The upcoming feature update for Windows 11 22H2 (“Sun Valley 2”), which already appeared as an official preview in the Release Preview channel for Windows 11 Insiders, is now simply called Windows 11 2022. Since Microsoft switched to the annual release cycle, renaming the current Windows Totally logical.
Windows 11 22H2 = Windows 11 2022
Like a Twitter user known for such posts Tweet embed It announced via SMS that Microsoft was in the process of changing the versioning of existing annual feature updates releases, which would give way to the new release cycle with feature drops (“moments”) over the medium term anyway. The update, which will start in the coming weeks, will be called Windows 11 2022.
The Startup program has been updated to mention the Windows 11 2022 Update. pic.twitter.com/yVNdF0HPId
– Xeno (@XenoPanther) August 22 2022
After updating Windows 11 Insider Preview with version 25182 or 22621, which is already based on the operating system previously known as Windows 11 22H2 also known as “Sun Valley 2”, the “First Steps” application reveals the name of the feature update and provides the new functions.
The rollout is expected to begin with a pre-release at the end of this month and will run until September or October of this year.
- Official name: Windows 11 2022
- Codename during development: Sun Valley 2
- The most important innovations:
- Beta version: From August 2022
- Release: From mid-September 2022
In addition to an expanded Start menu with customizable folders and a configurable recommendation area, the feature update will also review operating system settings and give folders a preview image again. For the first time, File Explorer has new tabs and a start page, where OneDrive can now also act as the “home page”. There are also some new themes.
Taskbar optimized for tablets and 2-in-1 systems
The new taskbar, or new taskbar status, as Microsoft calls the feature, should activate automatically when the operating system is running on a tablet or the 2-in-1 keyboard is removed. However, according to Microsoft, this enhanced taskbar cannot be activated or forced On a desktop or laptop computer.
Updating to Windows 11 21H2 officially requires the following framework conditions, some of which can (still) be avoided by using various workarounds.
- Windows 10 2004 (“20H1”) or later
- Active TPM 2.0 or fTPM 2.0
- Enable Secure Boot in UEFI
- compatible processor
However, Microsoft has already announced several times that the requirements when changing to the next higher feature update must be checked more strictly.
- Windows 11 22H2: Microsoft account should also become mandatory for power users
The solutions could then be finalized with the Fall 2022 update at the latest – but that’s not quite ready yet.
Insiders are already on the way to Windows 11 2023
Meanwhile, the Dev Channel’s Windows 11 insiders are already on the way to the Fall 2023 update, which will therefore be called Windows 11 2023 (“Sun Valley 3”), for which Microsoft plans to have more innovations next year.
- Windows 11 23H2: New folders on the desktop group apps by theme
- Windows 11 23H2: Interactive content spreads across the desktop
Microsoft is considering a new release cycle
However, it is also possible that Windows 11 will only receive a major feature update every three years, in the meantime it will be equipped with new functionality via feature drop, the so-called “moments”.
A detailed article in the Microsoft Tech Community provides more information about going to the official preview of Windows 11 22H2.
Microsoft has summarized more details about the current Windows 11 Insider Preview 25179 on the Windows Insider Blog.
As always, Microsoft Flight Hub provides information on the current development status and all available internal previews.
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