Every version of Windows reaches its end of life one day. For Windows 11, it's two years later for consumer-based versions of the operating system.
When a version of Windows 11 expires, a few things can happen:
- Microsoft no longer releases security updates or any other updates for this version.
- Microsoft may force the system to upgrade to a newer version that is still supported.
This process is very useful for most customers. Systems that are no longer supported may have unpatched security issues that threat actors could exploit. This is especially true for systems that are regularly online.
For some customers, the question arises of remaining in control of upgrading when they wish. It may be a question of timing or testing. Whatever the reason, they do not want their systems to be upgraded automatically.
Windows 11, versions 21H2 and 22H2 affected
Microsoft Confirmed today Systems running the original release version of Windows 11 or the first feature update version will be automatically upgraded next month.
Why two versions?
- Windows 11, version 21H2 applies only to enterprise, education, and IoT enterprise systems.
- Windows 11, version 22H2 applies to Home and Pro systems only.
When is this going to happen?
The October 2024 update will be the last for the mentioned versions. They will receive the last batch of security updates on October 8, 2024.
After October 8, 2024, Windows Update will automatically download and install Windows 11, version 23H2 on those devices.
Are there any exceptions?
Forced updates are only installed on devices that are not managed. Managed means devices that are mostly managed by IT departments.
There may be other exceptions:
- Devices that don't meet Windows 11 system requirements.
- Devices on which Windows Update is disabled or configured to block automatic updates.
Closing words
It is quite easy to upgrade Windows to the new version manually. All you need to do is open Start > Settings > Windows Update and activate the Check for Updates button. If a new version is available, it should be listed. You can then proceed to download and install it on the device.
If that doesn’t work for any reason, you can download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or Windows 11 installation media From Microsoft,
Windows 11, version 23H2 introduced Copilot on the system. The AI feature offers almost identical functionality to the web-based Copilot chat. Still, at least from a Windows user's perspective, it's disappointing. Other changes include the new Windows Backup app, which only backs up specific folders and data, and a few smaller changes.
What version of Windows do you run on your device? Is there a specific reason for this? Feel free to comment below.
Thanks for reading..
