Successfully Forced Windows 11 24H2 Installation: My Experience Skipping the Line

An editor at Blogzine

October 17, 2024
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Difficulty level: Advanced Windows 11 Windows 11 24H2 Windows Help

Successfully Forced Windows 11 24H2 Installation: My Experience Skipping the Line

In order to initiate the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade on the Pro edition, you’ll need to activate the “Select the target Feature Update version” policy and set it to “Windows 11” with “24H2” via the Group Policy Editor.
For those using Windows 11 Home, you’ll need to adjust the entries of “ProductVersion,” “TargetReleaseVersionInfo,” and “TargetReleaseVersion” within the “WindowsUpdate” key in the Registry to enable an immediate upgrade.

If you’re looking to upgrade promptly, you can expedite the downloading of the Windows 11 24H2 (2024 Update) and bypass the wait time when the feature update isn’t showing up in the “Windows Update” settings. This can be accomplished through Group Policy and Registry modifications.

Although Windows 11 24H2 officially rolled out on October 1, 2024, the update is being distributed gradually, prioritizing devices that are expected to have a seamless upgrade experience. Consequently, it may take some time for the new version to be available for all eligible devices.

However, you can adjust your settings to facilitate an immediate download of version 24H2, eliminating the waiting period by configuring Windows Update with the “Select target Feature Update version” policy in the Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 Pro. Conversely, users with Windows 11 Home can alter the “WindowsUpdate” Registry key to enforce the upgrade.

It’s crucial to highlight that if you don’t see the feature update appearing in your “Windows Update” settings, it’s likely due to compatibility issues with your hardware or software. In such cases, it’s wise to wait for the upgrade option to show up automatically rather than forcing the version 24H2 installation.

Additionally, since the feature update launched, Microsoft has noted various known issues affecting 24H2, and user feedback has indicated numerous problems following the upgrade.

Lastly, there are alternative methods to enforce the upgrade to Windows 11 24H2. You can utilize the Installation Assistant or mount the ISO file in File Explorer to start the installation process.

This guide provides a step-by-step approach to bypass the queue and upgrade your device to Windows 11 24H2 immediately. During testing, I utilized a fresh installation of Windows 11 23H2 on compatible hardware that was not receiving the update (from the United States). This guidance may or may not apply to older Windows 11 versions or in various geographic regions, and these techniques will not allow the upgrade on unsupported hardware.

Enforcing upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 using Group Policy

To compel the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade using Group Policy, follow these instructions:

Access the Start menu on Windows 11.
Type gpedit in the search bar and select the top option to launch the Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to the following directory:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update
Right-click on the “Select the target Feature Update version” policy and select the Edit option.
Select the Enabled option.
Verify the “Windows 11” name as the product version to receive.
Confirm the “24H2” version under “Options” for the “Target Version for Feature Update” setting.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.
Restart your computer.
Open Settings.
Select Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.

Quick note: The “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” setting will be grayed out, reflecting the updated system settings.
Click the Restart now button to proceed with the upgrade.

Upon completing these steps, the feature update will automatically download and install on your device.

After the upgrade, you can revert the configuration to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update by selecting the “Not configured” option for the “Select target Feature Update version” policy.

Force upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 using Registry

To install Windows 11 24H2 without waiting through Registry adjustments, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for regedit and select the top result to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to this location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Right-click the Windows folder, select the New submenu, and choose Key.
Name it WindowsUpdate and hit Enter.
Right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select New, and then click on String Value.
Label the new key ProductVersion and press Enter.
Right-click the newly created key and select Modify.
Set the value to Windows 11.
Click OK.
Right-click the WindowsUpdate key again, select New, and then choose DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name this key TargetReleaseVersion and press Enter.
Right-click this new key and select Modify.
Set its value to 1.
Click OK.
Right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select New, and select String Value.
Label this new key TargetReleaseVersionInfo and press Enter.
Right-click it and select Modify.
Set its value to 24H2.
Click OK.
Restart your computer.
Open Settings.
Select Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.
Click the Restart now button to initiate the upgrade process.

Once these steps are completed, the latest version of Windows 11 will be installed through a complete reinstallation.

After finishing the upgrade, you can eliminate the configuration under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate by carefully removing the “ProductVersion,” “TargetReleaseVersionInfo,” and keys, or resetting their values back to defaults.

Even though this method provides immediate access to the latest version without waiting for its automatic arrival, it’s worth noting that your device may not experience all intended new features as Microsoft continues to roll them out gradually. For instance, the company plans a second wave of features with the November 2024 update, with no set timeline for when those AI-boosted features will be made available. Additionally, many AI functionalities will necessitate a Copilot+ PC.

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