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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchDevices that do not receive Microsoft’s replacement certificates will lose access to Windows Update after the expiration date that applies to their Windows version. For most in-support versions that date is June 19, 2027. For Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016 it is May 17, 2027. Devices that receive updates from Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) are outside this change, according to Microsoft.
What Microsoft’s October 8, 2026 notice says
Microsoft published the notice on October 8, 2026 in the Windows Message Center. It describes a certificate rotation scheduled for 2027. Devices that do not have the replacement certificates installed will stop being able to reach Windows Update once the applicable expiration date passes. The notice does not describe a single fleet-wide cutoff. Each Windows version has its own minimum update level and its own date, so administrators should treat the change as a per-version inventory task rather than one global deadline.
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Secondary coverage, including a Neowin report dated October 8, 2026, repeats the warning. For the actual dates and update levels, use Microsoft’s notice as the authority.
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Deadlines and minimum updates by Windows version
The table below reproduces Microsoft’s version guidance from the October 8 notice. Match each device to its row before deciding whether it needs action.
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| Windows version or group | Minimum update Microsoft states | Applicable date |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 25H2 and later | No action required | Not applicable |
| Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025 | September 2025 security update or later | Before June 19, 2027 |
| Other in-support Windows 11 versions, Windows Server 2022, and in-support Windows 10 versions | July 2026 security update or later | Before June 19, 2027 |
| Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016 | July 2026 security update or later | Before May 17, 2027 |
| Other Windows versions | Upgrade to a supported Windows client or Windows Server version | Before the applicable certificate expiry; no separate date given in the October 8 notice |
The two dates are not interchangeable. A Windows Server 2019 host that is patched on the June schedule used for Windows Server 2022 can still miss its May 17, 2027 deadline.
How to determine which row applies to a device
Start by recording two facts for each machine: the Windows release and the update method. Then compare them with the table.
Step 1: Identify the Windows client release
- On a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, open Settings, select System, then About, and check the Windows specification section.
- For a feature-update label, run
winverfrom the Run dialog, or query the registry with PowerShell:(Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:SOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion').DisplayVersion. This returns values such as 24H2 or 25H2. - Confirm the edition, because Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro have a separate servicing end date (covered below).
Step 2: Identify the Windows Server release
Run Get-ComputerInfo -Property OsName, WindowsVersion in an elevated PowerShell session, or check the operating system name in Server Manager. Match the result to Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, or 2025 in the table.
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Step 3: Confirm the installed minimum update
- On Windows client devices, open Settings, select Windows Update, then Update history, and look for the September 2025 or July 2026 security update, as required by the row.
- On servers, run
Get-HotFix | Sort-Object InstalledOn -Descendingand compare the installed cumulative update against the knowledge base article for the required month. Confirm the KB number from Microsoft’s update catalog before relying on it.
Step 4: Confirm the update delivery method
Devices managed through WSUS are not affected by this certificate change, according to Microsoft. Before excluding a device, verify that it actually receives updates from WSUS and not directly from Windows Update, Windows Update for Business, or a third-party patch tool that connects to Microsoft endpoints. A machine that is pointed at WSUS by policy but has a fallback path to Windows Update should be treated as in scope until the configuration is confirmed.
Devices on unlisted versions
Machines running Windows versions outside the table are not covered by a patch-level fix. Microsoft advises upgrading to a supported Windows client or Windows Server version before the applicable certificate expiry. Build upgrade plans for these devices now, since hardware and application compatibility testing takes longer than the time left before 2027.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Connectivity problems that look like certificate failures
Microsoft separately documents Windows Update connection failures caused by firewalls or proxies that intercept TLS traffic or fail to pass required DNS subdomains. This guidance appears in a Microsoft 365 Message Center entry, MC1465017, dated August 31, 2026. It is not part of the 2027 certificate rotation, but it is useful when a device cannot reach Windows Update for reasons unrelated to certificates.
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- Check the Windows Update audit logs on the affected device for connection errors.
- Confirm that the required Windows Update hostnames are allowed through the firewall or proxy, and that any TLS inspection device trusts the relevant certificates.
- Do not disable TLS inspection or certificate validation as a shortcut; restore trust for the required hosts instead.
A separate lifecycle date: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro
Microsoft’s September 8, 2026 support notice sets October 13, 2026 as the end of updates for Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions. That is a servicing lifecycle event and has nothing to do with the 2027 certificate rotation. Do not record October 13, 2026 as the certificate deadline for these editions. Devices on these editions still need a plan for upgrading to a supported release.
In short, the first task for any fleet is a per-device inventory of Windows release, minimum update level, and update delivery method. The deadline then follows from the row that matches each device.
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