Windows 11 users with 21H2/22H2 will be forced to use 23H2
Microsoft is ending support for older Windows 11 versions. From October 2024, devices with Windows 11 versions 21H2 and 22H2 will be automatically updated to version 23H2. Microsoft has now clarified this in a support article.
End of support for older Windows 11 versions
Microsoft has made an important announcement for users of older versions of Windows 11. As the company Windows Health Dashboard (via Thurrott), support for Windows 11 version 21H2 (Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise) and version 22H2 (Home and Pro) will end on October 8, 2024. This primarily means that these versions will no longer receive monthly security updates after this date.
To ensure the security of the systems, Microsoft plans to automatically update all affected devices to Windows 11 version 23H2. This primarily affects unmanaged PCs, i.e. devices belonging to private users or those that are not supported and controlled by an IT department.
Differences between private and business users
For private users and small businesses, this means that their devices will be automatically updated to the latest supported version. Microsoft is relying on its tried and tested strategy of using the oldest supported version for forced updates.
The situation is a little more complex for managed devices in companies. These systems typically have a longer support cycle, and IT departments have more flexibility in scheduling updates. Although Microsoft also expects these customers to stay on supported versions of Windows, the responsibility for updating lies primarily with the IT department. Microsoft emphasizes that this step is necessary to ensure user security and productivity.
Looking to the future
While Microsoft is focusing on bringing older versions up to date, the next major update is already on the way. Windows 11 version 24H2 is also expected to be released in October 2024. We recently published an overview of the most important features of 24H2 in a large article. These forced updates are not new to Microsoft. The company already used a similar strategy with Windows 10 to reduce the fragmentation of the operating system and increase security.
However, this also led to criticism from users who wanted more control over their systems. For users who want more control over their updates, Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education offer the option of delaying updates to a certain extent. This can be especially important for companies and organizations that need to thoroughly test their systems before rolling out new versions.
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