Windows 11 24H2 will not arrive for non-Copilot+ PCs on October 8

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A misunderstanding led many to believe 24H2 would arrive on October 8th for non-Copilot+ PCs.

Windows 11
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

A lot of hype was generated around Windows 11 24H2 widespread availability when a recent Microsoft blog post was published suggesting Windows 11 24H2 could arrive in less than a month. However, Microsoft clarified later that the blog post was unrelated to Windows 11 24H2's general availability.

To recap, writer Reanne_Wong wrote an article discussing enhanced data protection with Windows and Microsoft Copilot. In the article, Wong highlighted new functionality for its Copilot AI assistant featuring enterprise data protection for users signed in with an Entra account and Copilot integration directly in the Microsoft 365 app.

Wong revealed that all these changes would be coming soon, with Copilot's enterprise data protection addition rolling out at the time of writing. Copilot integration with the Microsoft 365 app is scheduled to arrive with an optional non-security release preview update on September 24th and mainstream support release on October 8th for all supported versions of Windows 11. Windows 10 was also confirmed to be getting the update in November.

Many misinterpreted Wong's article, believing that these release schedules also cited Windows 11 24H2's mainstream availability — leading many to think Windows 11 24H2 would be arriving on October 8th. However, Microsoft unintentionally worded the article, making it very easy to come to that conclusion. The original article was worded differently to include the term "feature update" when discussing the release dates for these two updates for Copilot, saying, "The shift to the Microsoft 365 app as the entry point for Microsoft Copilot will align with the annual Windows 11 feature update release."

Since then, the article has been edited to exclude the term "feature update," with an editor's note at the top clarifying that the previously mentioned wording was, in fact, not related at all to Windows 11 24H2's general availability.

As a result, we are back to having no confirmed release date for Windows 11 24H2 on non-Copilot+ PCs beyond the fact that it will debut sometime this year. As a reminder, Windows 11 24H2 has already been launched but is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs for now. However, it is still unavailable for the rest of the Windows 11 PC ecosystem.

Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • thestryker
    At this point I'm feeling pretty bad for tech reviewers because it seems like this might not appear in a reasonable time frame for them to redo testing with the new OS update in time for ARL. There are some performance improvements across the board which are unrelated to the AMD patch (also unexplained by Microsoft). This would seemingly make real world performance on Windows 11 a questionmark though I suppose the RC could be used though that isn't usually desired.
    Reply
  • sadsteve
    Eh, don't really care when they release 24H2 since all my computers seem to be working just fine. Having an AI enabled PC is not something I want/need.
    Reply
  • FoxTread3
    September 21, 2024 - Maybe it's because I'm not all that Tech savvy, but when the offer of downloading the latest 24H2 version/update. For me means "24H2 = "Our next chance to really mess with your machine Boy!", or, "Ready to have your system sound messed with?" I could be wrong but I think I hear a malicious and deep voice go "Mooohahaha!" When I restart my PCs after the install. I'm okay with the security updates, but I always have concerns when I see that a new 24H2 is "available".
    Reply
  • Jerry_W14
    FoxTread3 said:
    September 21, 2024 - Maybe it's because I'm not all that Tech savvy, but when the offer of downloading the latest 24H2 version/update. For me means "24H2 = "Our next chance to really mess with your machine Boy!", or, "Ready to have your system sound messed with?" I could be wrong but I think I hear a malicious and deep voice go "Mooohahaha!" When I restart my PCs after the install. I'm okay with the security updates, but I always have concerns when I see that a new 24H2 is "available".
    That is why I wait a week to a month later before installing any windows update. I also do a full OS backup before. Just in case something goes horribly wrong. I can't complain a month ago I was having black screen crashes playing my favorite game. I did a DDU of all my AMD drivers and reinstalled. Smooth sailing since then. I had upgraded my gaming system to the 7800X3D from my 5800X3D. I was having memory and motherboard issues. So it sat for 3 mos before that. No I didn't do a fresh install of windows. But I did the Win 11 upgrade from Win 10 with my 5800X3D. I DDU'd the system after the hardware upgrade. I learned my lesson a long time ago. When you get your system to a stable performance point. Leave well enough alone. Be happy with what you've got. Reliability beats absolute speed that breaks on the regular. IMO.
    Reply
  • FoxTread3
    September 21, 2024 - I agree with and understand your comments. I run a full tower Win10 PC and a full tower Win11 PC. The Win11 is my more advanced of the two, however, it is the one that "stabs" me in the heart most frequently :disappointed: If one of my PCs has a problem.. you can bet it's that one. I don't install any 24H2 "updates" until I absolutely have to. Also, in past months I have been creating "restore points" almost every other day on both machines, but especially when I am expecting an Windows "upgrade" of some sort. I know a lot of people don't put much store in "Restore Points", but they have helped me a great deal at times. One annoying thing is when running a recovery Restore Point, Windows will say that it could not complete the restore for some "Windows reason". Often, a Restore Point created a week ago will either disappear from the list of available "Restore Points" or it will fail. Thanks to a 24H2 and a DirectX "update". My favorite real world Military Vehicle combat Simulator, in which I had spent months creating detailed maps for scenarios. Stopped functioning and I had to reinstall it and lost all of the maps I had taken months to create. :mad: This has happened in the past, and all because of Windows. Even with my best efforts to create backups of the files. I find the way that map files are stored in the Sim program to be rather arcane, and complicated. But it is what it is. Sooo.. I guess you and I agree.. "If it ain't broke.. don't fix it!", and, "Leave well enough alone!" Stay well. 👍:giggle:
    Reply
  • milleron
    I've always said that the most useful thing I was taught in college came from my freshman English Prof, who advised "Write not so that you can be understood; write so that you cannot possibly be MISunderstood." To me, that's wisdom for the ages and something I wish heartily that I could drum into the skulls of technical writers. They, and especially they, violate this essential tenet of writing, especially important in technical writing, over and over and over again. In this case, even Microsoft, with half of all the money in the world, could not provide a writer, proofreader, or editor who knew his tush from his elbow about conveying important information in understandable prose.
    Maddening, and the very worst are tech-support people trying (and failing) to help via carelessly worded emails. When I do get a clearly written reply from one of them, I go out of my way to praise and thank them for answering my simple question unambiguously.
    Reply