Will this major Windows 11 update finally get me to love Microsoft’s operating system?

Major Windows 11 update could land any day now

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It looks like the biggestWindows 11update yet could land any day now. Known asWindows 11 22H2, as well as Sun Valley 2, for many people – including myself – this is a make or break moment for Microsoft’s fledgling operating system.

AsWindows Latest reports, references in code suggest that the the RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version of Windows 11 22H2 will land in May or June, with ‘reliable’ sources (according to Windows Latest) saying the RTM will be made available on May 24, which is only a few days away.

This is exciting news if true, as the major update is expected to bring some much-needed improvements toWindows 11.

Hard to love

Since itssurprise announcementand launch in 2021, Windows 11 has struggled to get people to love it. While no one reallylovesany version of Windows (unless you’re on theMicrosoftpayroll), Windows 11’s major problem was that except forsome dodgy updates,Windows 10was generally regarded as a very good operating system.

So, many people haven’t felt the need to upgrade. The confusingsystem requirements of Windows 11, which saw perfectly capable PCs being unable to install it due to a lack of a relatively obscure security feature known asTPM, certainly didn’t help.

Even worse, Windows 11 launched with some odd design choices which mean some features and functionality we’ve relied on in previous versions wasn’t there.

So, the Windows 11 22H2 update is a chance for Microsoft to reset the narrative around Windows 11, adding requested and missing features and showing us all what the future of Windows looks like.

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Will Microsoft manage that? It seems we may not have long to find out. When software reaches RTM stage, it usually means it’s good to go to manufacturers, including laptop and PC makers likeDellandHP.

Windows 11 22H2 features to look out for

As with other yearly updates, Windows 11 22H2 is set to bring some big new features. One of the biggest will be the overall look of Windows 11. While the newoperating systemhas a distinctive design that sets it apart fromWindows 10, not every app has been given a makeover, with some stuck with a look they’ve been rocking for years, if not decades.

This has led to Windows 11 feeling unfinished. A more unified look across the OS will certainly help, with a range of legacy tools, likeTask Manager, getting a new Windows 11 look.

However, the features I’m looking forward to the most are improvements to the Start menu and taskbar. Windows 11 originally launched missing key features – such as the ability to drag and drop apps and documents to quickly pin them to the taskbar, or to open them in certain applications.

For many people, this was a huge oversight, as it’s a feature we’ve been using for years in other versions of Windows, and while it may sound small, it helped make our lives a lot easier.

The good news is that the drag and drop functionality – at least some of it – will be coming to Windows 11 in the 22H2 update. Microsoft is alsocleaning up the Start menuto make it less cluttered and easier to use.

It’s tweaks like this that will make the overall Windows 11 experience better for a lot of people. I’ve been using Windows 11 for months now, and while it’s an OK operating system, I haven’t been blown away by it. Windows 11 22H2 could finally change that, even if it’s only making small changes at first.

Matt is TechRadar’s Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there’s no aspect of technology that Matt isn’t passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he’s reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.

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