Windows 11: How to force the update to the latest version
Upgrading to the latest version of Windows 11, such as 24H2, can sometimes be a challenge. Users often report that the update does not appear automatically, even though it is already available. This is especially true when using virtual machines, where it may be necessary to force the update manually.
In this article, we will provide you with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to successfully install the update using group policies.
Renick Büttner
Senior Software Engineer & Certified IT-Expert · Working in IT since 2014.
How do you force a Windows 11 update using Group Policy?
Although Windows 11 is labeled, there are various different versions of it. In recent weeks, we have increasingly found that our virtual workplaces were stuck on the 23H2 versions. To stay up to date, we sought a solution to the problem. The newer versions could not be found through the standard update function of Windows.
This issue can be solved, among other ways, with the help of group policies, which are a powerful tool for configuring Windows features, especially in enterprise environments.
Follow this guide to force the Windows 11 update to the latest version 24H2:
- Start the Group Policy Editor: Type "GPEDIT" in the Windows search bar and select the Group Policy Editor that opens.
- Open the Windows Update settings: In the editor, go to "Administrative Templates" > "Windows Components" > "Windows Update" and then open "Manage updates offered by Windows Update".
- Select the update target version: On the right side, you will find the option "Select the target version of feature updates". Double-click on it to open this setting.
- Configuration of the target version: In the popup window, select the option "Enabled". Enter the text "Windows 11" under "Product version" and "24H2" in the "Target version" field.
- Disable protective measures: To bypass potentially blocking protective measures, you can also enable the option "Disable security precautions for feature updates". This is optional and should be used thoughtfully.
- Apply changes: Close the windows and save the changes.
- Enforce the changes: Type the command "GPUPDATE /force" in the search to enforce the group policies immediately.
- Restart: Restart the system or the virtual machine.
- Run system update again: After the restart, run the system updates again and check if the update to 24H2 is now available.
Through this process, the policy settings are adjusted so that Windows specifically searches for the update to version 24H2 and installs it.
Once the update is complete, you can deactivate the group policy for the target version again.
