Microsoft Extends Availability of Optional Updates for Windows 11 version 22H2

Windows 11 2022 Update

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft has decided to extend the deadline for delivering non-security optional updates for Windows 11 version 22H2 beyond the previously communicated date of February 2024.
  • Users of Windows 11 version 22H2 will now have access to non-security updates until June 2024.
  • This decision comes in response to user feedback, allowing more customers to benefit from continuous innovations before transitioning to receiving only cumulative monthly security updates.

Microsoft is backtracking on its plans to block non-security optional updates for Windows 11 version 22H2 beyond February 2024. The company has quietly extended the deadline for delivering these updates to both consumers and enterprise customers.

Essentially, Microsoft releases optional Windows updates during the fourth week of each month. These updates are non-critical for system functionality and focus instead on performance enhancements, feature improvements, and bug fixes. Users can manually review and select the updates they want to install on Windows PCs.

Microsoft intends to release optional updates for Windows 11 version 22H2 until June 26, 2024. This means non-security patches will remain accessible for Windows 11 22H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions until mid-2024. Additionally, Windows 11 22H2 Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and Enterprise multi-session editions will continue to receive these updates until June 24, 2025.

“After these dates, only cumulative monthly security updates will continue for the supported editions of Windows 11, version 22H2. The initial date communicated for this change was February 27, 2024. Based on user feedback, this date has been changed so more customers can take advantage of our continuous innovations,” Microsoft explained in a support document.

Windows 11 version 22H2 to reach end of support in October

Microsoft will release monthly security updates for Windows 11 version 22H2 until October of this year. The company will end support for the Home and Pro editions of the operating system on October 8.

Last week, Microsoft began automatically updating eligible PCs to Windows 11 version 23H2. This update was released in October 2023, bringing several minor changes for Windows 11 users. These include a new Copilot AI assistant, a Systems Components page in Settings, and a “system” label for system components in the Start Menu’s All apps view. Microsoft plans to provide mainstream support for Windows 11 version 23H2 until November 11, 2025.