Windows 11 version history. Windows 11 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft that was released in October 2021. Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft described Windows as an "operating system as a service" that would receive ongoing updates to its features and functionality, augmented with the ability for enterprise environments to receive non-critical updates at a slower pace or use long-term support milestones that will only receive critical updates, such as security patches, over their five-year lifespan of mainstream support.

Overview 
As with Windows 10 (since version 20H2), mainstream builds of Windows 11 are labeled "YYHX", with YY representing the two-digit year and X representing the half-year of planned release (for example, version 21H2 refers to builds which initially released in the second half of 2021).

Version history

Version 21H2 (original release)

Version 22H2 (2022 Update)

Version 23H2 (2023 Update)

Version 24H2 (2024 Update)

Insider releases 

Windows Insider Preview builds are delivered to Insiders in four different channels. Insiders in the Dev and Canary Channel receive updates prior to those in the Beta Channel but might experience more bugs and other issues. Insiders in the Release Preview Channel do not receive updates until the version is almost available to the public but are comparatively more stable.

On February 3, 2022, Microsoft changed its plans on how they delivered builds for Windows Insiders, with Dev and Beta Channels being "parallel" active development branches, giving an option to switch from Dev to Beta Channel for a limited time. The Dev Channel builds are meant for upcoming and experimental features that may never release to general availability, whereas the Beta Channel builds are the "feature complete" builds that will make its way to the general availability for the specific Windows 11 release.

On March 6, 2023, Microsoft announced that the Dev Channel will be rebooted, and existing insiders will be moved to the new Canary Channel. Two days later, insiders transitioned from Dev to Canary received the first build in the existing 25000 series builds starting from build 25314 while new insiders in the rebooted Dev Channel received the first build in the new 23000 series builds starting from  build 23403.

Dev Channel 
On September 2, 2021, Microsoft announced that Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel will receive builds directly from the  branch, which are not matched to a specific Windows 11 release. The first build released under this strategy, build 22449, was made available to Insiders on the same day.

Aside from the  branch, Insiders in the Dev Channel would receive builds compiled from other branches within certain periods of time:  (builds 22449 to 22616 and builds 25115 to 25309 – 22H2 string in former Dev),  (builds 23403 to 23620 – 22H2 string in rebooted Dev) and  (builds 26052 to 26100, 26120 and later – 24H2 string).

Canary Channel 
Aside from the  branch, Insiders in the Canary Channel would receive builds compiled from other branches within certain periods of time:  (builds 25375 to 26040 – 23H2 string),  (builds 26052 to 26100 – 24H2 string) and  (build 26200 to 26257).

See also 
 Windows 10 version history
 Xbox OS version history

References

External links 
 Windows release health
 Flight Hub

Windows 11
History of Microsoft
Software version histories