Microsoft has announced that the new Windows 11 update will be available on March 14th, but there will be another feature update, Windows 11 23H2, in the fall, which will not have any major changes.
The latest Windows 11 update, previously referred to as Windows 11 22H2 Moment 2 or the Windows 11 February 2023 Update, is now identified as the “March 2023 quality update” in a Microsoft blog post.
It will include new features such as shortcuts to Bing Chat and updated apps like a tabbed Notepad and Phone Link for iOS, among others. However, Microsoft clarifies that this is not a major feature update like the ones released annually, and those will continue to be released in the second half of the year.
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Pluton | A chip-to-cloud security technology built with Zero Trust principles at the core, providing hardware-based root of trust, secure identity, secure attestation, and cryptographic services |
| Enhanced Phishing Protection | Helps protect work or school sign-in passwords against phishing and unsafe usage on websites and applications, working alongside Windows security protections |
| Smart App Control | Blocks apps that are malicious or untrusted, as well as potentially unwanted apps that may cause your device to run slowly or display unexpected ads |
| Credential Guard | Compatible Windows 11 Enterprise devices will have Windows Defender Credential Guard turned on by default, providing added protection for credential data |
| Malicious and vulnerable driver blocking | Vulnerable driver blocklist is automatically enabled on devices when Smart App Control is enabled or for clean installs of Windows, adding an extra layer of security against malicious drivers |
These feature updates are tied to a support lifecycle, with 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions and 36 months of support for Enterprise and Education editions.
After the release of Windows 11 in 2021, Microsoft is developing a new version, Windows 12, which will offer users more exciting features for their PCs.
Although Windows 11 has necessary features for running a PC, in this era of digital convenience, users want PCs that can perform multiple operations without requiring external assistance.
Microsoft has incorporated all the necessary features in Windows 12 along with the latest features. While Windows 12 was announced to be available in March 2023, some new PCs come with pre-installed Windows 12 that can be upgraded after the release date.