The next big Windows update is ready, but it’s only available to a very small handful of users: here’s when we’ll be able to download it
The more technical people call it “KB5039332“, Microsoft fans call it “24H2“, the average user of Windows 11 he doesn’t know what it is and he won’t know for quite some time, because despite it being one of the updates to Redmond’s operating system most important ever no one has seen it yet and, most likely, very few will be able to see it until autumn.
Windows 11 24H2, this is what we are talking about, it is the second big update of 2024 for Microsoft’s operating system. Will bring lots of new features for users, many new functions based on artificial intelligence (like the Paint Cocreator image generator), but not as soon as all Microsoft fans would like. The update, in fact, is there but cannot be downloaded.
Windows 11 24H2 only for Copilot+ PC
On the update support page KB5039332 (which is the internal code of the update a Windows 11 24H2), Microsoft explicitly states:
Important: Windows 11, 24H2 version is only available for Copilot+ PCs
THE Copilot+ PC they are the new computers”to all AI” announced by Microsoft in May, during the conference Microsoft Build 2024. They differ from normal PCs because they have a NPU (Neural Processing Unitthe part of the main chip that does the AI calculations) can perform at least 40 TOPS (trillion operations per second).
This requirement is particularly stringent, so much so that to date the only chips capable of satisfying it are new ones Qualcomm Snapdragon And Snapdragon X Plus based on ARM architecture.
Copilot+ PC: starting tomorrow
If you go to the store today, or online, to buy a Copilot+ PC you won’t find it: the first Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft and other brands will go on sale “starting June 18th“. That is, tomorrow.
Whoever buys one will not find it already updated to Windows 11 24H2but you will have to download and install the update immediately after first turning it on.
Only then will you be able to take advantage of all the new AI-based Windows functions which, we remind you, are currently largely reserved for English language.
Among other things, one question hangs over the launch of the Copilot+ PCs and their actual availability in large numbers on the market very heavy sword of Damocles: ARM, the company that develops the architecture of the same name on which Qualcomm chips are based, has sued Qualcomm for patent infringement.
In the complaint ARM requests the blocking the sale of all PCs with Snapdragon and the destruction of all chips already produced.
Windows 11 24H2 for Intel and AMD
At this point “the rest of the world” which has a PC with chip Intel And AMDmaybe even recent, you might be wondering when you can download and install Windows 24H2even if he already knows that he won’t be able to use most of the AI-based functions.
This is because, at the moment, no CPU from AMD or Intel for sale has an NPU for at least 40 TOPS: the first models with this computing power will arrive in autumn-winter.
According to the usually reliable blog WindowslatestFurthermore, Windows 11 24H2 will be available to everyone only at end of September or even, early October. In the meantime the beta versionwhich you can download and install only if you are subscribed to the Release Preview channel, but it is not highly recommended: it is not optimized at all and can cause various PC problems.
