When Microsoft first launched Windows 11 a year ago, it said it would only launch one major update for the operating system every year instead of two. Well, a year on, it’s time for Windows 11’s first major makeover – and it doesn’t disappoint.
There’s no single new feature in Windows 11 that’s going to blow your mind or make any of the Windows 10 holdouts suffer enormous pangs of regret. However, there are plenty of worthwhile tweaks and new features that make Windows 11 feel much more like a grown-up OS and less like Windows 10 with a new shopfront.
The update, named 22H2 to signify that it will be released in the second half of 2022, covers a lot of ground. There are major updates to Windows 11’s accessibility features, significant changes to the way Windows Explorer works, new features designed specifically for developers, and concerted attempts to make our PCs consume less energy – something that many will welcome amidst the current energy crisis. As sure as night follows day, Microsoft has also tweaked the Start menu. Again.
We’ve put the latest beta build of Windows 11 22H2 through its paces, testing the phalanx of new features and changes to the OS that have been made at the time of writing. It’s possible Microsoft may squeeze in a few more amendments before the final release, which is expected in late September or early October, so be on guard for any late additions or omissions.
Windows 11 isn’t the only Microsoft operating system to be getting an autumn refresh, either. Check what’s coming to Windows 10 on p79 to discover what you can expect for the legacy OS.
HOW TO GET THE 22H2 UPDATE TODAY
The 22H2 update will soon start rolling out to the general public, but to get it early head to Windows Update and sign up to be a Windows Insider. When prompted to choose your Insider channel, select “Release Preview” and then follow the prompts.
When you restart your PC, Windows should automatically install the latest preview build – at the time of writing, the Windows 11 22H2 update. To check it’s happening, head to Windows Update once again, where you should see “Windows 11, version 22H2, is available”. If it isn’t there, click “Check for updates”. You may need to wait a few minutes.
We probably don’t need to say this, but we will anyway: while the Release Preview is known to be stable, it still comes with risks. Back up your data, don’t load
