How to upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 (preview)

Windows 11 23H2 (2023 Update) is expected to become available during the fourth quarter of 2023. If you plan to upgrade a device running Windows 11 22H2 or Windows 10, you will have to use Windows Update, the official ISO file, or Installation Assistant. You can also use the Windows Insider Program to upgrade a device while the feature update is still in preview.

This release represents the second major release of Windows 11, and it’s an optional update that delivers several new features, visual changes, and improvements to enhance productivity and continue making the experience more consistent.

Although it isn’t a good idea to rush and install a new feature update as soon as it becomes available to avoid potential bugs and other problems during the early days, you can upgrade manually in at least four ways using the different tools and Windows Update. If you have a device running version 22H2, the recommended upgrade method is Windows Update since version 23H2 will be delivered as a cumulative update without the need for reinstallation. If you use any other tool, you will be doing an in-place upgrade that will reinstall the operating system.

If you are still on Windows 10, you can upgrade directly to Windows 11 23H2. However, you must check the hardware meets the minimum requirements. You’ll need an Intel 8th Gen or AMD Zen 2 or newer, or Qualcomm 7 and 8 Series processor. This is in addition to the requirements of TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot and a minimum of 64GB of storage. 

This guide will teach you four ways to upgrade to the Windows 11 2022 Update. You can also upgrade the system using a clean installation in six ways.

• Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Insider Program
• Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Windows Update
• Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from ISO file
• Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Installation Assistant

Warning: If you plan to upgrade an existing system, it is also recommended to create a backup before proceeding. Also, at the time of this writing, you can only upgrade using the Windows Insider Program since the feature update is still not officially available. If you try to use the Windows Update, ISO file, or Installation Assistant before version 23H2 is available, you will end up installing version 22H2. You have been warned.

Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Insider Program

To upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 early from version 22H2, use these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

2. Click on Windows Update.

3. Click the Windows Insider Program tab.

4. Click the Get started button.

5. Click the “Link an account” button.

6. Sign in with a Microsoft account.

7. Click the Continue button.

8. Under the “Pick your Insider settings” section, select the Beta Channel option.

9. Click the Continue button.

10. Click the Continue button to agree to the terms and conditions.

11. Click the Restart button.

12. Open Settings after the reboot.

13. Click on Windows Update.

14. Click the “Check for updates” button to download the latest preview of Windows 11 23H2.

15. Click the Restart button.

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and upgrade the device to Windows 11 23H2.

After the upgrade, you can gracefully remove the computer from the program from the “Windows Insider Program” settings page to prevent upgrading to the next version by turning on the “Stop getting preview builds” toggle switch.

Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Windows Update

To upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 manually from Windows Update, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Windows Update.

3. Click the Check for updates button.

4. Click the “Download and install” button to install Windows 11 23H2.

5. Click the Restart now button.

After you complete the steps, the setup will upgrade the system to version 23H2.

Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from ISO file

To upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Windows 11 22H2 or Windows 10 with an ISO file, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.

2. Under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section, select the Windows 11 option.

3. Click the Download button.

4. Select the installation language.

5. Click the Confirm button.

6. Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file.

7. Right-click the ISO file and select the Mount option.

8. Click on the mounted drive from the left navigation pane.

9. Double-click the Setup file to begin the Windows 11 23H2 upgrade process.

10. (Optional) Click the “Change how Windows Setup downloads updates” option.

11. Select the “Not right now” option.

12. Click the Next button.

13. Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.

14. Click the Install button to upgrade to version 23H2 while keeping your files and apps.

If you want to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 11 23H2, click the “Change what to keep” option, select the “Nothing” option, the “Next” button, and then the “Install” button.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 2023 Update upgrade will start preserving your settings, apps, and files.

Upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Installation Assistant

The Installation Assistant makes it easier to force the upgrade of version 23H2 on devices running an older version of Windows 11 or Windows 10.

To upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 with the Installation Assistant tool, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.

2. Under the “Windows 11 Installation Assistant” section, click the Download Now button.

3. Double-click the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file to launch the tool.

4. Click the “Accept and install” button to begin the upgrade to Windows 11 23H2.

After you complete the steps, the setup will continue with the upgrade to the latest operating system release, in this case, Windows 11 23H2.

Source: Pureinfotech