Microsoft Releases Windows 11 Version 22H2 on the Release Preview Channel

Microsoft has just announced that Windows 11 version 22H2, the next major update for Windows 11 is now available for commercial devices in the Release Preview channel. The update is also available for any Windows Insider in the Release Preview Channel who manually check for updates in Windows Update.

Microsoft chose the Windows 11 build 22621 as the final 22H2 build, and it will keep receiving new servicing updates until Windows 11 version 22H2 is ready to roll out to the general public. There’s no release date yet for Windows 11 version 22H2, but it should become available for non-Insiders later this fall.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Curiously, today’s blog post from the Windows Insider team didn’t mention what’s new in Windows 11 version 22H2, but here are the main highlights:

File Explorer changes: The app is getting a new Home view, a new “pinned files” section in the Quick Access area, as well as a better OneDrive integration.

App Folders in Start Menu: The pinned section of the Start Menu now allow users to create app folders.

Taskbar improvements: The Windows 11 Taskbar is getting drag and drop support, a feature that was curiously removed in the original version of Windows 11.

Redesigned Task Manager: The app has received a fresh coat of paint and now has a left sidebar for navigation.

System-wide Live Captions: This new accessibility feature will be able to create live captions for any audio content that’s being played on Windows 11.

Windows Spotlight: The feature that automatically refreshes your lock screen wallpaper is now available on the desktop as well.

That’s just a short list of the new features coming in Windows 11 version 22H2, and we’ll take a closer look at the biggest changes very soon. If you want to do a clean install, Microsoft also released ISOs for the Windows 11 build 22621 and you can download them on the company’s website.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 7 comments

  • Detective Polarphant

    07 June, 2022 - 3:20 pm

    <p>I’ve been on Windows 10 Release Preview for years – and just received the offer to upgrade t <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Windows 11 version 22H2 today when I checked for updates – just as this article describes.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The curious thing is that since it’s an old computer it’s not eligible for Windows 10, and today the message that it’s not eligible disappeared from Windows update when the offer to upgrade t Windows 11 version 22H2 appeared.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Does this mean Microsoft is changing their requirements for Windows 11 eligibility? It seems that they might be, otherwise, why offer a release preview build to a computer they don’t want to support, since they couldn’t retrieve any useful telemetry from it?</span></p>

    • feek

      Premium Member
      07 June, 2022 - 3:52 pm

      <p>Interesting. I’m actually seeing the same thing on my Release Preview enrolled device that previously did not meet requirements</p>

    • irfaanwahid

      08 June, 2022 - 4:10 am

      <p>Interesting.. I have been looking for the same answers online but in vain. </p><p>I haven’t still upgraded to Windows 11 since I am running a 7th Gen processor and not sure what’s suddenly changed? I am on Insiders RP channel. </p><p>Will wait a day or so before upgrade it to 11.</p>

    • shadetc

      Premium Member
      08 June, 2022 - 8:43 am

      <p>I had the same thing happen, but when I attempted to install it, it ran the checker and failed the install. </p><p><br></p><p>I looked at my insider settings and it notes there that "Your PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. Your channel options will be limited"</p><p><br></p><p>So overall this seems to be more that someone messed up the settings on Insider Preview for Windows 10 machines.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • dftf

    07 June, 2022 - 4:10 pm

    <p>I wonder what the situation is thesedays for anyone running a 32-bit kernel install of Windows 10 that is enrolled into the Insider programme? As there is no 32-bit kernel versions of Windows 11 available, and no direct-upgrade from 32-bit versions of Windows to 64-bit ones, do those 32-bit Win10 devices continue to receive the Insider updates for Windows 10?</p>

  • Detective Polarphant

    07 June, 2022 - 4:50 pm

    <p>Yes, I think so. For Insider Release Preview Builds at least, you can upgrade to Windows 11 if you are running a 64- bit version of Windows 10, or carry on using Windows 10 Release Preview, for which you will still receive updates. If you’re running Windows 10 32-bit Release Preview, I think you wouldn’t be offered Windows 11, but you would continue to receive updates to <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Windows 10 32-bit Release Preview, since updates to Windows 10 will still need to be tested prior to release for the next few years.</span></p>

  • bassoprofundo

    Premium Member
    09 June, 2022 - 3:51 pm

    <p>Anyone else in Release Preview with supported hardware and not seeing this upgrade? Neither my laptop or desktop are getting this, and I enrolled both in RP yesterday. Still showing 21H2. I see a "A newer build is available in Windows Update" message in Windows Update -&gt; Windows Insider Program, but when I return and do a Check for Updates, nothing…</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC