[Ultimate Guide]: How to Upgrade to Windows 11 22H2

What is 22H2 in Windows 11?

Windows 11 22H2 is a major update from Microsoft for Windows 11 that brings smart application controls, a redesigned task manager, and new touchscreen gestures among other new features.

Since Windows 11 was officially released, many users who have upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 complained about abnormal CPU usage, system freezes, and other bugs. Microsoft said that they will optimize and improve Windows 11 in the next update 22H2 version.

Now, Microsoft announced that the Windows 11 22H2 release date is September 20, 2022, with the version number confirmed as Build 22621. This update is also the first feature update since Windows 11 was released.

In addition to the new features, it will also add a new UI design and improvements to a series of bugs reported by Windows 11 users. Previously, Microsoft had added version 22H2 to the Windows Insider Program's release preview channel. Windows 11 users can log in to a Microsoft account in the Beta or Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program to experience 22H2 in advance.

How to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2

According to Microsoft, the system requirements for Windows 11 22H2 have not changed, but it does not rule out that SSDs may become mandatory hardware requirements in the future.

To successfully upgrade to Windows 11 22H2, you can go to the Registry to see if your device is ready to upgrade to Windows 11 22H2.

Step 1. Press “Windows + R”, type in “regedit” and click “OK” to run Registry Editor.

Step 2. Follow the path:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\TargetVersionUpgradeExperienceIndicators

Step 3. At this time, you can see "NI22H2", where "NI" stands for "Nickel", which is the code name of the annual update, and "22H2" is the specific version number.

Step 4. Select "NI22H2", you can see a "RedReason" item on the right side, if its value is "NONE", it means that Microsoft will not block the upcoming 22H2 update, and the device will be updated to Win11 22H2; if it is other value, the upgrade may not be possible.(This value depends on compatibility issues. For example, if the device does not meet the hardware requirements, you will see "TPM UEFISecureBoot" in "RedReason".)

Tips:
● In "NI22H2", you can also see a value called "SystemDriveTooFull", which can tell you whether the upgraded storage space is enough. If the value is "1", it means that the device does not have enough storage space for 22H2 or later, and if it is "0", it means there is enough space to upgrade.
● Currently, Microsoft is pushing the relevant registry keys to Windows 10 and Windows 11 21H2. If you find that you cannot find these options, please wait for a while.

If you want to experience version 22H2 before Microsoft officially release it, you can update Windows 11 after joining the Windows Insider Program. You can refer to the following operations:

Step 1. Find Windows Update in Settings, and under "More options", select "Windows Insider Program".

Step 2. Click “Get started”.

Step 3. In the pop-up that appears, link an Microsoft account you are signed in to. And click "Continue".

Step 4. On the next screen, select “Release Preview” and click “Continue”.

Step 5. Restart the PC.

Step 6. Once completed, Windows 11 22H2 version will be automatically delivered to the PC. To install 22H2, go back to Windows Update and click Check Update. You should then see a message "Windows 11, version 22H2 is ready". Click “Download & install”.

How to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11

Now, you should know how to download Windows 11 22H2. For those who haven't upgraded to Windows 11, if you want to take this opportunity to upgrade to Win 11, don’t forget to check the Windows 11 system requirements.

Of all the requirements, UEFI boot mode is the most noticeable. This mode can provide better security for the PC, but it requires a GPT disk to boot. That is to say, if the current Windows 10 20H2 is installed on an MBR disk, you must convert the MBR disk to a GPT and change the boot mode from Legacy BIOS to UEFI. Otherwise, you cannot install or upgrade to Windows 11.

▶ Part 1. Convert MBR to GPT for Windows 11 update

To convert the system disk from MBR to GPT, I recommend you to try a third-party MBR to GPT Converter instead of Diskpart and Disk Management, as they will delete all partitions on the MBR disk and cause data loss. In order to ensure the data safe of the system disk, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a better choice, it supports converting data/system from MBR to GPT without deleting the partition.

Warning: Before converting MBR to GPT, please make sure your motherboard supports UEFI boot mode. Otherwise, the computer will not boot normally. 

Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Right-click the target disk (take the system disk as an example) and choose “Convert to GPT”.

Step 2. Click “OK” to confirm your operation.

Step 3. Click “Apply” to commit the pending operation.

After that, you need to take the following steps to change Legacy BIOS to UEFI Boot Mode.

Step 1. After the computer is turned on, quickly press the shortcut key prompted at the bottom of the computer screen to enter the BIOS.

Step 2. Navigate to the Boot tab, where you can change Legacy to UEFI.

Step 3. Now, save the settings and exit according to the prompted keys.

▶ Part 2. Upgrade to Window 11 from Windows 10 20H2

Finally, you just need to go to “Settings”> “Update & Security”> “Windows Update”, and then click “Check for Updates”. If available, you will see Windows 11 feature updates. Click Download and Install to complete.

Conclusion

This is the full guide of upgrading to Windows 11 22H2. After reading this article, you should know how to upgrade to version 22H2 in Windows 11 and how to upgrade from Windows 10 20H2 to Windows 11. If you still need to manage Windows 11 disks and partitions in the future, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional can also help you, it has more advanced features, such as, clone HDD to a larger HDD, migrate OS to SSD, allocate free space from one drive to another, etc.