.
- Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro stopped receiving updates in October 2026 — update to 25H2 or 26H2.
- Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025. Home PCs can join Extended Security Updates (ESU) until 12 October 2027.
- Windows 7 and 8.1 have had no updates for years — better not to go online with them.
Windows 11 editions
| Edition | For whom | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Home, study, most laptops | Everything for everyday work; no company management features |
| Pro | Freelancers, small business, offices | BitLocker, Remote Desktop (connecting to this PC), Hyper-V, Group Policy, domain join |
| Pro for Workstations | Powerful workstations | Server-class processors, very large memory, the ReFS file system |
| Pro Education / Education | Schools and universities | Like Pro / Enterprise, sold to educational institutions |
| Enterprise | Medium and large companies | Corporate security and management; volume licensing only |
| Enterprise LTSC | ATMs, tills, medical and industrial PCs | No new features and no app store, security updates for 5 years |
| IoT Enterprise | Device manufacturers | Built into equipment; the LTSC variant gets up to 10 years of support |
What the letters and labels mean
- N (Europe) and KN (Korea) — editions without the built-in media apps. They can be added free; for most users an edition without “N” is simpler.
- Single Language — a Home edition with one display language that cannot be changed. Common on laptops bought in other countries.
- S mode — not an edition but a mode: only Microsoft Store apps can be installed. Leaving it is free, but you cannot switch back.
- x64 and ARM64 — for regular Intel / AMD processors and for ARM processors (such as Snapdragon). There is no 32-bit Windows 11.
- SE — a lightweight edition for school laptops; the last supported version is 24H2.
Windows 11 versions and update dates
A new version comes out once a year, in autumn. Home and Pro get updates for 24 months, Enterprise and Education for 36 months.
| Version | Build | Released | Home / Pro — until | Enterprise / Education — until |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26H2 | 26300 | 09.2026 | 10.2028 | 10.2029 |
| 26H1 | — | 02.2026 | 03.2028 (for some new ARM devices) | 03.2029 |
| 25H2 | 26200 | 09.2025 | 10.2027 | 10.2028 |
| 24H2 | 26100 | 10.2024 | 10.2026 — ended | 10.2027 |
| 23H2 | 22631 | 10.2023 | 11.2025 — ended | 11.2026 — ending soon |
LTSC — Windows without new features
LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is an edition that stays the same for years: security fixes only. It is meant for equipment that must behave identically for many years. It does not suit homes or ordinary offices: there is no app store, some programs and drivers may not work, and it is sold only under volume licences.
| Edition | Released | Supported until |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 | 10.2024 | 10.2029 |
| Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 | 10.2024 | 10.2034 |
| Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 | 11.2021 | 01.2027 |
Every Windows: from 95 to 11
| Windows | Year | Support ended |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 | 1995 | 12.2001 |
| Windows 98 / ME | 1998 / 2000 | 07.2006 |
| Windows 2000 | 2000 | 07.2010 |
| Windows XP | 2001 | 04.2014 |
| Windows Vista | 2007 | 04.2017 |
| Windows 7 | 2009 | 01.2020 |
| Windows 8 | 2012 | 01.2016 |
| Windows 8.1 | 2013 | 01.2023 |
| Windows 10 | 2015 | 14.10.2025 (home ESU until 12.10.2027) |
| Windows 11 | 2021 | supported |
Licences: what you are buying
OEM
The licence that comes with a computer. Tied to it: it cannot move to another PC. Many laptops store the key in the BIOS — Windows activates by itself after a clean install of the same edition.
Retail
A boxed or digital licence from a shop. It can move to a new computer once removed from the old one.
Digital licence
Activation linked to the hardware and your Microsoft account, no key needed. It survives a Windows reinstall on the same computer.
Volume: KMS and MAK
For organisations with a Microsoft agreement. “Volume activation” on a home laptop almost always means illegal activation.
Upgrade Home → Pro
Bought in the Microsoft Store right from Settings — no reinstall needed.
“3-dollar” keys
Very cheap marketplace keys are usually resold volume or OEM keys. They can stop working at any time.
Glossary
- ISO image — the Windows installation file. The official one comes only from Microsoft’s website.
- Build — the number inside a version, e.g. 26200.xxxx. It goes up with every monthly update.
- Feature update — moving to the new yearly version (25H2 → 26H2). Cumulative update — the monthly fixes.
- TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, UEFI — computer security features Windows 11 officially requires.
- BitLocker — drive encryption; be sure to keep the recovery key.
- Microsoft account — signing in to Windows with an email; the digital licence and BitLocker key are linked to it.
- A “build” in the other sense — a Windows image modified by someone on the internet. Why not to install one — in a separate article.
How to find out your Windows
Win + R → winver
Shows the version (e.g. 25H2) and the build number.
Settings → System → About
The edition (Home, Pro…) and system type, x64 or ARM.
Settings → System → Activation
Whether there is a licence and what kind: digital or a key.
Checked against Microsoft data on 27.10.2026: Microsoft Lifecycle: Windows 11 Home and Pro · Microsoft Lifecycle: Windows 11 Enterprise and Education · Windows 11 release information · Windows 10 ESU