Microsoft will celebrate the first anniversary of Windows 11 with the release of a major update called “Sun Valley 2.” If you have a Windows 11 device, you’ll get the update automatically and for free as long as your device already has the new operating system.
As we get closer to the release of Windows 11 Sun Valley 2, Microsoft is getting more specific about it. This time, the version number “22H2” has been officially confirmed by Microsoft.
A Windows update released on Thursday confirms that the next OS feature update is known as “Version 22H2.” As you can see in the screenshot below, Microsoft is finally using 22H2 as a working name for the next major update. This also confirms that the update is one step closer to completion.
At this time, it’s unclear how the company plans to publicly duplicate this major Windows 11 patch. It could be named after a month, or Microsoft could simply use the version number as a public name. Windows 11 version 22H2 has also appeared in several leaked Microsoft documents so far.
Of course, we already know that version 22H2 will focus more on fixing the existing Windows 11 interface like start menu, control/notification center, native apps like MS Paint, Windows settings, desktop, bar task and other areas of the operating system.
This update is also set to bring back taskbar drag and drop supportand add a new task manager to Windows 11.
How to try Windows 11 22H2 now
As always, preview builds can be downloaded and installed and you can start testing the first elements of Windows 11 Sun Valley 2 today.
There are different channels in the Insider Program for different branches of the operating system. If you want to try out the preview builds of the next major update today, you can join the Dev Channel, which caters to more technical users.
The “Development Channel” was originally used to test the initial builds of Sun Valley and later Windows 11. Most app updates also appear in the Dev Channel, as the Beta Channel is currently for testing only.
Trusted builds will be released on the Beta Channel in a few months as we get closer to the public release. Prior to release, Windows 11 22H2 will be released into the “Release Preview Channel,” which is typically used to test builds that are ready for production use.
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