Windows 11 's first big update since its launch in October is now being prepared for its imminent rollout, with work on the upgrade expected to begin within two weeks, according to sources familiar with the company's plans. The company has reportedly named the upgrade "Windows 11 2022 Update," but that name may change.
Windows 11 Build 22621.382 - already deployed to testers - is likely a release candidate ready for release to the public on September 20. Of course, and Microsoft will continue to work on Windows 11 22H2 as part of the normal servicing process for customers' PCs across the board. Another reason why
believes that Windows 11 2022 update is coming is the launch of its Windows Driver Kit (WDK), Software Development Kit (SDK) and Enterprise Windows Driver Kit (EWDK). While there's no official word on a release date, Microsoft has quietly released these toolkits, which are generally available ahead of public launches.
"Use this SDK to build Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Win32 applications for Windows 11, version 22H2, and previous Windows versions," Microsoft noted. Version 22H2 also specifically supports Visual Studio 2022, allowing developers to build and test kernel-mode drivers for x64 and Arm64. For now, Microsoft is still calling the update just "version 22H2."
Since Windows 11 is a brand new operating system with a new servicing cadence, we don't know how the company will name the major updates. As you may know, the Windows 10 update is named after the month it was released. The last update was named "Windows 10 November 2021 Update". This time around, the company is looking to simplify its naming convention, and it's going with the slightly shorter "Windows 11 2022 Update."
According to sources, the plan we are seeing now is for a late September release. Previous reports have also stated that Microsoft could start pushing the update as soon as September 20, and it does seem possible. Initially, the update will only appear on more modern devices like the Surface Pro 8, Dell XPS, and other higher-end machines.
As for when Windows 11 22H2 will actually be released to all devices as an automatic update, given the various speculations and final preparations currently underway, we think it will start in October or November. Of course, you'll be able to manually download the update yourself on September 20th.
As for what’s new in this version, Microsoft has confirmed that the update will come with a redesigned task manager. The Task Manager in Windows has always been the most important tool for users. It is the most useful means when problems arise when running personal computer programs.
With the upcoming Sun Valley 2 update, the Task Manager has been redesigned, replacing the classic shell with WinUI and Fluent Design, and adding Mica in the background. Additionally, it gets dark mode, support for accent colors, and a new sidebar-based interface that houses all key options like processes or performance.
