You can now check if your PC can install Windows 11’s first big update - here’s how
Be warned, it does involve the Registry
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Microsoftis making the finishing touches to Sun Valley 2,Windows 11’s first major update since its release back in 2021, but users have been unsure of whether their PC would be able to support it.
According toWindows Latest, there’s a way of going into the Registry Editor, and checking if your PC can update to 22H2 once it’s available (supposedly later this year).
CalledSun Valley 2internally by the company, there still hasn’t been a clear indication ofwhat the update will involve, but there have been announcements of tabs in File Explorer, and further updates in the look ofWindows Media PlayerandPaintfor example.
We’re expecting these to come to the major update, but of course, it’s no use to you if your PC can’t update to it. With this in mind, here’s how you can check.
Checking the Registry
The Registry is the backbone of Windows, and has been for decades. It’s a series of values that will determine the settings for every app and every aspect of theoperating system.
Based on a certain value, the PC will follow that command from the Registry. But due to its design, there’s always a danger of mistaking the wrong registry, making parts of your PC show errors, or simply not working as it’s intended to.
However, when it comes to this short guide, it’s only a matter of finding a registry value, not changing anything.
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While this won’t give the reason as to why your PC won’t be able to update to 22H2, you can quickly check a few things and see if your eligibility changes. Not installing the most recent Windows updates, or having low storage could cause you to be ineligible, so changing these could be all you need to get your PC ready for 2H22.
If all of these are all in order then it could be, unfortunately, due to the fact that your PC is too old to update itself.
We still don’t know when this update will arrive, but with Microsoft’s aim to release these big updates every year, we suspect it will be around November, to line up withWindows 11’s original release around that time in 2021. If you want to use the latest Windows release at launch then you likely have until around then to upgrade your PC.
Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.
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