When Microsoft first launched Home windows 11 in October, it was lacking some key performance. A number of Home windows 10 options had been dropped with little clarification, whereas many app redesigns and Android app help weren’t but accessible.
Microsoft has put that proper within the months since – the model accessible at the moment is an enormous step ahead. Nonetheless, a lot of the precise new options have been reserved for the 22H2 replace, and it’s logical to assume that it’ll be an analogous story in 2023. However a subsequent function replace and earlier report counsel issues could possibly be very completely different. Right here’s every part it’s worthwhile to learn about Home windows 11 updates in 2023.
When will Home windows 11’s 23H2 replace be launched?
With the introduction of Home windows 11, Microsoft introduced that it was shifting to annual function updates. The 22H2 replace is out now, so you can be forgiven for pondering that we’ll get a 23H2 replace too.
Which may nonetheless be the case, however a July 2022 Home windows Central article means that Microsoft will eliminate function updates completely. Writer Zac Bowden says they’ll get replaced with “Moments” – new feature-laden updates which can be launched each few months. If this seems to be true, options initially rumoured for the 23H2 replace could be launched steadily all through 2023.
Given we’ve already seen tabs in File Explorer and different new options added in a separate October 2022 replace, it appears to be like like this may occasionally grow to be a actuality.
Nevertheless, Microsoft hasn’t supplied any replace on its plans for upcoming Home windows 11 options. There’s an opportunity it’ll keep on with simply annual function updates, that means we might see model 23H2 arrive in September or October of 2023.
However every time a major replace arrives, you in all probability received’t have the ability to set up it immediately. Microsoft nonetheless tends to throttle up availability with the intention to handle demand, with newer gadgets prioritised. It doesn’t take almost so long as the preliminary Home windows 11 rollout, although.
For earlier entry, you possibly can all the time be a part of the Home windows Insider Program and check out new performance earlier than it’s launched to the general public. Nevertheless, do notice that not all options within the Dev Channel make their method into last variations. The Beta Channel provides an excellent steadiness for most individuals, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not really useful in your foremost gadgets.
Will all present Home windows 11 gadgets be appropriate with model 23H2?
More than likely, sure. Microsoft launched sweeping new {hardware} necessities for Home windows 11 within the identify of safety, leaving loads of older gadgets unable to improve.
There are not any indications that’ll occur once more anytime quickly, except Microsoft surprises us with the discharge of Home windows 12 forward of its presently rumoured launch date of 2024.
A extra doubtless state of affairs is that some older gadgets will probably be phased out then, quite than in 2023.
What new options will probably be accessible within the 23H2 replace?
The 22H2 replace isn’t even official but, so it’s onerous to foretell what will probably be added to Home windows 11 a 12 months later. Nonetheless, we have already got some concept of what to anticipate.
As Home windows Newest reported, a March 2022 Microsoft webcast features a PowerPoint file named ‘SV3 Refined Investments Subsequent Steps’. Many individuals have taken this to imply Solar Valley 3, the anticipated inside codename for model 23H2.

Microsoft
Contemplating the unique Home windows 11 launch was identified merely as ‘Solar Valley’, this appears like a logical conclusion. Nevertheless, it’s anybody’s guess what ‘refined investments’ truly means. Maybe it’s extra delicate tweaks quite than any massive overhaul, however that was all the time doubtless.
Certainly, a subsequent
Home windows Newest article from June 2022 suggests Microsoft has “confirmed” that the 2023 function replace will probably be SV3 (Solar Valley 3). That is based mostly on current updates to the Dev channel of the Home windows Insider Program, which reference each ‘SV3’ and ‘copper’, one other anticipated inside codename. Proof of the 22H2 replace has been accessible inside early builds for some time, so it is sensible for this to be the 2023 equal.
Nevertheless, in an April 2022 video, Home windows Central’s Zac Bowden and Daniel Rubino focus on what the 23H2 replace might entail. Regardless of the massive caveat that this might all change, there are some helpful insights price understanding about – each are dependable journalists with a powerful monitor report for Home windows information.
Regardless of Home windows 10’s devoted pill mode being dropped for Home windows 11, Microsoft is constant to make the OS extra suited to the touch enter. Bowden anticipates there’ll be extra to come back, with the potential for a separate pill person interface (UI) to be reintroduced in model 23H2.
Home windows Newest‘s Mayank Parmar agrees, suggesting a tablet-friendly taskbar might arrive in 2023.
Elsewhere, Bowden believes that the replace will additional enhance how Home windows communicates with Android. Microsoft just lately
rebranded the Your Telephone companion app as ‘Telephone Hyperlink’, redesigning it within the course of. With the
Floor Duo 3 additionally doubtless in 2023, this makes quite a lot of sense.
Bowden additionally believes model 23H2 is perhaps once we’ll lastly see a system-wide darkish mode. This was initially meant for the primary launch of Home windows 11 in 2021, however there’s no suggestion it’ll arrive this 12 months both.
Later within the video, Rubino suggests 2023 will probably be an enormous 12 months for foldables working Home windows 11. Which may not embrace a portrait Floor Duo, however Microsoft will probably be eager to optimise the working system for quite a lot of completely different kind elements.
A separate Home windows Newest article discusses one other potential 23H2 function. As Microsoft subtly revealed at its April 2022 occasion, the choice for app folders on the Home windows 11 desktop appears to be like to be on the best way. With no rumours suggesting it’ll arrive within the 22H2 replace, this could possibly be one thing we’ll have to attend till 2023 for.
In fact, a newer Home windows Central article suggests these options will probably be delivered all through 2023 quite than all of sudden within the 2023 replace. However no different particular options have been revealed on the similar time.
We’ll replace this text as soon as extra is revealed about the way forward for Home windows 11 updates, together with whether or not we’ll truly see a 23H2 replace. Trying additional forward, it appears we could possibly be getting Home windows 12 as quickly as 2024.