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Upgrade the PC from Windows 11 Pro 22H2 with Microsoft’s Windows 11 Installation Assistant, because 22H2 is out of service and Windows Update has not offered the required feature update automatically.
Windows 11 Home and Pro 22H2 stopped receiving updates on October 8, 2024, regardless of when that copy was installed.^1^ A recent Microsoft Defender security-platform update does not mean the Windows 22H2 operating system remains supported.
Perform the in-place upgrade
An in-place upgrade normally preserves applications, settings, and personal files, but back up important files first.
- Open Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page and, under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, select Download Now.^2^
- Right-click the downloaded program and select Run as administrator.
- When compatibility is confirmed, select Accept and install.
- Select Restart now when prompted. Do not switch off the computer while installation is underway; it will restart several times.
- After signing in, press Windows key + R, enter
winver, and select OK. - Confirm that the displayed Windows version is no longer 22H2. Microsoft’s release-information page identifies 22H2 build 22621 as having ended updates and lists the currently serviced releases.^3^
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates to install cumulative and driver updates for the newly installed version.
The Installation Assistant requires an x64 PC, administrator access, a valid Windows 10/11 licence, and at least 9 GB of free disk space.^2^
If the assistant reports a compatibility problem
Do not bypass a compatibility warning. The assistant may request PC Health Check or report that the machine does not meet Windows 11’s minimum requirements. Microsoft documents these outcomes and recommends using PC Health Check to identify the failed requirement.^4^
Because this is a secondhand computer, it is possible that Windows 11 was originally installed by bypassing its hardware requirements. If PC Health Check says the hardware is unsupported, installing a newer release by another bypass would leave the PC unsupported and not entitled to updates.^2^ In that case, the supported resolution is compatible hardware rather than resetting Windows Update.
If Windows Update displays Learn more, What needs your attention, or names an incompatible application or driver, address that item first. A safeguard hold intentionally prevents a feature update where Microsoft has identified a compatibility problem.^5^
If the assistant fails without a hardware block
Use Microsoft’s ISO for an in-place upgrade:
- On the same Download Windows 11 page, choose the x64 ISO matching the computer’s current Windows display language.
- After downloading it, right-click the ISO and select Mount.
- Open the mounted drive and run
setup.exefrom inside the existing Windows installation. - Choose the option to retain personal files and applications when offered.
- Complete Setup, then verify the result with
winver.
Do not boot from the ISO or USB if the objective is to retain installed applications and files; booting from installation media is intended for a clean installation. If neither the assistant nor the ISO can upgrade the supported hardware, back up the computer and use the installation media for a clean installation as a final option. This deletes applications and can erase data, depending on the choices made during Setup.
References
