This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably. Consider splitting content into sub-articles, condensing it, or adding subheadings. Please discuss this issue on the article's talk page.(February 2024)
Windows 11 is a major release of the Windows NT developed by Microsoft that was released in October 2021. Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft described Windows as an "operating system as a service" that would receive ongoing updates to its features and functionality, augmented with the ability for enterprise environments to receive non-critical updates at a slower pace or use long-term support milestones that will only receive critical updates, such as security patches, over their five-year lifespan of mainstream support.
Windows Insider Preview builds are delivered to Insiders in four different channels. Insiders in the Dev and Canary Channel receive updates prior to those in the Beta Channel, but might experience more bugs and other issues. Insiders in the Release Preview Channel do not receive updates until the version is almost available to the public, but are comparatively more stable.
↑ Five updates were released: "Moment 1" with build 22621.675 on October 18, 2022 "Moment 2" with build 22621.1344 on February 28, 2023 "Moment 3" with build 22621.1778 on May 24, 2023 "Moment 4" with build 22621.2361 on September 26, 2023 "Moment 5" with build 22621.3235 on February 29, 2024
↑ An update codenamed "Moment 5" was released on February 29, 2024 with build 22631.3235
↑ Windows 11 builds that have this color have reached their expiration dates and are no longer supported by Microsoft.
↑ Windows 11 builds that have this color are no longer the latest version of Windows 11, but are still supported by Microsoft.
↑ Windows 11 builds that have this color are the latest (by SKU) public version of Windows 11.
↑ Windows 11 builds that have this color are Insider Preview builds, and are not the latest public version.
Version history
As with Windows 10 (since version 20H2), mainstream builds of Windows 11 are labeled "YYHX", with YY representing the two-digit year and X representing the half-year of planned release (for example, version 21H2 refers to builds which initially released in the second half of 2021).
Legend:
Old version, not maintained
Older version, still maintained
Current stable version
Latest preview version
Version 21H2 (original release)
The original version of Windows 11 (also known as version 21H2 and codenamed "Sun Valley") was released in October 2021.[1][2] It carries the build number 10.0.22000. The first public preview build was made available to Windows Insiders who opted in to the Dev Channel on June 28, 2021.[3]
Beta Channel and Release Preview Channel: September 9, 2021
Version
Releasedate(s)
Highlights
Notes:
↑ Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Dev Channel began on July 20, 2021, and to Insiders in the Beta Channel began on August 12, 2021.[7][8][9]
This update is available for Education, Enterprise and IoT Enterprise editions only.
Version
Knowledge base
Releasedate(s)
Highlights
Version 22H2 (2022 Update)
The Windows 11 2022 Update[96] (also known as version 22H2[97][98] and codenamed "Sun Valley 2") is the first major update to Windows 11. It carries the build number 10.0.22621. The first preview was released to Insiders who opted in to the Dev Channel on September 2, 2021.[99] The update began rolling out on September 20, 2022. Notable changes in the 2022 Update include:[100]
Redesigned and new Efficiency mode feature in Task Manager
Re-added the drag and drop feature on the taskbar
Improvement to the snap layout experience
New live captions feature
New Smart App Control (SAC) feature for blocking untrusted applications
Split "Focus assist" feature into "Do not disturb" and "Focus"
Included Clipchamp as inbox app
The first component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 1",[101] was released on October 18, 2022 with build 22621.675 and several further changes:[102]
New tabbed browsing feature and refreshed layout of the left navigation pane in the File Explorer
The second component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 2,"[103] was released on February 28, 2023 with build 22621.1344 and several further changes:[104]
The third component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 3",[105] was released on May 24, 2023 with build 22621.1778 and several further changes:[106][107]
New presence sensor privacy settings in the Settings app
New VPN icon on the taskbar
Added the ability to show a notification badge on the Start menu's user profile icon
Introduced live captions in more languages
Added the ability to create live kernel memory dumps in Task Manager
Introduced Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) to desktop computers and battery powered devices
The fourth component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 4",[108] was released on September 26, 2023 with build 22621.2361 and several further changes:[109][110]
New Narrator natural voices in Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Japanese, English (United Kingdom and India), French, Portuguese, German and Korean
New text authoring experiences in voice access
New Home page in the Settings app
Redesigned Windows Security notification dialogs
The fifth component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 5", was released on February 29, 2024 with build 22621.3235.[111][112]
As of build 22567, the version string has been changed from "Dev" to "22H2".
1 2 Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Beta Channel began at the time it was announced, and to a subset of Insiders in the Release Preview Channel began on October 4, 2022.[147]
Preview builds of October 2022 component update in the Beta Channel
1 2 3 Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Beta Channel began at the time it was announced, and to a subset of Insiders in the Release Preview Channel began on October 4, 2022.[147]
1 2 Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Beta Channel began at the time it was announced.
Preview builds of February 2023 component update in the Beta Channel
1 2 3 Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Beta Channel began at the time it was announced.
1 2 3 4 Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Release Preview Channel began at the time it was announced.
Version 23H2 (2023 Update)
The Windows 11 2023 Update[265] (also known as version 23H2[266][267]) is the second and current major update to Windows 11. It was shipped as an enablement package for Windows 11 2022 Update, and carries the build number 10.0.22631. The first preview was released to Insiders who opted in to the Beta Channel on May 25, 2023.[218] The update began rolling out on October 31, 2023.[268] New features and changes from "Moment 4" has been enabled by default in this update.[267]
The first component update to Windows 11, version 23H2, codenamed "Moment 5", was released on February 29, 2024 with build 22631.3235 and several further changes:[111][112]
Improvements to Copilot in Windows
Improvements to voice access
New voice access in French, German, and Spanish
Added multi-display support
New voice shortcuts feature
Enhanced image consumption experience in Narrator
New share targets for sharing links through the Windows share window
Updates to the Cast flyout in Quick Settings
New suggestions feature in snap layouts
Improvements to Windows 365 Boot and Windows 365 Switch
New notification for prompting to open recent photos and screenshots from Android mobile device in Snipping Tool
As of build 22631.2048, the version string has been changed from "22H2" to "23H2".
Added the ability to send email to user's own Gmail account from Windows share window
New Game Pass recommendation card on the Settings homepage
New navigation pane on the Widgets dashboard
Improvements to the Widgets taskbar button
Added the ability for developers to send notifications to the Widgets taskbar button with custom Widgets dashboards[lower-alpha 2]
Added the ability to disable Widgets taskbar notifications from individual Widgets dashboards[lower-alpha 2]
Version
Knowledge base
Releasedate(s)
Highlights
Notes:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Beta Channel began at the time it was announced.
1 2 Rollout of this feature to Insiders in the European Economic Area began at the time it was announced.
Version 24H2 (2024 Update)
The Windows 11 2024 Update[295] (also known as version 24H2[296]) is the third major update to Windows 11. The first preview was released to Insiders who opted in to the Canary and Dev Channels on February 8, 2024.[296]
Dev Channel
On September 2, 2021, Microsoft announced that Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel will receive builds directly from the rs_prerelease branch, which are not matched to a specific Windows 11 release. The first build released under this strategy, build 22449, was made available to Insiders on the same day.[99]
On February 3, 2022, Microsoft changed its plans on how they delivered builds for Windows Insiders, with Dev and Beta Channels being "parallel" active development branches, giving an option to switch from Dev to Beta Channel for a limited time. The Dev Channel builds are meant for upcoming and experimental features that may never release to general availability, whereas the Beta Channel builds are the "feature complete" builds that will make its way to the general availability for the specific Windows 11 release.[297]
The ni_release branch was available from February 16 to May 11, 2022.[133] Afterward, Insiders in the Dev Channel has been moved back to the rs_prerelease branch.[298]
On March 6, 2023, Microsoft announced that Dev Channel will be rebooted, and Windows Insiders will be receiving 23000 series builds going forward from the ni_prerelease branch.[299][300] The first build released under this strategy, build 23403, was made available to Insiders two days later.[301]
The ge_release branch has been available since build 26052. The version string has been changed from "22H2" to "24H2".[296]
Legend:
Expired preview version
Old preview version, unexpired
Latest preview version
Preview builds of Windows 11 in the former Dev Channel
1 2 Rollout of this feature to a subset of Insiders in the Dev Channel began at the time it was announced.
Canary Channel
On March 6, 2023, Microsoft announced that Windows Insiders who were previously in the Dev Channel on 25000 series builds would be moved to the Canary Channel.[299][381] The first build released under this channel, build 25314, was made available to Insiders two days later.[382]
The zn_release branch was available from builds 25352 to 25393.[383] As of build 25905, Insiders in the Canary Channel have been moved back to the rs_prerelease branch.[384]
The ge_release branch was available from builds 26052 to 26100.[296] As of build 26200, Insiders in the Canary Channel have been moved to the ge_prerelease branch.[385]
The version string has been changed from "22H2" to "23H2" as of build 25375, and changed to "24H2" as of build 26052.
Legend:
Expired preview version
Old preview version, unexpired
Latest preview version
Preview builds of Windows 11 in the Canary Channel
Microsoft Windows is a product line of proprietary graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and sub-families that cater to particular sectors of the computing industry -- Windows (unqualified) for a consumer or corporate workstation, Windows Server for a server and Windows IoT for an embedded system. Defunct families include Windows 9x, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, and Windows Embedded Compact.
File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application and default desktop environment that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems, as well as user interface elements such as the taskbar and desktop.
WordPad is a word processor included with Windows 95 and later. Similarly to its predecessor Microsoft Write, it is a basic word processor, positioned as more advanced than the Notepad text editor by supporting rich text editing, but with a subset of the functionality of Microsoft Word.
Snipping Tool is a Microsoft Windows screenshot utility included in Windows Vista and later. It can take still screenshots of an open window, rectangular areas, a free-form area, or the entire screen. Snips can then be annotated using a mouse or a tablet, stored as an image file or an MHTML file, or e-mailed. The Snipping Tool allows for basic image editing of the snapshot, with different colored pens, an eraser, and a highlighter.
Windows NT is a proprietary graphical operating system produced by Microsoft as part of its Windows product line, the first version of which was released on July 27, 1993, and it lives on today since the latest version of Windows, 11, includes its technology.
Resilient File System (ReFS), codenamed "Protogon", is a Microsoft proprietary file system introduced with Windows Server 2012 with the intent of becoming the "next generation" file system after NTFS.
Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) is the eleventh and final version of the Internet Explorer web browser. It was initially included in the release of Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on October 17, 2013, and was later released for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 on November 7, 2013. It is the successor to Internet Explorer 10, released the previous year, and was the original, default browser in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, before Microsoft Edge was introduced. Internet Explorer 11 was also included in the release of Windows 10 on July 29, 2015, as well as in Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019. On April 16, 2019, Internet Explorer 11 was made available to Windows Server 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard, the only still supported edition of Windows 8 as the final expansion of Internet Explorer 11 availability. Internet Explorer 11, like its predecessor, is not available for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and earlier versions of Windows and Windows Server.
Microsoft Edge is a proprietary cross-platform web browser created by Microsoft. Released in 2015 as part of Windows 10 and Xbox One, it was initially built with Microsoft's own proprietary browser engine, EdgeHTML, and their Chakra JavaScript engine. Later on, it was ported to Android and iOS as a fork of Google's Chromium open-source project. In late 2018, Microsoft announced it would completely rebuild Edge as a Chromium-based browser with Blink and V8 engines, which allowed the browser to be ported to macOS. The new Edge was publicly released in January 2020, and on Xbox platforms in 2021. Microsoft has since terminated security support for the original browser. Edge is also available on older Windows versions, as well as Linux.
Windows Insider is an open software testing program by Microsoft that allows users globally who own a valid license of Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows Server to register for pre-release builds of the operating system previously only accessible to software developers.
Windows 10 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft. Microsoft described Windows 10 as an "operating system as a service" that would receive ongoing updates to its features and functionality, augmented with the ability for enterprise environments to receive non-critical updates at a slower pace or use long-term support milestones that will only receive critical updates, such as security patches, over their five-year lifespan of mainstream support. It was released in July 2015.
Windows Server 2019 is the twelfth version of the Windows Server operating system by Microsoft, as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It is the second version of the server operating system based on the Windows 10 platform, after Windows Server 2016. It was announced on March 20, 2018 for the first Windows Insider preview release, and was released internationally on October 2, 2018. It was succeeded by Windows Server 2022 on August 18, 2021.
Windows 10 Mobile is a discontinued mobile operating system developed by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on November 20, 2015, and was made generally available on March 17, 2016. In October 2017, Microsoft announced that it would pause the active development of Windows 10 Mobile, and future development will be limited to maintenance releases and security patches. The last feature update is the Fall Creators Update. The last version of Windows 10 Mobile reached the end of life on January 14, 2020. Development for Windows 10 Mobile has completely ceased since then.
The original version of Windows 10 was released in July 2015. It carries the build number 10.0.10240; while Microsoft has stated that there was no designated release to manufacturing (RTM) build of Windows 10, build 10240 was described as an RTM build by various media outlets. It was retroactively named "version 1507" by Microsoft per its naming conventions that have the last 2 digits of the year and the month number for future stable releases of the operating system.
Windows 10 Anniversary Update is the second major update to Windows 10 and the first in a series of updates under the Redstone codenames. It carries the build number 10.0.14393. This update, as the name applies, is to celebrate the first anniversary of Windows 10. It was released 1 year after its launch.
Windows 10 April 2018 Update is the fifth major update to Windows 10 and the fourth in a series of updates under the Redstone codenames. It carries the build number 10.0.17134.
Windows 10 October 2018 Update is the sixth major update to Windows 10 and the fifth in a series of updates under the Redstone codenames. It carries the build number 10.0.17763.
Windows 10 May 2020 Update is the ninth major update to Windows 10. It carries the build number 10.0.19041.
Windows 11 is the latest major release of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system, released on October 5, 2021. It succeeded Windows 10 (2015) and is available for free for any Windows 10 devices that meet the new Windows 11 system requirements.
Windows 10 October 2020 Update is the tenth major update to Windows 10 as the cumulative update to the May 2020 Update. It carries the build number 10.0.19042.
The Windows 10 May 2021 Update is the twelfth stable build for Windows 10. It carries the build number 10.0.19043.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
