Microsoft says its new Windows 11 update will be publicly available on March 14th. However, reports also indicate that the next feature update, also known as Windows 11 23H2, is due out this fall, albeit without major changes.
Microsoft hasn’t given its latest Windows 11 update an official name – some have called it Windows 11 22H2 Moment 2 or the Windows 11 February 2023 Update. A Microsoft blog post now identifies it as a “March 2023 quality update” and says it will be released on March 14th.
While the launch date wasn’t a dark secret, Microsoft was expected to release on Patch Tuesday or the second Tuesday of the month, it’s still worth knowing when you can expect these new changes on your PC. We’ve listed the Windows 11 updates the fix will add, such as AI-enabled Bing chat shortcuts, as well as updated apps like Tabbed Notepad, Phone Link for iOS, and even ways to save on your energy bills. We even tried out a few new features. (Brad Chakos also lists his favorite features.)
Microsoft is making it clear that this is not a so-called Windows feature update that usually deserves a larger release. “Windows 11 will continue to have an annual feature update rate, with a new version released in the second half of the calendar year,” the post added. “Feature update releases are tied to the support lifecycle: 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions and 36 months of support for Enterprise and Education editions.”
This does not necessarily indicate a time frame for Windows 12, which is supposed to arrive in 2024. (Microsoft is reportedly testing Windows 12 in its new “Canary” channel.)
For now, though, there doesn’t seem to be many real features in the next “feature” Windows update. Windows Latest reported that Microsoft has ditched the overhaul in favor of releasing this update under the brand name Windows 12. “Microsoft is moving to Germanium for the next generation of Windows and plans to use the existing Nickel (22H2) platform for Windows 11. 23H2,” the site wrote. describing code words for various platforms. “In other words, the 23H2 version will be more about internal improvements than groundbreaking changes.”
Be aware, however, that Microsoft may release new feature sets in Moments, such as the March 14 update. However, whether Microsoft will release them or delay them until the fall update is anyone’s guess.