Microsoft keeps releasing major updates for Windows 11 once a year. Now, the company also decides to roll out new features and improvements more frequently. In this MiniTool post, we will briefly introduce this Windows 11 new update cadence.
Windows 11 New Update Cadence
Since the initial release of Windows 11, Microsoft has decided to roll out a feature update for Windows 11 once a year (every autumn). The first major update for Windows 11, the Windows 11 2022 Update, has been released on September 20, 2022. There are many new features and improvements in it.
However, Microsoft issues a new update cadence for Windows 11: this giant decides to roll out new features and enhancements for Windows 11 more often. This doesn’t mean that the feature update is canceled. Microsoft will continue to release the yearly feature update in the fall. But when new features are ready, Microsoft will release them to the public rather than waiting for the annual feature update. This may make the annual feature update not so major.
How Does the Windows 11 Feature Drop Work?
According to the saying from Microsoft, the new features will be delivered through Stores and servicing, and they will be contained in the monthly security updates. What does this mean? If Microsoft does this, Windows 11 users will be able to automatically get these new features on their devices. On the other hand, the business will have certain control over this. It will have the ability to set a common group policy, enabling or disabling all of the new features to be added to version 22H2 next year.
The first feature drop will happen in October. At that time, new features like tabs in File Explorer, Suggested Actions, an updated Taskbar overflow UI, and a new photos app experience will be introduced in the update. However, the frequency of the feature drop is not fixed. When the new features are prepared, you will see them.
Microsoft will Release a New Windows Version Once Three Years
Microsoft also decides to go back to the more traditional three-year development cycle for major versions of the Windows client. Due to this, Windows 12 may arrive in 2024. But you can still get the annual feature update until the end of the support service for Windows 11.
How to Get the Windows 11 Update?
Microsoft always releases updates through Windows Update in the Settings app. This is the recommended method to upgrade to the latest Windows 11.
Besides, you can also use Windows 11 Installation Assistant to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. If you want to create a Windows 11 installation USB drive, you can use the Windows 11 media creation tool.
>> Find more Windows 11 Update methods
Recommended MiniTool Software for Windows 11/10
To protect your files and system, you’d better back up your computer to an external hard drive using MiniTool ShadowMaker (professional Windows backup software).
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If your files are lost after a Windows Update and there is no available backup, you can use dedicated data recovery software like MiniTool Power Data Recovery to get them back.
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Both of these two MiniTool programs can work on all versions of Windows, including Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 7.
Bottom Line
Windows 11 new update cadence is a good signal for Windows 11 users. They can get and use new features and improvements more often. This should also be a selling point for Windows 11.