UPDATED 1/18/2023: Windows 11 22H2 is a free upgrade for computers already running Windows 11 21H2 or Windows 10 that meet the minimum system requirements since September 20, 2022. However, the rollout is gradual to ensure that devices have a good upgrade experience, which means it’ll take months before the new version reaches every device.
Microsoft usually starts offering the Windows 11 2022 Update (version 22H2) to devices with newer hardware, and it continues expanding to more eligible computers, and it’s expected to be fully available during the first half of 2023.
Since this is an optional update, the decision to install it now or wait longer to avoid possible issues is up to you.
This guide will help determine whether you should install or skip the Windows 11 22H2 upgrade on your computer.
Should you upgrade to Windows 11 22H2?
The best and short answer is “Yes,” it’s OK to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2 since the new version is stable and safe to install on devices that meet the requirements. However, since the feature update may still not be fully compatible with every computer during the early days (and beyond), the company is expected to throttle the rollout to ensure that only fully compatible hardware received the update initially.
Also, you want to ensure that there aren’t any known issues that may negatively affect the experience before upgrading. Since the initial rollout started, Microsoft has noted many problems with the operating system, which the company has already addressed, confirmed, and currently investigating.
Problems during the early days are very well expected. Microsoft is not unaware of the matter, and we’ve seen issues many times before. For this and other reasons, the software giant uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to analyze and only offer the new version to devices with a good upgrade experience – even though it’s not perfect. As the latest release proves to be more stable, the rollout will expand to other computers based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of the computer, and other factors.
Also, on the health dashboard website, Microsoft will publish any known issues that can help you decide whether or not to proceed with the upgrade.
If you have a computer with unsupported hardware, you should not try to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2. However, there are ways to upgrade an unsupported computer. If you install version 22H2, the device will be in an unsupported state. According to Microsoft, computers will likely experience more crashes, support won’t be available, and updates won’t be guaranteed.
Should I wait to install Windows 11 22H2?
Yes, you should always wait at the beginning. It is never a good idea to quickly jump into an upgrade since unknown bugs, errors, and compatibility issues are expected during the beginning of a rollout.
After version 22H2 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 22H2 upgrade is not recommended because you will likely run into issues. For example, errors like “This PC can’t be upgraded to Windows 11,” “This PC can’t be upgraded to this version of Windows 11 because of a service or driver that’s not ready yet,” or similar errors.
Usually, it’s recommended to wait until Windows 11 22H2 is fully available to make sure to install the most stable build. (This feature update for Windows 11 has been fully available since November 18, 2022.)
If your computer has an older Windows release and no issues, it’s not worth the upgrade. You should wait a little longer. However, you should not skip the update entirely. Eventually, that specific version will be discontinued, and it 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 15 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 21 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].