Windows 11 23H2 Archives

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that! PCs refuse to shutdown after Microsoft patch

Microsoft's January Patch Tuesday update has caused shutdown and hibernation issues for some Windows 11 23H2 users, with devices refusing to power down despite user commands. The problem is linked to the Secure Launch feature, which prevents shutdown, restart, and hibernation attempts from functioning correctly. Microsoft has suggested a workaround using the command "shutdown /s /t 0" to force shutdown. They have not disclosed how many devices are affected or provided a timeline for a fix. Additionally, there is a separate issue affecting classic Outlook POP account profiles that may freeze or hang after the update.

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January 1, 2026

Microsoft’s 2026 end-of-support wave includes Windows 11 24H2, Office 2021, and more

Microsoft will discontinue support for Windows 11 24H2 on October 4, 2026. Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise support ends on November 10, 2026. Office 2021 support will conclude on October 13, 2026. Upgrading from Office 2021 to Office 2024 will require purchasing a new license. The following products will also lose support in 2026: .NET 9 (November 10), .NET 8 (November 10), PowerShell 7.4 (November 10), and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 (October 13).

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November 14, 2025

Microsoft begins force upgrading some PCs to Windows 11 25H2, as the roll out expands

Microsoft has expanded the rollout of Windows 11 25H2, making it available to all users who actively seek the upgrade. For users on Windows 11 versions 23H2, 22H2, or 21H1, the upgrade to 25H2 will be auto-installed, especially as version 23H2 has reached its end-of-life on November 11. Windows 10 users will not be forced to upgrade to Windows 11 25H2; they can choose to upgrade when prompted. Windows 11 25H2 is available as an optional upgrade for Windows 10 users, marking a change from previous practices.

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November 13, 2025

Still on Windows 11 23H2? Microsoft will soon force you to upgrade to 25H2 – for your own good

Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 11 version 23H2 will end on November 11, 2025, meaning that Home and Pro editions will no longer receive security updates. Users are encouraged to upgrade to version 25H2 to maintain security and access new features. Devices running version 23H2 that are not managed by IT departments will receive the 25H2 update automatically, although users can postpone the update temporarily. However, users with older hardware may be unable to upgrade due to lack of support for essential instructions required for newer versions. Alternatives for those unable to upgrade include reverting to Windows 10, which has extended support until October 2026, or transitioning to Linux.

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November 12, 2025

Microsoft: Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro reach end of support

Microsoft has announced that security updates for the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 23H2 will cease as of November 11, 2025. The last available update for these editions will be the November 2025 monthly security update. In contrast, the Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions of Windows 11 23H2 will remain under mainstream support until November 2026. Users are encouraged to upgrade to Windows 11 25H2, which became available in September 2025 and will receive support until October 2027. Eligible devices can check for the update in the Windows Update settings, and for unmanaged devices, the update will be applied automatically.

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November 12, 2025

Windows 11 KB5068861 & KB5068865 cumulative updates released

Microsoft has released cumulative updates KB5068861 and KB5068865 for Windows 11 versions 25H2, 24H2, and 23H2, addressing critical security vulnerabilities, bugs, and introducing new features. The updates are mandatory and include the November 2025 Patch Tuesday security patches. Users can install the updates via Start > Settings > Windows Update or download them from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The build number for Windows 11 25H2 will change to Build 26200.7019, and 23H2 will update to 226x1.6050. New features include: - A revamped Start menu UI allowing removal of the Recommended feed. - Updated lock screen battery icons with color indicators and battery percentage. - A dedicated Microsoft 365 Copilot page for commercial devices. - Rebranding of the “Email & accounts” section to “Your accounts.” - Refreshed taskbar battery icons with clearer visual cues. - New Administrator Protection Preview feature for safeguarding admin rights. - API support for NIST post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Fixed issues include: - Taskbar app icon hover behavior. - Display issues in apps and browsers. - Context menu behavior in File Explorer. - Pen and handwriting input responsiveness. - Narrator launch issues during Windows setup. - Performance improvements in taskbar loading after sleep. This update is the final release for Windows 11 23H2, as support for this version ends today, and no optional updates will be released in December.

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October 11, 2025

Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro reach end of support in 30 days

Microsoft announced that the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 23H2 will reach the end of servicing on November 11, 2025, with the last security update being the November 2025 monthly update. After this date, these editions will no longer receive security updates. Users are encouraged to upgrade to Windows 11 24H2, which became generally available in October 2024. The transition to Windows 11 24H2 will occur automatically for unmanaged Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 22H2 or 23H2, though some devices may not be eligible due to a safeguard hold. Support for Windows 11 22H2 will conclude on October 14. The Windows 11 2025 Update (25H2) was released on September 10 and is available for eligible Windows 11 24H2 devices.

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September 24, 2025

Windows 11 KB5065790 23H2 released, direct download links (.msu)

Windows 11 KB5065790 is being rolled out for version 23H2, focusing on bug fixes and signaling the end of service for this version on November 11, 2025. This update does not introduce new features. Users can manually install the optional update via the settings app or use an offline installer file (.msu) if they encounter issues. The update resolves login issues for users with SIM-type authentication and disconnection problems during Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions. Additionally, an Out-of-band update for Windows 11 24H2 addresses urgent issues, excluding SMB protocol problems, and resolves issues affecting Microsoft Office applications in App-V environments, as well as bugs in Microsoft Edge and printer queue UI crashes. The SMB file sharing issue remains unresolved in the OOB update for 24H2.

Winsage

September 12, 2025

Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro reach end of support in 60 days

Microsoft will stop providing updates for the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 23H2 on November 11, 2025. In contrast, the Enterprise and Education editions will continue to receive updates until November 10, 2026. Users are encouraged to upgrade to Windows 11 24H2, which became available in October 2024. Microsoft has implemented safeguard holds for the upgrade to address compatibility issues with certain drivers and software. As of July 2025, 59.9% of gamers are using Windows 11, and it has surpassed Windows 10 in market share, with over 53% of Windows systems running Windows 11. The last supported Windows 11 22H2 editions will reach their end of servicing on October 14.

Winsage

September 10, 2025

Windows 11 KB5065431 23H2 released, direct download links (.msu)

KB5065431 is the latest security update for Windows 11 23H2 devices, being rolled out as a reminder that this version will reach its end of life on November 11, 2025. Microsoft is migrating eligible 23H2 Home and Pro edition PCs to Windows 11 24H2, but the rollout was temporarily paused due to around a dozen reported errors, some linked to app compatibility issues. Most barriers to upgrading have now been resolved, allowing the automatic upgrade process to begin. The Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 23H2 have an extended support timeline until November 10, 2026. The KB5065431 update will automatically install on PCs, or users can manually install it using the offline update installer file (.msu). The Windows 11 22631.5909 build includes important fixes but no new functionalities, addressing issues like NDI streaming performance and enhancing security for SMB shares. It also introduces a UAC prompt for administrator credentials during certain operations, which can be disabled by administrators via group policy.