The release date of Windows 11 version 22H2 is somewhere between September and October, according to a hint from Microsoft itself. The company accidentally or intentionally disclosed this information in its new guidelines published for OEMs and PC manufacturers, and it has also stated that Build 22621 is the RTM.
The first major update of Windows 11 “version 22H2” or “Sun Valley 2” is now ready. As we reported, Microsoft completed the Windows 11 Anniversary Update on May 24 and has already started distributing Build 22621 for some manufacturers. This will allow companies like Lenovo and HP to ship their next-gen devices with this new version of the operating system.
In addition, OEMs can now test their drivers for a new update. AMD just released a new driver update that adds support for the newer WDDM 3.1 driver model. The WDDM 3.1 apparently ships with Windows 11 22H2 and AMD has started preparing their drivers, but we don’t know at this point what’s new or improved in WDDM 3.1.
In an aftermarket, Microsoft noted that its partners can ensure compatibility with Windows 11 version 22H2 by submitting their drivers before the September 5 deadline. confirmed build 22621 is the RTM:
“Minimum acceptable build for Windows 11, version 22H2 certification is RTM build (ie 22621)”.
In particular, this does not mean that the update will be released on September 5. So, assuming this schedule stays on track and there’s no change to the plan we’ve heard from our sources, you can expect version 22H2 to arrive sometime in October.
September 5 is a deadline for OEMs and it seems to indicate that the update will be released sometime between the end of September and the end of October. This is in line with what we’ve already heard from other independent sources, and Microsoft’s original intention was to release the first major update to the operating system sometime between September and October.
While the update has been finalized and is ready for manufacturers, Microsoft will hold onto it for a few months to address the remaining bugs through cumulative updates.
We saw last month that the company was almost done with the update and removed the watermark, but the final touches were being put on the testers. We expect this to continue in the coming months.