Microsoft announced today that the final build of Windows 11 22H2 has been released to its Insider channel, meaning that the shipping or release to manufacturing (RTM) build will be generally available later this year.
In the meantime, enterprise IT departments can quickly test the final 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 is also offering free support to commercial organizations running the release, which means IT departments can test the release and their preferred deployment methods, while getting support ahead of general 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.
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, commercial customers aren't really diving into the new operating system, and we don't expect to see a lot of adoption until 2023," Steve Kleynhans, Gartner's vice president of research, said in an earlier interview with "World of Computing." "
"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.
Copyright © 2022 IDG Communications, Inc.