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If you plan to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2, but your device currently has a safeguard hold because of a compatibility problem, it’s possible to bypass the block to continue with the installation, even though it’s not a good idea.
During the early days of a new version of Windows, the system may still have bugs and some known issues that can negatively affect the experience. However, since these problems typically only affect a small portion of devices, instead of pulling off the update, Microsoft places an upgrade block (officially known as “safeguard hold”) to temporarily prevent affected computers from getting the feature update. After the issue has been fixed by Microsoft or external sources, the company will remove the block to allow previously affected devices to upgrade.
If the upgrade option to Windows 11 22H2 is missing from the Windows Update settings because of a safeguard hold, you can disable the policy to remove the upgrade block through the Group Policy Editor or Registry. Usually, this process isn’t recommended because you may encounter problems during and after the upgrade, but it can come in handy in many scenarios. For instance, if it is been some time and the device is not getting the new version. You want to test the update on a spare computer before upgrading your primary device, or you cannot wait until the new version arrives automatically.
This guide will teach you the steps to disable the safeguard hold policy on Windows 11.
- Disable block from Group Policy to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2
- Disable block from Registry to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2
Disable block from Group Policy to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2
To disable the safeguard hold to upgrade Windows 11 22H2, use these steps:
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Open Start on Windows 11.
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Search for gpedit.msc, select the top result to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
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Browse the following path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update
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Double-click the “Disable Safeguards for Feature Updates” policy.
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Select the Enabled option.
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Click the Apply button.
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Click the OK button.
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Restart your computer.
Once you complete the steps, the compatibility block will be removed, and you’ll be able to use the Windows Update settings to download and install the 2022 Update. (It might take up to 48 hours before the update becomes available on your computer.)
After the installation, the policy will reset, and you will need to configure it again if your device has a compatibility hold during the next feature update rollout.
Disable block from Registry to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2
To bypass the safeguard hold to install Windows 11 22H2 from the Registry, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for regedit, and select the top result to open the Registry.
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Browse the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
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Right-click the “Windows” key, select the New submenu and choose the Key option.
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Name the key WindowsUpdate and press enter.
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Right-click the “WindowsUpdate” key, select the New submenu, and choose the “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.
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Name the key DisableWUfBSafeguards and press enter.
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Double-click the newly created key and set its value from 0 to 1.
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Click the OK button.
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Restart your computer.
After you complete the steps, the option to install Windows 11 22H2 will be available from the Windows Update settings when you are ready to upgrade.
It’s worth noting that this feature may only work for devices that meet the minimum requirements to run Windows 11. You will need to follow a different set of instructions to upgrade a computer with unsupported hardware.