Windows 11 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system 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.
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).[1]
↑ 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, version 24H2 was generally available for Copilot Plus PCs from June 15, 2024
The original version of Windows 11 (also retroactively namedversion 21H2 and codenamed "Sun Valley") was released in October 2021.[2][3] It carries the build number 10.0.22000.[4]The first public preview build was made available to Windows Insiders who opted in to the Dev Channel on June 28, 2021. Notable changes in this version include:
Most interfaces in Windows 11 feature rounded geometry, refreshed iconography, new typography, and a refreshed colour palette.[6]
Windows 11 also introduces "Mica", a new opaque Material that is tinted with the color of the desktop wallpaper.[7]
Significantly redesigned Start menu, adhering to the principles of the updated Fluent Design System.[8]
Center-aligned Taskbar, with new animations for pinning, rearranging, minimizing, and switching apps.[8]
The File Explorer has been refreshed with the Fluent Design System and the Ribbon interface has been replaced with a new command bar with a revamped user interface and a Mica background. It also introduces revamped context menus with rounded corners, larger text, and Acrylic.
The update has reached end of service on October 10, 2023 for Home, Pro, Pro Education and Pro for Workstations editions.[10] The Enterprise, Enterprise multi-session, IoT Enterprise and Education editions have reached end of service on October 8, 2024.[11]
The Windows 11 2022 Update[12] (also known as version 22H2[13][14] 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.[15] As of build 22449, the version string has been changed from "Dev" to "22H2".
The update began rolling out on September 20, 2022. Notable changes in the 2022 Update include:[16]
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"
The first component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 1",[17] was released on October 18, 2022, with build 22621.675 and several further changes:[18]
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",[21] was released on February 28, 2023, with build 22621.1344 and several further changes:[22]
The third component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 3",[23] was released on May 24, 2023, with build 22621.1778 and several further changes:[24][25]
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",[26] was released on September 26, 2023, with build 22621.2361 and several further changes:[27][28]
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.[29][30]
The update has reached end of service on October 8, 2024 for Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations and SE editions.[31] The Enterprise, Enterprise multi-session, IoT Enterprise and Education editions will reach end of service on October 14, 2025.[32]
The Windows 11 2023 Update[33] (also known as version 23H2[34][35] and codenamed "Sun Valley 3") is the second major update to Windows 11. It was shipped as an enablement package for the "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. The update began rolling out on October 31, 2023.[36] New features and changes from "Moment 4" were enabled by default in this update.[37] The version string was changed from "22H2" to "23H2" in build 25375.
The Windows 11 2024 Update[38] (also known as version 24H2, codenamed Hudson Valley[citation needed])[39][40][41] is the third and latest major update to Windows 11. It carries the build number 10.0.26100.The first preview was released to Insiders who opted in to the Canary and Dev Channels on February 8, 2024. The update began rolling out for Copilot Plus PCs on June 15, 2024.[42] As of build 26052, the version string has been changed from "23H2" to "24H2". The update began rolling out to all users on October 1, 2024.[43][41]
Version 24H2 notably introduces the first Windows 11 based Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions, along with new subscription variants of IoT Enterprise editions (both LTSC and non-LTSC).[44]
The update will reach end of service on October 13, 2026, for Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations and SE editions.[45] The Enterprise, Enterprise multi-session, IoT Enterprise and Education editions will reach end of service on October 12, 2027.[45] The Enterprise LTSC and IoT Enterprise LTSC editions will reach end of service on October 9, 2029, and October 10, 2034, respectively.[45]
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.
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.[46]
On March 6, 2023, Microsoft announced that the Dev Channel will be rebooted, and existing insiders will be moved to the new Canary Channel.[47][48] Two days later, insiders transitioned from Dev to Canary received the first build in the existing 25000 series builds starting from build 25314[49] while new insiders in the rebooted Dev Channel received the first build in the new 23000 series builds starting from build 23403.[50]
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.[51]
Aside from the rs_prerelease branch, Insiders in the Dev Channel would receive builds compiled from other branches within certain periods of time: ni_release (builds 22557 to 22616 – 22H2 string in former Dev), ni_prerelease (builds 23403 to 23620 – 22H2 string in rebooted Dev), ge_release (builds 26052 to 26100 and 26120 – 24H2 string) and ge_prerelease (26200 – 24H2 string).
Canary Channel
Aside from the rs_prerelease branch, Insiders in the Canary Channel would receive builds compiled from other branches within certain periods of time: zn_release (builds 25352 to 25393 – 23H2 string), ge_release (builds 26052 to 26100 – 24H2 string) and ge_prerelease (build 26200 to 26257 – 24H2 string).
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