How to find and install the new Windows 11 22H2 update
You can wait for the new Windows 11 update to reach your PC or download and install it manually from Microsoft website.
Microsoft officially released its first major update for Windows 11 on September 20th. Known as Windows 11 22H2, this latest version brings a variety of improvements to the key features of the operating system. You can set up folders in the Start menu, resize the Pinned Apps section, drag and drop icons to the taskbar, adopt new layouts for snapping windows, more easily access your OneDrive storage in File Explorer and your Microsoft 365 subscription View the Accounts screen and use the pre-installed Clipchamp app to edit your videos.
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Windows 11 22H2 is available as a free update for Windows 11 and Windows 10. But how do you know if your PC can handle Windows 11 22H2, where do you find it and how do you install it? Let’s look at the process.
Does your PC meet the system requirements for Windows 11 22H2?
Firstly, Windows 11 22H2 has the same requirements as the original version of Windows 11. This means that your PC must be equipped with a 64-bit processor with two or more cores, at least 4 GB of RAM and at least 64 GB of Secure Boot storage Function and Trusted Platform Module Version 2.0.
If you’re already running Windows 11, you should be able to switch to the 22H2 update. If you’re running Windows 10, you’ll need to check your PC to see if it’s compatible. Microsoft offers a PC Health Check tool that will tell you if your computer is eligible. You should also download the latest update for Windows 10 before moving to Windows 11.
Where can I find Windows 11 22H2
As with recent updates to Windows 10, Microsoft is taking a phased approach to rolling out Windows 11 22H2. That means Windows 11 22H2 won’t be available immediately to all qualifying PCs via Windows Update, but you can easily see if it’s ready on your PC.
In Windows 11, go to Settings, select Windows Update, and then click the Check for updates button. In Windows 10, go to Settings, select Update & Security, select Windows Update, and then click the Check for updates button. When Windows 11 22H2 appears, click Download & Install button and let the process run. Restart your PC when prompted and sign in again. The new version of Windows 11 is now ready for you to explore (Figure A).
Figure A
How else can you install Windows 11 22H2 update?
If the update isn’t yet available through Windows Update, it’s best to wait for it to appear. But if you want to dive right into Windows 11 22H2, there are other options, courtesy of Microsoft’s website.
On the PC you want to update, navigate to the Download Windows 11 page where you will have two choices: Windows 11 Setup Wizard and Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) file. There is also a third way to create Windows 11 installation media if you want to set up a bootable USB drive or DVD to install the update on another computer. But let’s say your goal is to update your current PC.
How to use the Windows 11 installation wizard
Windows 11 Setup Wizard supports both Windows 11 and Windows 10 and is the most direct and easiest way to upgrade your PC to the 22H2 version. Click Download Now button in this section and save the downloaded file on your PC (Figure B).
Figure B
Run the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file. You will be told your PC qualifies or you will be prompted to download and run the PC Health Check app. Assuming your PC passes the check, click the Accept and Install button to install the update (Figure C).
Figure C
Allow the update to download and install. Restart your PC and log in again and the Windows 11 22H2 update should be in place. To check this go to Settings and then System, click on the option for About and scroll down to the Windows Specifications section and confirm that the version is 22H2 (Figure D).
Figure D
How to create Windows 11 Disk Image ISO file
Creating an ISO file to update to Windows 11 22H2 is another convenient, albeit less direct, option available for either Windows 11 or Windows 10. To go this way on the Download Windows 11 page, click the drop-down menu for Select Download in Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) section. Select Windows 11 (Multi-Edition ISO) and click the Download button (Figure E).
Figure E
After the screen refreshes, click the Choose One dropdown menu to select the product language. Select your language, then click Confirm (Figure F).
Figure F
Now click the 64-bit download button for your language and save the ISO file on your PC (Figure G).
Figure G
After the ISO file has downloaded, right-click on it and choose Mount from the pop-up menu – this will mount the ISO as a virtual drive so you can see its contents. Double-click the setup.exe file to install the update (Figure H).
Figure H
Follow the prompts to run setup, and then install the update. After restarting your PC, log back into Windows and you can now use the latest version of Windows 11 for a test drive.