If you run an old version of Windows 11, Microsoft may force-upgrade your system
Every version of Windows is someday reaching its end of life. For Windows 11, that is after two years for consumer-based editions of the operating system.
A few things may happen when a version of Windows 11 reaches end of life:
- Microsoft does not release security updates or any other update for the version anymore.
- Microsoft may force upgrade the system to a new version that is still supported.
This process makes a lot of sense for the majority of customers. Systems that are not supported anymore may have unpatched security issues that threat actors may exploit. This is especially true for systems that go online regularly.
For some customers, it is a question of staying in control to upgrade when they want to. This can be a question of timing or testing. Whatever the reason, they do not want their systems to be upgraded automatically.
Windows 11, versions 21H2 and 22H2 affected
Microsoft confirmed today that systems running the original release version of Windows 11 or the first feature update version will be upgraded automatically next month.
Why two versions?
- Windows 11, version 21H2 applies to Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise systems only.
- Windows 11, version 22H2 applies to Home and Pro systems only.
When is this going to happen?
The October 2024 update will be the last for the mentioned versions. They will receive a last batch of security updates on October 8, 2024.
After October 8, 2024, Windows Update will download and install Windows 11, version 23H2, automatically on those devices.
Are there exceptions?
The forced updates are only installed on devices that are not managed. Managed refers to devices managed by IT departments for the most part.
There may be other exceptions:
- Devices that do not meet the system requirements of Windows 11.
- Devices on which Windows Update is disabled or configured to block automatic updates.
Closing Words
It is easy enough to upgrade Windows to a new version manually. All you have to do is open Start > Settings > Windows Update, and activate the check for updates button. If a new version is available, it should be listed. You may then proceed to download and install it on the device.
If that does not work, for whatever reason, you may download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or Windows 11 Installation Media from Microsoft.
Windows 11, version 23H2 introduced Copilot on the system. The AI feature offers an almost identical functionality to the web-based Copilot chat. Still underwhelming, at least from the perspective of a Windows user. Other changes include the new Windows Backup app, which backs up specific folders and data only, and some smaller changes.
Which version of Windows do you run on your devices? Any particular reason for that? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
What right does Microsoft think they have to interfere with users’ computers? It’s my machine and I’ll decide what files will be installed on it, not Microsoft. I don’t want their upgrade crap which is riddled with ads and I really don’t care about security updates. I wonder sometimes whether Microsoft deliberately ignores security issues just to ensure that they keep users frustrated and begging for security patches so that they can force one of their boring upgrades on them.
0Patch.com doesn’t appear to have a policy for 22h2 except on Windows 10, but I assume it will happen in the not too distant future and I’ll sign up to that when the time comes.
Per TelV’s comment about GRC’s InControl…. MS’s blurb says “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.” The registry changes that InControl puts in are what “managed by IT department” means, so it prevents the auto upgrade. Thanks Steve Gibson!
So happy I still use Windows 7 and still getting security updates with no BS features. :)
@Anonymous
Well, next month, on October 8, it will the very last time Microsoft will issue security updates for any Windows 7 products ever distributed. The information is on their “Lifecycle FAQ – Extended Security Updates” page at “hxxps://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/lifecycle/faq/extended-security-updates” (Replace hxxps > https)
I too was still updating Windows 7 with their latest updates using the Bypass eligibily trick setup but next month, my Windows 7 box will be put to death and replaced by a brand new iMac. I just never had it in me to transfer to Windows 10 nor to Windows 11 so it’ll be goodby to Windows as soon as I get my iMac and that I transfer my personal data from the Windows 7 box to the iMac.
not yet dead after Windows 7 PoseReady it is around Windows 7/Server 2008 r2 Nt6.1 to receive updates until January 2026 after October 2024 .
21H2 here, on unsupported hardware.
I can no longer update, as it fails at 99%. None of the fixes worked.
Not going to install from scratch as I have so many programs to install and configure.
I think you can install from ISO with no program configuration loss. I did it once. However you should investigate how you can apply it to your system to avoid any kind of possible damage, or doing some kind of backup previously.
I wonder what may happen if any MacOS could be installed in a common way in any kind of PCs, I meant like Linux is.
Will never happen. Apple makes too much money from hardware to allow MacOS to be ported.
If you have Windows 11 version that works great, you do not need updates. Even security ones (in my opinion). Just get a good third-party antivirus and full back up program with an external local storage device or two. And you can disable Windows Updates forever. I have not got any serious Windows issues for the last year since I disabled Windows Updates as opposed to having issues every few months after random Windows updates.
However, I am one of the people that do not need new and shiny things in my electronics. I still have a landline and my home phone is 10 years old, and I am still happy with it as my default method of talking to people. In fact, I prefer it to Zoom, Wire and other programs on the wireless phone I use. Windows was not supposed to be a new, shiny thing. Just a tool, and I can use a 4-year-old tool that I am completely comfortable with the same satisfaction as a brand new one.
Same here. Haven’t updated my Windows 10 LTSC 1809 since installing it back in 2018 as a replacement for the Home version. Disabled everything I can including Defender. No issues whatsover to this day. Just using the third-party simplewall firewall.
I have GRC’s InControl app installed to ensure that my Windows 11 system remains on 22h2 regardless of what Microsoft’s intentions are: https://www.grc.com/incontrol.htm
I installed that site’s Never10 app to ensure that my Windows 8.1 machine never got upgraded to Windows 10 and since that worked successfully I’m assuming that Win 11 Pro 22h2 will remain the same as well.
As for CoPilot I not interested and don”t want it. As for the security aspect I’ll take my chances with that since I have good security software installed and rarely use the machine anyway.
I would think that if you prevented the new versions from installed, you were controlling the update process, therefore Microsoft cannot force anything.
Off topic, but your mention of co pilot reminded me of it.
I discovered yesterday that when searching on google one can add “-ai” at the end to prevent getting the big ai box in the results.
It was just a reaction to the irritating search results one gets these days and to my suprise it worked.
It’s frustrating when specific regressions or bugs remain unaddressed in the latest version.