Wondering if you’re running the latest version?
The latest version of Windows 11 is the 2022 Update, which is version 22H2. Microsoft released the update on September 20, 2022. You can install it from Windows Update or by running Microsoft’s downloadable Installation Assistant.
The latest version of Windows 11 is the 2022 Update, version “22H2,” which was named “Sun Valley 2” during development. Microsoft says it will release major updates once per year, and this is the first major update Microsoft has released since the initial launch of Windows 11 in 2021.
Major updates like 22H2 can take time to reach individual PCs. Microsoft has a slow rollout process and spends time testing updates on different hardware and software configurations to ensure they’re as bug-free as possible when Windows Update automatically downloads them. Let’s see what’s new in the latest version, how to check which version of Windows 11 you’re running, and how you can skip the wait and get the latest version of Windows 11 now—if your PC isn’t already running it.
The latest version of Windows 11 is the 2022 Update, which was released on September 20, 2022. This is also known as Windows 11 version “22H2”, as Microsoft released it in the second half of 2022. Microsoft’s internal codename was “Sun Valley 2” during the development process, as the original version of Windows 11 was codenamed “Sun Valley.”
Since Microsoft is now on a yearly release cycle for major Windows updates—no more big updates every six months—the 2022 Update was released nearly a year after Windows 11’s initial release. (Windows 11 was initially released on October 4, 2021.)
Windows 11’s 2022 Update is packed with new features and changes, including a redesigned Task Manager, tabs in File Explorer, the return of taskbar drag-and-drop, a new video editor, a redesigned print dialog, live captions generated for any audio playing on your PC, and a lot more.
Still using Windows 10? Microsoft also released a 2022 Update for Windows 10, but it’s much lighter on new features. Microsoft is spending its time adding features to the latest version of Windows.
Microsoft is also reportedly working on Windows 12 and has revealed a prototype desktop redesign. We expect Windows 12 to arrive in late 2024.
To see which version of Windows 11 you have, head to Settings > System > About. (You can open the Settings window from the Start menu or by pressing Windows+i anywhere on Windows.)
Look under “Windows specifications” and read the “Version” field. If you see “22H2” here, your PC has Windows 11’s 2022 Update.
If you see “21H2,” your PC is running the initial version of Windows 11, which was released in the second half of 2021.
If you see a higher number than 22H2, you’re likely running an unstable Insider build of Windows 11.
When Microsoft has flagged the update as likely compatible with your PC, Windows Update will offer it on your PC. Your PC may automatically install the update, or it may give you some time to install it. Whatever the case, you can skip the wait and install Windows 11’s 2022 Update immediately.
To see if the update is available on your PC, head to Settings > Windows Update and click “Check for Updates.” If you see a message saying “Windows 11, version 22H2 is available”, you can click the “Download & install” button to install it.
You can also use Microsoft’s downloadable Windows 11 Installation Assistant to upgrade your PC to the latest version of Windows 11. This will update your PC to the latest version even if Windows Update isn’t offering it for your hardware yet.
By using this tool to update, you’re skipping Microsoft’s careful rollout process and increasing the likelihood of encountering bugs and other problems on your PC. If you’re not comfortable with this, you should wait for Windows Update to offer the update for your PC.
To use the tool, visit Microsoft’s website, click “Download Now” under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, and run the downloaded tool. It will offer to upgrade your PC to the latest version of Windows 11.
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Chris Hoffman is the former Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. Chris has personally written over 2,000 articles that have been read more than one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek.
With over a decade of writing experience in the field of technology, Chris has written for a variety of publications including The New York Times, Reader’s Digest, IDG’s PCWorld, Digital Trends, and MakeUseOf. Beyond the web, his work has appeared in the print edition of The New York Times (September 9, 2019) and in PCWorld’s print magazines, specifically in the August 2013 and July 2013 editions, where his story was on the cover. He also wrote the USA’s most-saved article of 2021, according to Pocket.
Chris was a PCWorld columnist for two years. He founded PCWorld’s “World Beyond Windows” column, which covered the latest developments in open-source operating systems like Linux and Chrome OS. Beyond the column, he wrote about everything from Windows to tech travel tips.
The news he’s broken has been covered by outlets like the BBC, The Verge, Slate, Gizmodo, Engadget, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, ZDNet, The Next Web, and Techmeme. Instructional tutorials he’s written have been linked to by organizations like The New York Times, Wirecutter, Lifehacker, the BBC, CNET, Ars Technica, and John Gruber’s Daring Fireball. His roundups of new features in Windows 10 updates have been called “the most detailed, useful Windows version previews of anyone on the web” and covered by prominent Windows journalists like Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley on TWiT’s Windows Weekly. His work has even appeared on the front page of Reddit.
Articles he’s written have been used as a source for everything from books like Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff, media theory professor at the City University of New York’s Queens College and CNN contributor, to university textbooks and even late-night TV shows like Comedy Central’s @midnight with Chris Hardwick.
Starting in 2015, Chris attended the Computer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas for five years running. At CES 2018, he broke the news about Kodak’s “KashMiner” Bitcoin mining scheme with a viral tweet. A wave of negative publicity ensued, with coverage on BuzzFeed News, CNBC, the BBC, and TechCrunch. The company’s project was later reportedly shut down by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition to his extensive writing experience, Chris has been interviewed as a technology expert on TV news and radio shows. He gave advice on dark web scans on Miami’s NBC 6, discussed Windows XP’s demise on WGN-TV’s Midday News in Chicago, and shared his CES experiences on WJR-AM’s Guy Gordon Show in Detroit.
Chris also ran MakeUseOf’s email newsletter for two years. Nearly 400,000 subscribers received the newsletter complete with a handwritten tip every day.
