Home windows 11 was first launched in October 2021, however Microsoft has been making fixed additions and adjustments to its OS since then.
The corporate started including new options inside weeks, earlier than a number of new performance was added in a February 2022 replace. However Home windows 11 solely formally will get one main replace per yr, mirrored within the official title for its newest function replace: merely the ‘2022 Replace’, moderately than the ’22H2′ we’d have been anticipating.
It’s been obtainable for a couple of months, so all Home windows 11 gadgets can set up it now. Your system could also be up to date routinely, however a newer non-obligatory replace has been doing extra hurt than good on some gadgets. Right here’s every thing you’ll want to know.
When was the Home windows 11 22H2 Replace launched?
Following loads of hypothesis and weeks of testing through the Home windows Insider Program, Microsoft formally launched the 2022 Replace on 20 September 2022. In a weblog publish, the corporate confirmed its availability in additional than 190 international locations world wide.
A gradual rollout to all Home windows 11 gadgets was accomplished quickly after, so it’s best to have the ability to set up model 22H2 if you happen to haven’t already. It’s not essential but, although, with 2021’s 21H2 replace supported till October 2023.
Nonetheless, Microsoft determined in January 2023 that not everybody will get that selection. In a 21H2 assist doc, the corporate confirmed that it will “start to routinely replace shopper and non-managed enterprise gadgets operating Home windows 11, model 21H2 Dwelling and Professional editions to Home windows 11, model 22H2”.
This can depend on computerized updates (which you’ll be able to flip off) and would require a restart which you’ll be able to postpone indefinitely, however it nonetheless feels pointless. It’s value putting in, however that doesn’t imply it’s best to should.
You could have now put in October 2022 replace, with tabs in File Explorer considered one of a number of new options. However an non-obligatory January 2023 replace (KB5022360) must be averted on all Intel gadgets – it’s inflicting app crashes on all current variations of Home windows 11 and 10, though potential fixes can be found.
Model 22H2 is considered step one in Microsoft’s new ‘Second’ method to updates, which can see new options added ever few months moderately than abruptly. In accordance with rumours, that will imply a 23H2 replace in 2023, then Home windows 12 launched in 2024.
The right way to get the Home windows 11 22H2 replace now
The 2022 Replace is obtainable for all Home windows 11 gadgets, and it’s best to have the ability to set up it now. To verify, simply head to Settings > Home windows Replace and click on ‘Verify for updates’ such as you usually would. You could have to put in any present updates earlier than it exhibits up.
But when it’s not displaying up, otherwise you’d wish to have entry to Home windows 11 options earlier than most of the people, go through the Home windows Insider Program. It’s utterly free to enroll, and you may decide out at any time.
Simply head to insider.home windows.com and register with the identical Microsoft account you utilize in your Home windows 11 system. Then open Settings > Home windows Replace > Home windows Insider Program and click on ‘Get began’. Comply with the directions there, ensuring you hyperlink the right account.
Be taught extra in our separate article on the best way to set up the 22H2 replace.
The Launch Preview channel is okay for the 22H2 replace, however you may get early entry to imminent options through the Beta channel. The Dev channel is way more experimental, so solely use it if you wish to take a look at out new options of their early levels of growth – bugs and different points are seemingly.
To modify between them or decide out utterly, simply click on the drop-down subsequent to ‘Select your Insider settings’ or choose ‘Go away the insider program’, then comply with the directions.
Are all Home windows 11 gadgets suitable with the 22H2 replace?
Sure. Microsoft controversially up to date the {hardware} necessities for Home windows 11, excluding loads of older {hardware}. We wouldn’t count on that to vary till the subsequent main model of Home windows – that could be Home windows 12, and it’s rumoured to reach in 2024.
In case you put in Home windows 11 on a suitable system utilizing an formally supported methodology, the 22H2 replace ought to have already been delivered to your system. If not, go through the Home windows Insider Program as a substitute.
Nonetheless, the state of affairs is way much less clear if you happen to’ve downloaded Home windows 11 on a tool that’s not formally supported by Microsoft. The 2022 Replace is unlikely to ever be delivered to your system, so that you’ll want to put in it manually through the Microsoft Replace Catalog.
What new options does the Home windows 11 22H2 replace embrace?
Microsoft has been teasing new Home windows 11 options all through 2022, lots of which have been obtainable to check through the Home windows Insider Program. However in a weblog publish asserting the 2022 Replace, the complete vary was revealed.
Accessibility has lengthy been a precedence for Microsoft, and this replace goals to make Home windows 11 even simpler to make use of. The ‘Pinned’ space inside Begin menu can now be resized and helps folders, whereas Widgets have supposedly been tweaked to enhance information protection.
Each these apps are within the taskbar by default, so will profit from one other key function: drag-and-drop. This was eliminated with the introduction of Home windows 11 after being a staple of Home windows 10, however it’s nice to see its return now.
However probably the most vital accessibility function is Reside Captions. Because the title suggests, this will routinely generate captions from any audio content material you play all through Home windows 11.
Microsoft
The 2022 Replace provides a preview of the Voice Entry, which permits you management your whole system and compose textual content utilizing simply your voice. Narrator, Home windows 11’s display reader function, has additionally been up to date with voices that are designed to be extra pure.
Home windows 11’s Snap Layouts multitasking function has been an actual hit, permitting customers to simply prepare home windows on a display of any dimension. The 2022 Replace makes it simpler to make use of with contact enter and provides assist for particular person tabs inside Microsoft’s Edge browser.
Speaking of contact enter, the 2022 Replace introduces a number of new touchscreen gestures that enhance navigation with no cursor and keyboard. Swiping up from the underside of the display opens the Begin menu, whereas swiping in from the suitable allows you to entry Fast Settings. Utilizing three fingers, you may also swipe right down to minimise apps and left or proper to maneuver between open ones. That is just like what you’ll discover on iPads and Android tablets, and it exhibits that Microsoft is taking contact enter severely.
That will help you keep on activity, Home windows 11’s Focus Help function is now instantly built-in into the Fast Settings menu. Once you begin a timer right here, Do Not Disturb will routinely be enabled, turning off all notifications (besides these you particularly enable).
Video calls stay essential to many individuals, one thing Microsoft has recognised. Whether or not you utilize the built-in webcam or join an exterior accent, the Settings menu contains new choices to get issues trying good – number of totally different ‘Digicam Results’ can be found. Individually, a ‘Voice Focus’ function makes use of AI to filter out background noise.
Microsoft
In case you’re modifying video that’s been captured, Home windows 11 has a brand new built-in app that will help you do this. Clipchamp is free to make use of for video as much as 1080p, though there are many premium options obtainable if you happen to’re prepared to pay $11.99/£9.99 per thirty days.
Gaming and Home windows 11 go hand in hand, so it’s no shock to see a separate Xbox weblog publish on the 2022 Replace’s new options. They embrace a brand new Controller Bar for simple entry to not too long ago performed video games and launchers utilizing a controller, plus enhancements to the Xbox Cloud Gaming expertise utilizing Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft
Elsewhere, Auto HDR and variable refresh charge (VRR) are being expanded to assist video games that aren’t operating full display, alongside vital enhancements to show latency. There’s additionally a brand new HDR Calibration app to assist enhance color accuracy and consistency.
Safety updates have been maybe inevitable, they usually embrace a brand new Good App Management function which can stop untrusted apps from launching. There are nonetheless methods to make use of them, in fact, however this warning might be essential. Equally, Microsoft Defender’s new SmartScreen can alert customers when Microsoft credentials are being entered right into a web site or service that may’t be trusted.
For individuals who pay for Microsoft 365, there’s additionally the choice to handle your subscription inside Settings. That is the place you possibly can add cost info and see while you’ll subsequent be charged, moderately than having to go through the web site.
Inside Settings, you’ll additionally discover a new Household Security web page and the choice to have the Bing each day picture as your desktop wallpaper.
That is under no circumstances an exhaustive checklist of all the brand new options within the 2022 Replace. But it surely offers an thought of what to anticipate – for most individuals, that is positively value downloading.
Offered you haven’t been prevented from doing so, that’s. In November 2022, Microsoft put a short lived compatibility maintain on some gadgets following experiences of gaming efficiency points. These have been believed to have been linked to the replace, however the issue has now been solved.
Be taught extra in our separate article: Why you won’t have the ability to set up Home windows 11’s 22H2 replace proper now
Tabs in File Explorer have been then added in a subsequent October 2023 replace, alongside new ‘Instructed Actions’ and taskbar enhancements. Nonetheless, it hasn’t been plain crusing for among the early adopters. As Home windows Newest experiences, a number of points have already been reported through the Home windows Suggestions Hub.
