- Starting January 21, 2025, Microsoft is automatically rolling out Windows 11 24H2 to all eligible PCs running the 23H2 or 22H2 build.
- If you are concerned about performance issues or bugs, block the Windows 11 24H2 update using the fantastic InControl app.
- Users can also manually change the 'Select the target Feature Update version' Group Policy to prevent the Windows 11 2024 update.
The latest Windows 11 24H2 update became generally available to users in October 2024. However, Microsoft followed a phased rollout due to numerous issues arising from the 2024 feature update. Now, in January 2025, Microsoft has decided to force update Windows 11 24H2 on all eligible PCs running the 23H2 and 22H2 builds. Many users are worried about 24H2’s unresolved bugs, which may affect system stability and degrade gaming performance in particular. So, if you want to block the Windows 11 24H2 update and stay on version 23H2 or 22H2, follow our tutorial below.
Method 1: Prevent Windows 11 24H2 Update Using Group Policy
If you don’t want to use a third-party tool, which is our second method, you can manually change the Group Policy to prevent Microsoft from force-downloading the Windows 11 24H2 update. Note that the Group Policy Editor is officially available on the Windows 11 Pro edition only. You need to follow our guide to enable Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 Home if the option isn’t available to you. After that, follow the below steps:
- Open the Start menu and search gpedit.
- Now, open “Edit group policy” on Windows 11.
- Next, expand Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components.
- Scroll down and move to Windows Update -> Manage updates offered from Windows Update.
- On the right pane, double-click on “Select the target Feature Update version.”
- Now, select the “Enabled” radio button and type “Windows 11” in the first input field.
- If you are on version 23H2, type
23H2in the Target Version field. If you are on version 22H2, type22H2in the field. - After that, click on Apply -> OK.
- Next, open the Start menu and search “cmd.”
- Click on “Run as administrator” in the right pane.
- Here, run the below command to apply the Group Policy change.
gpupdate /force
You are now done, and your PC will not update to Windows 11 version 24H2. If this seems like a tedious method, use the third-party tool below.
Method 2: Block Windows 11 24H2 Update with Third-Party App
In just two clicks, you can block the Windows 11 24H2 update with the fantastic InControl utility. It’s a small app developed by Steve Gibson that blocks major feature updates, except security updates, and holds your Windows version to the current build.
Behind the scenes, it modifies Registry values to block the 24H2 update. Here is how to use it:
- Go ahead and download InControl for free.
- Next, launch InControl and click the “Take Control” button.
- Your PC will now remain on the current build and will not update to Windows 11 24H2.
- In the future, if you want to get feature updates, click on “Release Control” and you can now update your PC to the latest version.
Well, these are the two quick ways to block the 24H2 update and stay on the Windows 11 23H2 or 22H2 build. I recommend using the InControl app as it’s hassle-free and you don’t need to manually tweak Registry values or Group Policy. In case your PC is already updated, you can follow our guide and downgrade Windows 11 24H2 to 23H2 safely. Finally, if you have any questions, let us know in the comments below.
