Windows 11 version naming (e.g., 23H2 and 24H2) explained in layman's terms, please

I'm new to Windows 11. I'm running Windows 11 Enterprise, version 23H2, build 22631.3880.

Can someone please explain, in layman's terms, what the version (xxHx) means?

• I think 23H2 means the "version"/major release of 2023, second half of the year.
• I think 24H2 means the "version"/major release of 2024, second half of the year.
• As far as I can tell, in recent years Microsoft has been issuing major releases only in the second half of the year. Which is to say, there is no 23H1 or 24H1, at least as far as I can tell.
• Am I likely to receive, through Windows Update, version 24H2 when it is released later this year? As far as I can tell, I have limited ability to decline updates -- they are forced down my throat, so to speak.

22H2 stands for the year, Half of the year and 2 stands for the second half. We now are on 23H2 and looking forward to 24H2. The Build numbers apply to which version, mine is now Version 23H2 Build 22631.3958. Version Upgrades are now yearly and Build updates to them are monthly Patch Tuesday [second Tuesday of a month] or more often as needed.
WinKey + R, type winver to get this:

Thank you! Is it true that we have little control over what updates are installed. Microsoft "forces updates down our throats," so to speak, correct?

No. You can instruct Windows Update not to offer (or attempt to install) 24H2 when it becomes available. Generally for older PC's, MS takes a while before deciding your PC is eligible and offers it.

Follow the instructions here. And change the Target to 23H2:

classic35mm said:

Thank you! Is it true that we have little control over what updates are installed. Microsoft "forces updates down our throats," so to speak, correct?

Click to expand...

It can be called by different names but the bottom line is we only have a License to use Windows, pretty much at the mercy of the programmers. Some updates can't be bypassed and there may be some we never see get installed.

The difference with Linux is it is OpenSource, anyone that desires and has the ability can create their own take on what it should look like but it is free to users, about a hundred iterations listed at www.distrowatch.com. Apple's Macintosh is more controlling than Windows about what software providers can do.

This link may be useful:



Servicing timeline released first half of year (H1)


Servicing timeline released second half of year (H2)

As a side note on Windows history:

When W10 first shipped, MS committed itself to quarterly releases but that was too much hassle for large customers. Then the release cycle was slowed down to half-year releases from 2019-2020. Two releases per year.
After that, MS moved to one release per year in 2021, but always in H2 to meet the annual PC buying cycle that starts in October.

classic35mm said:

Thank you! Is it true that we have little control over what updates are installed. Microsoft "forces updates down our throats," so to speak, correct?

Click to expand...

Not really true.

Back in days of Windows 7/8 people turned of updates and a huge percentage of pcs got virus infected.

Windows was getting heavily criticised for being insecure even though it was not their fault.

So they took the business decision to ensure users got updated (or else they could suffer a lot of reputation damage).

What is reasonably true is security updates are required within 30 days but feature updates can be deferred up to a year.

I know from personal experience, family and friends regularly got infected on W7 but now fairly rare on Windows 10/11, and even then it was more down to bad surfing habits e.g. clicking any link without thinking.

People should stop thinking of forced updates as an attack on their freedom (to be dumb) and consider it as important to protect users against many evil hackers out there.

Anybody who thinks they are better to the hackers are sadly deluded.

I remember when crash helmets became compulsory on motor bikes. Many complained they gave you restricted vision and hence less safe. Of course, statistics prove themselves with much frequency of head injuries.

In the end there are lots of "daleks" out there trying to get your dosh. So people should recognise MS has no option but to focus more on security than they perhaps did in the past.

In summary - updates are good, not bad.

cereberus said:

I remember when crash helmets became compulsory on motor bikes. Many complained they gave you restricted vision and hence less safe. Of course, statistics prove themselves with much frequency of head injuries.

Click to expand...

That was a really helpful analogy! Good points all around.

garlin said:

You can instruct Windows Update not to offer (or attempt to install) 24H2 when it becomes available.

Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing out that tutorial -- very interesting!

classic35mm said:

• I think 23H2 means the "version"/major release of 2023, second half of the year.
• I think 24H2 means the "version"/major release of 2024, second half of the year.
• As far as I can tell, in recent years Microsoft has been issuing major releases only in the second half of the year. Which is to say, there is no 23H1 or 24H1, at least as far as I can tell.
• Am I likely to receive, through Windows Update, version 24H2 when it is released later this year? As far as I can tell, I have limited ability to decline updates -- they are forced down my throat, so to speak.

Click to expand...

Yes, your understanding is correct, the version number is YY followed by H2 for 2nd Half. And no, there hasn't been a 'H1' version since Windows 10, version 21H1, after which MS decided that two feature updates a year was a bit too much.

There is a difference between Cumulative Updates (fixes/patches for your current version) and Feature Updates (the upgrade to the next version). They are both offered through Windows Update, but for Cumulative Updates the monthly Patch Tuesday CUs are mandatory. You can pause updates, but will have to install them eventually.

For a Feature Update it is different. These will be offered in Windows Update but are optional. You will not be forced to install them. It will only install if you choose to click 'Download & install'. The Insider Release Preview channel got the 24H2 Feature Update offered earlier this year.

When Windows 10 came out major updates were:
YYMM, where YY=year, and MM = target month
For example:
Target date: March 2019 (1903)
Actual date: 2019-05-21
Target date: September 2019 (1909)
Actual date: 2019-11-12

When they kept missing the target months in the fall of 2004 they changed to:
YYHH, where YY=year, and HH = H1 or H2, where H1 = 1st half & H2 = 2nd half
For example:
21H1 = 1st half 2021 update
21H2 = 2nd half 2021 update

Windows 10 available dates
22H2 (OS build 19045): 2022-10-18
21H2 (OS build 19044): 2021-10-04
21H1 (OS build 19043): 2021-05-18
20H2 (OS build 19042): 2020-10-20
2004 (OS build 19041): 2020-05-27
1909 (OS build 18363): 2019-11-12
1903 (OS build 18362): 2019-05-21
1809 (OS build 17763): 2018-10-02
1803 (OS build 17134): 2018-05-08

Windows 11 kept on with the new naming scheme.

Windows 11 available dates
23H2 (OS build 22631): 2023-10-31
22H2 (OS build 22621): 2022-09-20
21H2 (OS build 22000): 2021-10-04

Note both Windows 10 & 11 are now only doing 2nd half major updates.