This guide is for a shopkeeper or small business owner who runs billing, GST or stock software on one or more Windows 11 desktops and has seen a notice about 13 October. You do not need to be technical. You can find out which version each desktop runs, decide whether it needs to move, and plan the update so that the shop keeps working and the data stays safe.
What happens to my office desktop on 13 October?
Short answer: If a desktop runs Windows 11 version 24H2 (Home or Pro), Microsoft stops sending it security and quality updates after 13 October 2026. The computer will not switch off or stop working that day. It simply stops receiving fixes, so it should be moved to a newer version through Windows Update before then, or soon after.
Which version is on each desktop?
Windows 11 comes in yearly versions with names like 24H2 (the version released in the second half of 2024). Press the Windows key and R together, type winver and press Enter. A small box shows the Version number. You can also open Settings, System, About and look under Windows specifications. The wording can differ slightly between versions.
Write the result for every desktop on a sheet of paper: counter PC, back-office PC, any spare machine. Note the edition too, Home or Pro, because the dates below are for those two.
Which versions are supported, and until when?
Windows 11 26H2 is delivered as a small enablement package (a quick switch-on of features already sent to your PC), and Microsoft is rolling it out in phases, so your desktop may not be offered it on day one. Version 26H1 is a different release meant only for new Snapdragon X2 devices. It is not offered to existing desktops, so ignore any 26H1 headline.
Enterprise and Education editions of 24H2 are supported until 12 October 2027. A typical shop PC runs Home or Pro, so plan for 13 October.
How do I move a desktop to the newer version?
Step 1: Back up first
Copy your billing data, stock files, Tally or GST folders and photos to an external drive. A backup that you have never opened is only a hope, so open one file from the drive to confirm it works. Our guide on testing a backup with a restore shows how.
Step 2: Run Windows Update
Open Settings, Windows Update, and choose Check for updates. If the newer version is offered, accept it. Do not switch the desktop off while it says it is installing updates. If it is not offered yet, wait a few days and check again rather than forcing it with tools from the internet.
Step 3: Check the shop software afterwards
Open the billing program, print one test bill and confirm the printer and barcode scanner still work. Then move to the next desktop. Doing one machine at a time means the shop is never fully stopped.
Power cuts, UPS and updates in a shop
Power cuts and voltage dips are a real risk. A cut in the middle of a Windows update can leave a desktop that will not start, so plug the PC into a UPS and run updates when the shop is quiet, not during the evening rush. Large updates also need steady broadband; a weak connection can stall the download for hours. Dust and humidity in monsoon months add stress to older desktops, so an update is a good moment for a clean-up too. See desktop case airflow for Indian summers for simple tips.
When to get help
Ask a technician if any of these apply.
- The desktop restarts again and again after an update and never reaches the desktop screen.
- Windows Update shows an error or never offers a newer version.
- The computer is very old or slow and you are unsure whether it should be updated or replaced.
- You have no backup and the billing data matters.
Our desktop repair service covers these cases. Any quote comes after diagnosis and is shared for your approval before any work begins. In Hyderabad we can visit your shop through our doorstep service, with ₹149 doorstep visit fee, waived when you approve laptop repair with us. Outside Hyderabad, we accept machines by courier.
A note from the LRW Engineer Team
Do not leave the update for the last evening. Pick a quiet day this week, back up the data, and update the least important desktop first. If it goes smoothly, repeat on the counter PC the next quiet morning. A calm, planned update is far safer than a rushed one before a busy day.