The release of Windows 11 24H2 (2024 Update) has been a little confusing since Microsoft is rolling out the feature update in two parts. If you’re wondering whether you should install the new version on your computer, the short answer is “no,” but only because it’s not yet officially available for existing supported devices.
Microsoft made available version 24H2 on June 18, but this release is only for the new Copilot+ PCs featuring Qualcomm’s new ARM processor because these new devices depend on many of the new components available in the latest release of the operating system. However, the feature update isn’t available for existing devices featuring Intel or AMD’s x86 processors. The company is still working on the feature update, and it won’t be available until sometime in September as an optional install. In October, it’s expected to be officially available to everyone.
Consequently, I don’t recommend installing the new version before it’s officially available. However, forcing the upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 early is still possible, but you may come across bugs and other issues.
Should you upgrade to Windows 11 24H2?
The best and short answer is “No.” You should not upgrade to Windows 24H2 because it hasn’t been released yet. Furthermore, after the new version becomes available, you shouldn’t force the installation if the update isn’t available automatically since it could indicate that it’s fully compatible with your computer.
Also, remember that version 24H2 has new hardware requirements that may limit the number of features you will be able to access. For instance, this feature update focuses on new AI innovations that require additional hardware (such as an NPU (Neural Processing Unit)), and some of the biggest features are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs.
When the Windows 11 2024 Update becomes available, problems are expected in the early days. For this reason, the company checks and offers the new version only to devices known to have a good upgrade experience. As the feature update proves more stable, the rollout will then expand to other computers based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, and many other factors.
Before upgrading, ensuring no known issues may negatively affect the experience before proceeding with the installation is always recommended.
If you have a computer with unsupported hardware, upgrading to Windows 11 24H2 is not recommended. However, there are ways to upgrade an unsupported computer. If you install version 24H2, the device will be in an unsupported state, and it’ll likely experience more crashes, support won’t be available, and updates won’t be guaranteed to work as expected.
Also, consider that during the early days of the rollout, you may not have access to all the features and enhancements since Microsoft now uses the Control Feature Rollout technology to enable the new experiences only when they are ready for the device. Once the new features have been validated, the company will enable them by default.
Should I wait to install Windows 11 24H2?
Yes, you should always wait at the beginning. It is never a good idea to jump quickly into a new release since unknown bugs, errors, and compatibility issues are expected during the early days.
After version 24H2 becomes available, your device will (eventually) receive a notification through the Windows Update settings to upgrade manually. If you don’t receive the message, forcing the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade is not recommended because you will likely run into issues.
Typically, it’s recommended to wait until Windows 11 24H2 is fully available to install the most stable build, which happens sometime after the feature update has been officially released.
You shouldn’t rush to upgrade if your computer has an older Windows release without issues. You should wait a little longer. However, you should not skip the update entirely. Eventually, that specific version will be discontinued and will no longer receive maintenance updates, leading to other issues and making it vulnerable.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].