Microsoft has introduced Windows 10 21H2, also known as the November 2021 Upgrade, and it is now available as an optional update in Windows Update for customers who are using Windows 10 2004 or later versions of the operating system.
There are just a handful of new capabilities in the Windows 10 21H1 feature update, which is largely targeted at corporate customers. However, because this is the most recent iteration of Windows 10, and because Windows 10 2004 will go out of support at the end of this month, it is suggested that customers install the new feature upgrade.
A phased rollout of Windows 10 21H2 is underway, with the first offering it as an optional upgrade to “seekers” running version 2004 or later. Seekers are individuals that manually check for new updates in Windows Update by running the program.
Windows 10 21H2 (What’s New)
Microsoft Windows 10 version 21H2 also includes security updates for the following components: the Windows AI Platform, the Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Microsoft Windows Apps, the Windows Cryptography component, the Windows Fundamentals component, the Windows input and composition component, the Windows kernel, the Windows Media component, the Windows Office Media component, and the Windows Virtualization component.
The release of 21H2 coincides with the update of a number of Microsoft’s deployment tools and technologies, with the goal of bringing what is now available for Windows 10 into line with what will be available for Windows 11. In that vein, Microsoft has began rolling out its revamped Microsoft Store app store, which was initially introduced in Windows 11 and is now available on Windows 10 PCs, according to company executives today.
It is one of the smallest feature upgrades produced by Microsoft, containing only a handful of new features, which are detailed in the following sections.
This release includes the addition of support for the WPA3 H2E (Hash-to-Element) protocol, which improves the security of wireless networks by reducing the vulnerability to side-channel attacks.
Earlier this year, researchers announced the discovery of a novel side-channel attack known as “DragonBlood,” which could be used to obtain a WPA3 password.
In conjunction with the introduction of Windows 10 21H2, the operating system is being moved to yearly feature update releases, in order to keep up with the releases of Windows 11.
“We will migrate to a new Windows 10 release cycle that will be consistent with the Windows 11 release cadence, with yearly feature update releases as the goal. In order to better align with the General Availability Channel, we are changing the servicing option for releases to the General Availability Channel beginning with the November 2021 Update (Please note that this replaces the prior “Semi-Annual Channel” designation for the service option).”
In accordance with the new release cadence, the next major feature upgrade for Windows 10 is targeted for delivery during the second half of 2022.
As of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will continue to maintain at least one version of Windows 10 until the end of its support lifecycle.
Furthermore, the November 2021 Update will provide 18 months of service and support for both the Home and Professional versions. As of today, the Enterprise and Education versions will be covered for 30 months in terms of service and support.
