Software Updates in Autumn 2026: Windows, macOS, Linux and Apps at a Glance
Image: KK IN HK / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: Autumn 2026 brings many important software updates. macOS 27 "Golden Gate" has been available since 14 September and only runs on Macs with Apple silicon. Ubuntu 26.10 arrived on 15 October with Linux kernel 7.3 and GNOME 51. If you still use Windows 10, ESU provides security updates until 12 October 2027. For Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro, the October update KB5127648 was the last one. And since 14 October, WhatsApp lets you call people without an account.
At a glance
| System or app | Change | Date |
|---|---|---|
| macOS 27 Golden Gate | Apple silicon only, Siri AI not yet in the EU | 14 September 2026 |
| Windows 11 (KB5127648) | Security update, last one for 24H2 Home and Pro | 13 October 2026 |
| Ubuntu 26.10 | Kernel 7.3, GNOME 51, Rust coreutils | 15 October 2026 |
| Link calls with up to 32 people | 14 October 2026 | |
| Windows 10 ESU | Security updates extended | until 12 October 2027 |
Data from Apple, Microsoft, Canonical and Meta, as cited in our individual articles.
The details
Read our guides to the October Windows patch, the Windows 10 ESU extension, which is free in the European Economic Area with a Microsoft account and costs about 30 euros otherwise, macOS 27 Golden Gate, Ubuntu 26.10, which is supported until July 2027, and the new WhatsApp features, including end-to-end encrypted guest calls.
Why it matters
Updates are not just about new features. Above all, they close security holes. Once a version reaches the end of support, as Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro now has, it no longer receives fixes, so staying on it becomes risky. Intel Macs will not get macOS 27 and stay on macOS 26 Tahoe. In everyday use, macOS 27 adds Safari tab grouping and natural-language shortcuts, and Ubuntu 26.10 adds a driver page in the App Center.
What to do now
Check your Windows 11 version under Settings, System, About; if it says 24H2, move to 25H2 or 26H2. Windows 10 users should enrol in ESU and plan their switch before October 2027. Mac owners with Apple silicon can install macOS 27 after making a backup. For everyday Linux use, Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is the safer choice. Keep automatic updates on for your system, browser and apps, because updates mainly close security holes that attackers would otherwise exploit. More articles are in our software category.
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