Microsoft has released Windows 11 22H2, which appears to be sticking to the hardware requirements it set last year, implying that it still won’t allow machines with older processors or TPM 2.0 a pass. Even if users join the Insider Program, the Windows 11 update will not be available for unsupported PCs.
However, the update didn’t just go to those who were expected to get it; it also went to many systems that didn’t fit Windows 11’s minimum system requirements.
Microsoft launched Windows 11 22H2 in the Release Preview Channel on Tuesday, indicating that the next major Windows update is one step closer to a larger public release in the fall. Mica for Win32 programs, drag and drop, an improved Start menu, a new Task Manager, and other features are included in the update.
However, some users began receiving it on their unsupported PCs not long after the feature update was released in the Release Preview Channel.
Microsoft claims that the update rollout was an error.
Users on Reddit and Twitter with unsupported Windows 10 Computers who were subscribed to the Release Preview channel received messages that the Windows 11 22H2 upgrade was ready and that their computers had suddenly met the required specifications to install it. This raised the prospect that Microsoft was lowering the system requirements for Windows 11. However, the Windows Insider Program Twitter handle clarified on Wednesday that a bug caused the update messages and that the system requirements will not change.
While there are simple ways to install Windows 11 on Computers that aren’t supported, Microsoft doesn’t let its Windows Insiders install beta releases of the operating system on incompatible Systems, so this error is unusual.
According to sources, the update for unsupported devices has been deleted from the servers. It was not promptly downloaded on any computer set up as a member of the Windows Insider Program.
For starters, even if you’re a member of the Release Preview Channel and have an unsupported PC, Windows 10 doesn’t start downloading the feature update immediately. Version 22H2 is fully optional, and users must first complete one or more warnings before proceeding with the installation.
Windows 11 requirements
Windows 11 requires at least an 8th-generation Intel Core Processor or AMD Ryzen 3000-series CPU and Secure Boot capability and TPM 2.0 for disc encryption and other security services. PCs manufactured and sold in late 2017 and early 2018 can usually run the OS; however, older PCs cannot. Although the cutoffs are still arbitrary, Microsoft claims that these new Computers can run Windows 11 more reliably and will support security improvements that earlier Computers do not.
Technically, Windows 11 can be installed on any computer supporting the 64-bit version of Windows 10. On that front, Windows 11 22H2 is neither more nor less restricting than the official version of Windows 11. Once installed, this should work and receive updates in a similar manner to the previous version of Windows 11, although with some annoying popup notifications. However, Microsoft has been careful not to provide the update to incompatible Computers instead of mandating a manual update or a fresh install for permitting simple upgrade installs.
Users who don’t want to update to Windows 11 can roll back to Windows 10 using the built-in recovery tools without losing data.
