Windows 11 22H2 mistakenly available on unsupported hardware

The next version of Windows 11 appears on unsupported Windows 10 PCs by mistake. Microsoft is looking into the problem.

Windows 11 22H2 upgrade option on unsupported Windows 10 PC
Windows 11 22H2 upgrade on unsupported Windows 10 PC
  • Windows 10 PCs with unsupported hardware are getting Windows 11 22H2.
  • Microsoft has confirmed this is a bug and is investigating the problem.
  • If you see the update, you shouldn’t upgrade to version 22H2.

Some devices with unsupported hardware are getting the Windows 11 22H2 update through Windows Update. Microsoft recently made available the final build of the next version of the operating system in the Release Preview Channel, and shortly after, unsupported devices running Windows 10 started getting the upgrade option through the Windows Update settings.

The option to upgrade was first spotted on Reddit (via Neowin), and some users reported that upon clicking the install option, their computers upgraded successfully to version 22H2 even though the hardware didn’t meet the minimum requirements. For example, in the thread, someone claimed they were able to install the new version of Windows 11 on a Surface Book 2 using the Intel Core i5-7300U processor. Another person confirmed that the upgrade was available on their 4th-Gen Core i7 processor laptop.

I can also confirm that this is the case, after enrolling an unsupported Windows 10 computer in the Release Preview Channel and receiving the notification to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2.

Windows 11 22H2 upgrade on unsupported hardware
Windows 11 22H2 upgrade on unsupported hardware

Although it could have been a piece of good news for many users, Microsoft has already confirmed that it’s a bug affecting the deployment of version 22H2. The company has also clarified that the hardware requirements haven’t changed, and they are investigating the situation to fix the problem.

If you upgraded your computer, it’s recommended to roll back immediately. Otherwise, the previous installation files will be deleted from the computer after ten days, and you will need to perform a clean install of Windows 10.

About the author

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].