diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index f6a8a7cd..a2f8ae03 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@
         "prettier": "^3.0.0",
         "ts-jest": "^29.1.1",
         "typescript": "^5.2.2"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=24.0.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@aashutoshrathi/word-wrap": {
@@ -679,6 +676,48 @@
         "node": ">=6.9.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@inquirer/external-editor": {
+      "version": "1.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@inquirer/external-editor/-/external-editor-1.0.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Oau4yL24d2B5IL4ma4UpbQigkVhzPDXLoqy1ggK4gnHg/stmkffJE4oOXHXF3uz0UEpywG68KcyXsyYpA1Re/Q==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "chardet": "^2.1.0",
+        "iconv-lite": "^0.6.3"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=18"
+      },
+      "peerDependencies": {
+        "@types/node": ">=18"
+      },
+      "peerDependenciesMeta": {
+        "@types/node": {
+          "optional": true
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@inquirer/external-editor/node_modules/chardet": {
+      "version": "2.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/chardet/-/chardet-2.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-bNFETTG/pM5ryzQ9Ad0lJOTa6HWD/YsScAR3EnCPZRPlQh77JocYktSHOUHelyhm8IARL+o4c4F1bP5KVOjiRA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
+    "node_modules/@inquirer/external-editor/node_modules/iconv-lite": {
+      "version": "0.6.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/iconv-lite/-/iconv-lite-0.6.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-4fCk79wshMdzMp2rH06qWrJE4iolqLhCUH+OiuIgU++RB0+94NlDL81atO7GX55uUKueo0txHNtvEyI6D7WdMw==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "safer-buffer": ">= 2.1.2 < 3.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=0.10.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@isaacs/cliui": {
       "version": "8.0.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@isaacs/cliui/-/cliui-8.0.2.tgz",
@@ -8312,17 +8351,17 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/inquirer": {
-      "version": "8.2.6",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/inquirer/-/inquirer-8.2.6.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-M1WuAmb7pn9zdFRtQYk26ZBoY043Sse0wVDdk4Bppr+JOXyQYybdtvK+l9wUibhtjdjvtoiNy8tk+EgsYIUqKg==",
+      "version": "8.2.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/inquirer/-/inquirer-8.2.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-UjOaSel/iddGZJ5xP/Eixh6dY1XghiBw4XK13rCCIJcJfyhhoul/7KhLLUGtebEj6GDYM6Vnx/mVsjx2L/mFIA==",
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
+        "@inquirer/external-editor": "^1.0.0",
         "ansi-escapes": "^4.2.1",
         "chalk": "^4.1.1",
         "cli-cursor": "^3.1.0",
         "cli-width": "^3.0.0",
-        "external-editor": "^3.0.3",
         "figures": "^3.0.0",
         "lodash": "^4.17.21",
         "mute-stream": "0.0.8",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6aabf321..4b168242 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "root",
   "private": true, 
-  "engines": {
-    "node": ">=24.0.0"
-  },
   "scripts": {
     "audit-all": "lerna run audit-moderate",
     "bootstrap": "lerna exec -- npm install",
diff --git a/packages/cache/package-lock.json b/packages/cache/package-lock.json
index c78d56b4..1944bbde 100644
--- a/packages/cache/package-lock.json
+++ b/packages/cache/package-lock.json
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@
         "@types/node": "^24.1.0",
         "@types/semver": "^6.0.0",
         "typescript": "^5.2.2"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=24.0.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/core": {
diff --git a/packages/cache/package.json b/packages/cache/package.json
index b8ae9105..e2900040 100644
--- a/packages/cache/package.json
+++ b/packages/cache/package.json
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@
   "version": "4.0.5",
   "preview": true,
   "description": "Actions cache lib",
-  "engines": {
-    "node": ">=24.0.0"
-  },
   "keywords": [
     "github",
     "actions",
diff --git a/packages/core/package-lock.json b/packages/core/package-lock.json
index 2ca99ef2..1f2b8887 100644
--- a/packages/core/package-lock.json
+++ b/packages/core/package-lock.json
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/node": "^24.1.0"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">=24.0.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@actions/exec": {
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index 4cef6d77..35481cb8 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
   "name": "@actions/core",
   "version": "1.11.1",
   "description": "Actions core lib",
-  "engines": {
-    "node": ">=24.0.0"
-  },
   "keywords": [
     "github",
     "actions",
diff --git a/packages/io/__tests__/io.test.ts b/packages/io/__tests__/io.test.ts
index c05be13f..87f7c7b0 100644
--- a/packages/io/__tests__/io.test.ts
+++ b/packages/io/__tests__/io.test.ts
@@ -643,9 +643,10 @@ describe('rmRF', () => {
       })
     ).toBe('test file content')
     if (os.platform() === 'win32') {
-      expect(await fs.readlink(symlinkLevel2Directory)).toBe(
-        `${symlinkDirectory}\\`
-      )
+      // Node.js 24 changed behavior - fs.readlink no longer includes trailing backslash
+      // Accept both formats for compatibility
+      const linkPath = await fs.readlink(symlinkLevel2Directory)
+      expect(linkPath.replace(/\\+$/, '')).toBe(symlinkDirectory.replace(/\\+$/, ''))
     } else {
       expect(await fs.readlink(symlinkLevel2Directory)).toBe(symlinkDirectory)
     }