Tuesday 13 October 2026 brought the last security fixes for two things many small businesses still use: Windows 11 version 24H2 (Home and Pro) and Office 2021. Apple has also just fixed a flaw that was used in attacks. Here’s what to check now.
What’s happened
Microsoft released the Windows 11 2026 Update, version 26H2, on 29 September. On PCs already running version 24H2 or 25H2 it installs as a small update, much like the monthly ones, rather than a full upgrade. Microsoft supports 26H2 on Home and Pro until October 2028.
Windows 11 Home and Pro version 24H2 reached the end of its support on 13 October 2026, so the security updates released that day were its last. PCs left on 24H2 now stop getting fixes.
Office 2021 also reached the end of its support on 13 October. That covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and the other Office 2021 apps bought as a one-off purchase, on both Windows and Mac, along with the volume-licence (LTSC) versions. The apps keep working, but bug fixes and security fixes stop.
On 28 September Apple released iOS and iPadOS 26.7.1, macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.8.1. All four fix a flaw in the way devices handle images and files, which Apple says may have been used in an “extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals” on versions of iOS before iOS 27.
What it means for your business
A PC or copy of Office that no longer gets security fixes is one of the easiest ways in for criminals, often through a booby-trapped document or email attachment. It also matters for Cyber Essentials, which requires the software you use to be supported and kept up to date.
Phones count too. They hold work email and the authenticator apps your team uses to sign in, so an out-of-date iPhone is a business risk, not just a personal one.
What to do now
- Check the Windows version on each PC: press the Windows key, type winver and press Enter. Anything showing 24H2 needs updating to 25H2 or 26H2.
- Try the Windows update on one PC first to make sure your business software still works, then roll it out to the rest.
- Check your Office version: in Word, go to File, then Account. If it says Office 2021, plan a move to a supported version, such as the apps included with a Microsoft 365 business plan.
- Update iPhones, iPads and Macs used for work, and switch on automatic updates so the next fix installs without anyone having to remember.
Sources
- BleepingComputer: Windows 11 2026 Update released (29 September 2026)
- Microsoft Lifecycle: Windows 11 Home and Pro (29 September 2026)
- Office Watch: October 2026 Office changes (22 September 2026)
- Apple: About the security content of iOS 26.7.1 and iPadOS 26.7.1 (28 September 2026)
- Help Net Security: Apple fixes exploited CoreGraphics flaw (29 September 2026)
Details are correct at the time of writing. Check the sources above for any later changes.
Want us to check this for your business? Call 01787 209 003, see our managed IT support service, or book a free IT consultation.