Windows
Windows
Today, the release and availability of the Windows 11 2022 Update, the latest version of Windows 11. Windows is a key component of how more than a billion people connect, learn, play and work. In this blog I’ll share how to get the 2022 Update (also known as Windows 11, version 22H21), details on our approach to delivering continuous innovation including improvements to the update experience, and information for commercial and education customers.
How to get the update
Starting today, the first major update to Windows 11 is now available for users who want to update. Our launch approach to Windows 11 leverages our well-established update systems and processes. The measured and phased rollout will offer the update via Windows Update when data shows that your device is ready, as our objective is to provide a quality update experience. We will initially ramp up the offering availability in the first weeks as we monitor quality signals. If we detect that your device may have an issue, such as an application incompatibility, we may put a safeguard hold in place and not offer the update until that issue is resolved. To learn more about the status of the Windows 11 rollout, safeguard holds and which holds may be applied to your device, visit . .Windows 11 devices
Users with eligible devices running Windows 11, version 21H2 who are interested in experiencing the latest feature update and are ready to install this release on their device can choose to do so by opening Windows Update settings (Settings > Windows Update) and selecting Check for updates2. For more information on the 2022 Update experience for Windows 11 devices, .Windows 10 devices
If you are running Windows 10 today, you can check to see if your device is eligible (i.e., ) to upgrade using the . You can then check to see if Windows 11, version 22H2 is ready for your specific device by opening Windows Update settings (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) and selecting Check for updates3,4. If your device is eligible and the upgrade is ready, the option to download and install will appear: If you are ready to install Windows 11, simply select Download and install5,6. For more information on the Windows 11 upgrade experience for Window 10 devices, .Delivering continuous innovation and value
Our delivery approach leverages used for the +1.4 billion Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices we have shipped and serviced over the past six years. Windows 11 will continue to have an annual feature update cadence, released in the second half of the calendar year that marks the start of , with 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions and 36 months of support for Enterprise and Education editions. We are committed to delivering continuous innovation by releasing new features into Windows 11 via our servicing technology (like a monthly update) and Microsoft Store updates, in addition to our annual update process. Our goal is to provide you with the best experiences year-round, when new features are ready based on quality and reliability, via our familiar processes. Today we are also announcing that a new set of experiences including the Tabbed File explorer, considered a component of the 2022 Update for all editions, will be ready this October. We will share more information and documentation when we initially make these features available. We plan a phased rollout timed with the October optional non-security preview release for these features and then they will be made broadly available in the November 2022 security update release7. Going forward we will continue to announce, document and deliver new features and experiences when they are ready (). We have listened to feedback on the overall Windows Update experience and are excited to announce two substantial improvements to the update experience for both feature and monthly updates for the Windows 11 2022 Update.- Smaller and faster installation of updates: We have significantly reduced the download size of feature updates, by ~450MB for many users. We’ve also reduced download and installation time of the monthly cumulative update, as well as reclaimed hundreds of megabytes of disk footprint to give back to the user. .
- Windows Update and carbon awareness: Windows will try to schedule update installations at specific times of day when doing so may result in lower carbon emissions. Many electrical grids are powered by multiple sources, including renewables and fossil fuels. When available, Windows 11 will now prioritize installing updates in the background at times when greater amounts of clean energy sources (like wind, solar and hydro) are available ().