Windows 11 is set for a major update – though note that it’s not one of Microsoft’s major feature updates – next spring, if the rumor mill is right.
This comes from a reputable Microsoft source, WalkingCat on Twitter, who believes the current release timeline for the next Windows “Continuous Innovation” update is May 2023.
May 2023 = next Windows “Continuous Innovations” release timeline.December 14, 2022
Continuous-what-now? As Neovin (opens in a new tab)who noted the tweet above, indicates that this apparently marks another of Microsoft’s “moments”, which are updates delivered outside of the big (annual) feature updates that bring new features to Windows 11 faster.
In other words, they’re a way around the unfortunate case that now updates like 22H2 are annual. You’d be waiting a very long time for new features to come all at once if Microsoft hadn’t implemented some sort of more flexible delivery method like this.
We’ve already had our first Moment update (introducing tabs in File Explorer and beyond), with issue two scheduled for February or March 2023, and the update posted here will be Moment number three. Or will it? According to WalkingCat, maybe not – we’ll discuss that further.
As for what might come with the May 2023 update, we have no idea yet about that score. Watch this space as always.
Analysis: Update jargon attack
For starters, let’s keep in mind that these are just rumors of a release date, so it could slip up as with any development plan. With that disclaimer out of the way, the revealer makes an interesting point in the thread of this tweet by distinguishing between moment and ongoing innovation or “CI release” as the revealer calls it.
WalkingCat notes (opens in a new tab): “CI Release > Moments”.
The leaker adds that the CI release is actually a “bigger” Moment, or an even more minor update, in other words (without a full feature update, of course). Confused? Yes, so are we.
As far as we know, continuous innovation is the term Microsoft uses to refer to process continuously pushing smaller feature updates to Windows 11 as needed, outside of big feature updates, instead of the actual type of update like Moment. We understand that Moment is the only kind of smaller, flex-applied update that exists, but hey, maybe we’re on the wrong end of the stick.
Really, it’s a pretty confusing situation, but none of that upgrade jargon matters. All you need to keep in mind is that Windows now gets one big update every year, but other features are delivered here and there in smaller updates as needed. And the next minor feature updates are due out in February/March and then May, whatever they’re called. (And while it looks like the May update might be more extensive, don’t expect too much – of course, that’s not what any of these more flexible updates are about.)