Microsoft announced today that the commercial version of Windows 11 22H2 has been released on its Insider channel, which means that the production version (RTM) will be generally available later this year.
In the meantime, enterprise IT departments can quickly test the build (Build 22621) from the Windows Insider Preview download website and begin validating it on systems with the appropriate hardware configuration.
Retail devices enrolled in the Windows Insider Program for Business in the preview channel will automatically be offered Windows 11 22H2 as an optional upgrade. Non-retail Windows Insider devices can manually check for build 22621 via Settings > Windows Update.
Once an Insider Channel subscriber updates a PC to build 22H2, it will continue to receive new servicing updates automatically through Windows Update (the typical monthly update process). Microsoft provides instructions on how to join the Windows Insider Program and join a PC to the Release Preview channel.
In addition to pre-release commercial availability, Microsoft also offers free support to organizations running the release, which means IT departments can test the release and their preferred deployment methods, while getting support prior to availability. Microsoft hasn't said when the next version of Windows 11 will arrive, though major updates are traditionally rolled out in October or November.
Steve Kleynhans, vice president of digital workplace infrastructure and operations research at Gartner, said the latest version of Windows 11 isn't the "final release" in any real sense.
"This is a larger preview of the current version of the 22H2 codebase," he said. "It's probably nearing completion, but there's still likely to be some tweaking and refinement in the coming months. Also, some features haven't been released yet (like the parts of Windows 365 discussed in April). Microsoft has a lot more flexibility in how you can make changes to the user experience without necessarily submitting a new version."
It's interesting, Kleynhans said, "that Microsoft decided to move 22H2 into broad preview so soon, probably four months before its official release. I suspect the hope is that companies will do some testing over the summer and potentially be ready to launch." large deployments a bit earlier than they currently plan.
"Most companies don't plan to implement until 2023, probably almost a year from now," he said. "I suspect Microsoft would like to transfer this to Q1 if possible."
That said, the current preview is "pretty solid: and much more refined than the current 21H2 build, and because Microsoft is making it available to everyone, it shows a level of trust on the part of the company that might appeal to some." early adopters to take the plunge,” Kleynhans said.
In recent months, Windows 11 adoption rates have dipped to a trough, according to recent data from computer monitoring software provider AdDuplex and others.
Released in October 2021, Windows 11 achieved 19,7% "general usage" in April, an increase of more than 10% since early December 2021. 0,6% more users are on a Windows build 11 Insider, according to the latest data from AdDuplex.
Windows 11 usage percentage grew less than 0,4% in April. That's on top of growth of less than 0,2% in March, according to AdDuplex.
While Windows 11 doesn't expand, Windows 10 21H2 added another 6,5%.
Microsoft pushed for users to upgrade to Windows 11, but the vast majority opted to stick with the previous edition, which will continue to be supported until 2025.
Of the 80% using Windows 10, the largest number of users are using the two most recent updates, Windows 10 N21U (21H2), released in November 2021 (28,5%) and Windows 10 M21U (21H1), released in March 2021. 26,5, (XNUMX%).
The remaining 25% is found in five previous iterations of Windows 10.
"For the most part, business customers aren't really diving into the new operating system and we don't expect to see much adoption until 2023," Kleynhans said.
"For most consumers who aren't PC enthusiasts in one way or another, this isn't really a high priority and they won't actively seek to upgrade," he said. "Until Microsoft starts forcing the update, or at least more aggressively pushes it out to users on eligible machines, things may get a bit bogged down. I suspect we'll see Microsoft start to push the update more aggressively over the next few months and really start pushing in the fall.
For its part, Microsoft said it has seen strong demand for Windows 11, with people accepting the offer to upgrade the operating system at double the rate the company has seen for Windows 10, according to a blog post from January. by Panos Panay, Microsoft Product Manager for Windows. and Devices.
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