Version 22H2 (2022 Update)

The Windows 11 2022 Update[89] (also known as version 22H2[90][91] and codenamed "Sun Valley 2") is the first and current major update to Windows 11. It carries the build number 10.0.22621. The first preview was released to Insiders who opted in to the Dev Channel on September 2, 2021.[92] The update began rolling out on September 20, 2022. Notable changes in the 2022 Update include:[93]

• Redesigned and new Efficiency mode feature in Task Manager
• Re-added the drag and drop feature on the taskbar
• Improvement to the snap layout experience
• New live captions feature
• New Smart App Control (SAC) feature for blocking untrusted applications
• Split "Focus assist" feature into "Do not disturb" and "Focus"
• Included Clipchamp as inbox app

The first component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 1",[94] was released on October 18, 2022 with build 22621.675 and several further changes:[95]

• New tabbed browsing feature and refreshed layout of the left navigation pane in the File Explorer
• New inline suggested actions feature
• Re-introduced taskbar overflow feature
• Improvements to the built-in Windows share window

The second component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 2,"[96] was released on February 28, 2023 with build 22621.1344 and several further changes:[97]

• Added iOS support in the Phone Link app
• New Studio Effects section in the Quick Settings for NPU-compatible devices
• Redesigned Quick Assist app
• Added third-party apps support in the Widgets panel
• Re-introduced tablet-optimized taskbar
• Added support for tabs in the Notepad app
• New Braille displays and input/output languages support in Narrator
• New Energy Recommendations page in the Settings app
• Updated touch keyboard option in the Settings app
• New Tamil Anjal keyboard
• Re-introduced the search box on the taskbar

The third component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 3",[98] was released on May 24, 2023 with build 22621.1778 and several further changes:[99][100]

• New presence sensor privacy settings in the Settings app
• New VPN icon on the taskbar
• Added the ability to show a notification badge on the Start menu's user profile icon
• Introduced live captions in more languages
• Added the ability to create live kernel memory dumps in Task Manager
• Introduced Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC) to desktop computers and battery powered devices
• New copy button for copying two-factor authentication codes in notification toasts
• New USB4 hubs and devices page in the Settings app
• Re-introduced the new touch keyboard option in the Settings app
• New multi-app kiosk mode
• Re-introduced the ability to display seconds in the system clock on the taskbar
• Adds support for Bluetooth LE Audio and the LC3 codec

The fourth component update to Windows 11, version 22H2, codenamed "Moment 4",[101] was released on September 26, 2023 with build 22621.2361 and several further changes:[102][103]

• The availability of Copilot in Windows (in preview)
• New preview flyout when hovering over files under the Recommended section on the Start menu
• New volume mixer experience in Quick Settings
• Re-introduced the ability to never combine taskbar buttons
• Added the ability to hide the time and date in the system tray
• Updated notification bell icon in the system tray on the taskbar
• Modernized Details pane, Home page, address bar and search box in the File Explorer
• New Gallery feature in File Explorer
• Added the native support of additional archive file formats (7z, rar, tar)
• New Windows Backup app
• New screen for restoring from backup during the OOBE
• Improvements to backup and restore experience for desktop apps
• Added support of Unicode Emoji 15
• Added the support of COLRv1 color format
• New Narrator natural voices in Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Japanese, English (United Kingdom and India), French, Portuguese, German and Korean
• New text authoring experiences in voice access
• New Home page in the Settings app
• Redesigned Windows Security notification dialogs

As of build 22567, the version string has been changed from "Dev" to "22H2".