In the delightful month of October in the year of 2024, the latest Windows 11 24H2 update graciously opened its digital doors to users far and wide. Alas, the joy was short-lived, for Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, chose a cautious path due to a myriad of tribulations stemming from the previous year’s feature update. Yet here we stand, in the chill of January of 2025, where Microsoft, like a stern ruler, hath decreed to compel an update of Windows 11 24H2 upon all eligible PCs currently traversing the realms of 23H2 and 22H2. Many a user doth fret and fuss over 24H2’s unresolved bugs, whispered to disrupt the very stability of systems and mar the sacred performance of games. Should thy heart desire to shun the Windows 11 24H2 update and linger in the realms of 23H2 or 22H2, lo and behold, our tutorial beckons thee.
In the first method, a choice bestowed upon thee if thou dost eschew the ways of third-party tools, thou shalt find thyself embarking upon a journey of altering the Group Policy to fend off the looming shadow of the Windows 11 24H2 update. Pray, take heed that the Group Policy Editor doth dwell solely within the hallowed confines of Windows 11 Pro edition. Should the option be naught but a ghost to thy Windows 11 Home, worry not, for our guide shall illuminate the path to enable Group Policy Editor. Once accomplished, follow the steps that unfurl before thee:
- Openeth the Start menu and doth seek "gpedit."
- "Edit group policy" shalt be thy next command in Windows 11.
- Venture forth to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components.
- Revel in the scroll and journey to Windows Update -> Manage updates offered from Windows Update.
Next, with a gentle click and a soft touch, bestow upon the "Select the target Feature Update version" thy gaze.
- Select the "Enabled" radio button and inscribe "Windows 11" in the first input field.
- If thy path doth lead to version 23H2, carve "23H2" in the Target Version field. If version 22H2 be thy guide, inscribe "22H2" without delay.
- Thereafter, click upon Apply -> OK.
Upon conclusion, seek the glowing orb of the Start menu and summon the "cmd."
- Click upon "Run as administrator" in the rightmost pane.
Here, recite the sacred command to bring to fruition the changes in the Group Policy.
gpupdate /force
Thou art now done, and thy PC shall remain rooted in the realm of Windows 11 version 23H2, untouched by the hands of 24H2. If this path seemeth long and arduous, a third-party tool beckoneth.
Method 2, a splendid choice for the modern soul who craveth ease, doth offer the chance to block the Windows 11 24H2 update with the ethereal InControl utility. Crafted by the skilled hand of Steve Gibson, this tool of wonder hath the power to withhold the major feature updates, save for the guardians of security updates, and anchor thy Windows version to the current build. ‘Tis but a whisper to wield this tool:
- Download InControl with swift clicks.
- Launch InControl and beckon the "Take Control" button.
Thus, thy PC shall ensconce itself within the comforting walls of the current build, shielded from Windows 11 24H2’s advance. Should the winds of change call thy name in days to come, click upon "Release Control," and thee may ascend to the latest version.
And so, dear reader, these twain methods, each holding its own virtue, proffer a sanctuary from the onslaught of 24H2, allowing thee to linger in the realms of Windows 11 23H2 or 22H2. I heartily recommend the InControl app, for ’tis a breeze to use, sparing thee the need to dance with Registry values or Group Policy. Should thy PC hath already succumbed to the siren song of the updates, fret not, for our guide standeth ready to aid thee in downgrading from Windows 11 24H2 to 23H2 with safety as thy faithful companion. Should questions cloud thy mind like shadows in the moonlight, share them with us in the comments below, and let us navigate this digital realm together.
