If your PC runs Windows 11 Home or Pro version 24H2, move to Windows 11 25H2 as soon as Windows Update offers it. Microsoft ended updates for 24H2 Home and Pro on October 13, 2026. As of that date, those editions no longer receive monthly security or preview updates, fixes for known issues, time-zone updates, or technical support. The safest route is Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Version 25H2 is released in phases, so the offer may not appear immediately on every compatible device.
Do not force an upgrade merely because 25H2 is not yet displayed. Install all pending updates for your current version, restart, and check Windows Update again. Microsoft recommends waiting for the Windows Update offer before using Installation Assistant. Installation media is an alternative when you specifically need an in-place repair or a clean installation, but the two media methods have very different consequences for your files and applications.
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What the 24H2 deadline means for Home and Pro
Microsoft lists October 13, 2026 as the end of updates for Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro. Because the current date is after that deadline, a Home or Pro computer that remains on 24H2 is outside Microsoft’s update-support window. It should be moved to a supported feature version rather than left indefinitely on 24H2.
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The later date sometimes quoted for Windows 11 24H2 is October 12, 2027. That date applies to Enterprise and Education editions, not to consumer Home or Pro installations. Check the edition before applying that date to a personal PC.
Confirm what is installed before changing anything
First verify that the computer is actually running Windows 11 24H2 and identify whether it is Home or Pro. Open Settings > System > About and review the Windows specifications. You can also use the Windows version information shown by the operating system to confirm the feature version and edition.
- If the edition is Home or Pro and the version is 24H2, the October 13, 2026 support deadline applies.
- If the computer is already on 25H2, it does not need this particular feature upgrade; continue installing normal updates offered for that version.
- If the edition is Enterprise or Education, do not apply the Home/Pro deadline. Microsoft’s stated 24H2 end-of-updates date for those editions is October 12, 2027.
Record any device-encryption recovery key, administrator credentials, and software activation information you may need after a restart or reinstall. This is especially important before using installation media.
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Back up files you cannot replace
Make a current backup of documents, photos, project folders, browser data, and any other files that would be difficult to recreate. Keep at least one copy somewhere other than the PC. A feature upgrade is designed to preserve the existing installation, but a clean installation from bootable media removes personal files, applications, and settings.
Finish work and allow restart time
Save open work and plan for one or more restarts. Do not power off the computer while Windows is applying the feature update. If it is a laptop, connect the charger; an interrupted installation can leave you needing recovery steps.
Understand the USB requirement
A blank USB flash drive is not required to accept an upgrade through Windows Update. You need a blank drive of at least 8 GB only if you choose to create Windows installation media. Creating that media erases the drive’s existing contents, so copy anything on it elsewhere first.
Method 1: Upgrade through Windows Update
Windows Update is the preferred path because Microsoft offers the feature update to devices as its readiness checks permit. It avoids creating installation media and normally preserves the current Windows installation, applications, and personal files.
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- Open Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Choose Check for updates.
- If the Windows 11 25H2 feature update appears, select the option to download and install it.
- Continue using the PC only if Windows allows it, then restart when prompted. Keep the computer connected to power during the restart and installation.
- After Windows returns, open Windows Update again and install any remaining updates it lists.
The offer can be absent even when the PC is capable of running 25H2. Microsoft’s release history says that feature updates are rolled out in phases and delivered when readiness data indicates that a device is ready. Therefore, “not offered” is not proof that the computer is permanently ineligible.
When 25H2 does not appear
Use the safe retry sequence
- Remain on the current Windows installation and open Settings > Windows Update.
- Install every pending update shown for the current version.
- Restart when Windows requests it, even if the pending item was not the feature upgrade.
- After the restart completes, return to Windows Update and select Check for updates again.
- If 25H2 still is not offered, wait for the device’s phased rollout rather than immediately forcing the installation.
Pending updates and an unfinished restart can prevent a clean readiness check. A second check after the restart removes that common condition. If the feature offer remains absent, Microsoft’s guidance is to follow the current eligibility and installation instructions for the device and wait for the Windows Update offer before using Installation Assistant.
Why forcing the release can be the wrong first move
Microsoft’s phased process can account for compatibility safeguards, staged availability, and device-readiness signals that are not visible in Settings. Bypassing that offer can expose the PC to a known compatibility issue or require rollback work that Windows Update would have avoided. The support deadline creates urgency, but it does not turn an unavailable offer into a command to install through an unrelated route immediately.
Windows Update versus installation media
Choose the method based on what Microsoft has offered, what you need to preserve, and whether you can recover the machine if setup fails.
| Route | How it starts | Apps and files | USB required | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Update | Settings > Windows Update | Uses the running installation; normal upgrade behavior is designed to preserve it | No | The default path when 25H2 is offered |
| In-place setup from media | Run setup.exe inside the existing Windows installation |
Setup presents retention choices | Yes; blank drive of at least 8 GB to create media | A supported repair or upgrade path when you deliberately need media |
| Clean installation from media | Boot the computer from the installation media | Removes personal files, apps, and settings | Yes; blank drive of at least 8 GB to create media | A deliberately rebuilt PC after a complete backup |
The phrase “install from USB” is not precise enough to predict the result. Running setup.exe while Windows is already running is an in-place process with keep options. Booting from that same media starts a clean installation and deletes the existing installation’s files, applications, and settings.
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Method 2: Run setup.exe from installation media
Use this route only when you have a reason to work from installation media and have completed a backup. Create the media on a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of capacity; the creation process deletes everything already on that drive.
- Connect the prepared installation-media USB to the running Windows PC.
- Open the USB drive in File Explorer and start
setup.exewhile you are still logged in to Windows. Do not boot the computer from the USB for this method. - Proceed through Windows Setup until it displays Change what to keep.
- Read the available choices carefully. Depending on the setup path, Windows can offer Keep personal files and apps, Keep personal files only, or Keep nothing.
- Select the retention choice that matches your backup and reinstall plan, then continue only after checking the summary.
- Allow setup to restart the computer and finish. Do not remove power during the installation.
The choices are consequential. “Keep personal files and apps” is the least disruptive of the listed options. “Keep personal files only” removes installed applications, so you will need to reinstall them. “Keep nothing” discards the existing user data and applications; use it only when that outcome is intentional and your backup is verified.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Method 3: Clean-install by booting from media
Booting from installation media is not an upgrade-in-place. It is a clean installation. Microsoft documents that this path removes personal files, applications, and settings, so it should be treated as a rebuild rather than a routine feature update.
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- Back up personal files and verify that the backup can be opened from another device or location.
- Make a list of applications, license information, device drivers, and configuration details you will need after Windows is reinstalled.
- Create installation media on a blank USB drive of at least 8 GB, understanding that media creation erases that drive.
- Start the computer from the installation media instead of starting Windows normally.
- Follow Windows Setup and select the clean-install path only after confirming the target drive and the data-removal warning.
- After setup completes, restore files, reinstall applications, apply updates, and recreate required settings.
Do not choose this method simply because 25H2 has not appeared in Windows Update. A phased offer and a clean installation solve different problems. Clean installation is appropriate only when you have deliberately chosen to erase and rebuild the PC.
How to choose the right path
Choose Windows Update when
- 25H2 is displayed in Settings > Windows Update.
- You want the least disruptive supported upgrade.
- You do not need a USB installer.
- You have completed a backup but do not want to reinstall applications.
Consider in-place setup from media when
- You specifically need installation media and are prepared to inspect the Change what to keep screen.
- You understand that keeping personal files only or keeping nothing can remove applications or data.
- You have a verified backup and time to recover if setup does not complete as expected.
Use a clean installation only when
- You intentionally want to erase the existing installation.
- Your backup, application list, and recovery information are ready.
- You accept the work of reinstalling software and restoring settings.
Troubleshooting and recovery decisions
The update is pending but will not finish
Let Windows complete the restart cycle it requests, then return to Windows Update and check again. Do not repeatedly interrupt the restart. If the feature offer is still absent after all current-version updates are installed and the PC has restarted, treat that as a rollout or readiness issue rather than evidence that a USB clean install is required.
The feature offer disappears
Availability can change during a phased rollout as readiness signals are reevaluated. Install any remaining current-version updates, restart, and check Windows Update again. Keep the backup current while waiting.
Setup shows a retention choice you did not expect
Stop before accepting it. Re-read Change what to keep and compare the choice with your backup. If the option to keep apps and personal files is not available, do not assume that setup will preserve them. Cancel and reassess whether the media path is appropriate.
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Do not continue through a clean-install confirmation if you intended an in-place upgrade. Restart without selecting the USB, return to the existing Windows installation, and use the setup.exe path only if you have a specific reason to use media.
The computer cannot be used after an interrupted installation
Use the backup and recovery information prepared before setup. Avoid deleting partitions or starting a clean install as a reflex, because those actions can make data recovery harder. If you cannot restore the existing installation, obtain technical assistance appropriate to the device and edition.
What changes after moving to a supported version
Once 25H2 is installed, open Settings > Windows Update and check for remaining updates. A feature upgrade does not eliminate the need for ongoing monthly servicing. Continue keeping backups and note any application or peripheral that needs attention after the restart.
If you remain on 24H2 Home or Pro after October 13, 2026, you should assume that Microsoft is no longer providing the update and support coverage described above. The practical objective is not merely to make the version number change; it is to reach a feature version that Microsoft currently services for your edition and then keep that installation updated.
Quick checklist
- Confirm the edition and feature version in Settings > System > About.
- For Home or Pro 24H2, recognize October 13, 2026 as the end-of-updates date.
- Back up personal files before any installation-media operation.
- Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Install pending current-version updates, restart, and check again if 25H2 is not offered.
- Wait for Microsoft’s Windows Update offer before using Installation Assistant.
- If creating media, use a blank USB drive of at least 8 GB and move its contents elsewhere first.
- For an in-place media upgrade, run
setup.exefrom inside Windows and inspect Change what to keep. - Never confuse running setup.exe with booting from media; booting performs a clean installation that removes files, apps, and settings.
Bottom line
For a Windows 11 Home or Pro PC on 24H2, start with Windows Update and install 25H2 when Microsoft offers it. The offer may be delayed because rollout is phased by device readiness, so install pending updates, restart, and check again rather than forcing an unavailable release. Use installation media only with a verified backup and a clear understanding of the distinction between in-place setup and a clean install.
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