Microsoft has warned that a forced update is on the way for Windows 11 21H2 and 22H2 users still clinging to the past.
The warning applies to the remaining users of Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions of Windows 11 21H2 and Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 22H2. Devices managed by IT are exempt from the attention of Microsoft's updater.
The final security update for these devices will come on October 8, 2024 – less than a month away – after which will all drop out of support. This means no more monthly security or preview updates.
In its message center, Microsoft posted: "To help keep you protected and productive, Windows Update will automatically initiate a feature update for Windows 11 Home and Pro devices that are not managed by IT departments when these are nearing end of servicing."
In other words, customers who are holding off updating will be able to hold off no more – Microsoft expects users to be on Windows 11 23H2. The company said: "Moving to Windows 11, version 23H2 keeps your device supported and receiving monthly updates that are critical to security and ecosystem health."
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Keeping users "protected and productive" via an automatic update has been going on for a while. On July 17, 2024, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 version 23H2 was broadly available and eligible Windows 11 devices would get an automatic update as the end of support neared. That time is rapidly approaching, judging by the company's latest messaging.
23H2 is the last hurrah for Windows features such as WordPad and Mixed Reality, which are both set for removal in 24H2, having been added to the deprecation list in 2023. It also introduced Microsoft's Windows Copilot AI assistant, essentially replacing Cortana and helping users who cannot navigate the Windows user interface fiddle with settings.
23H2 also introduced a cloud backup tool and tweaked the interface for File Explorer.
Some users continue to steer clear of the update despite Microsoft's assertion that any outstanding known issues have been resolved. However, after October's final security update (for applicable devices), 23H2 will be installed via that automatic feature update.
We look forward to seeing how the company copes this time next year when Windows 10 is about to gasp its last breath for many users, but their devices cannot accept an "automatically initiated" update to Windows 11. ®