What is Windows 11 Configuration Update? How to Download and Install It?

If you read about new “Windows Configuration Update” for Windows 11 on Internet and you are wondering what type of update it is and what changes does this update make in Windows 11 devices, you have come to the right place. In this article, we’ll discuss what are Windows Configuration Updates and how to download and install them in our Windows 11 PC.

What is Windows Configuration Update for Windows 11?

Windows Configuration Update is a new type of update announced by Microsoft for Windows 11 22H2. This update is not available for previous Windows 11 versions or older Windows versions such as Windows 10, 8, 7, etc. Windows Configuration Updates are available for all editions of Windows 11 22H2.

The main objective of Windows Configuration Update is to quickly roll out and enable new and latest features announced by Microsoft in Windows 11 devices before launching them to general public. For example, recently Microsoft announced the new Moment 3 update or 3rd Feature Drop for Windows 11 which brings new features and changes to Windows 11 operating system. The Windows Configuration Update is being used by Microsoft to roll out those new features and changes on selected Windows 11 22H2 devices before making them available to all next month i.e. June 2023.

The Configuration Updates are installed using new servicing technology called Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR). With the help of CFR, Microsoft will roll out new features and enhancements to selected Windows 11 devices in advance by installing these new Configuration Updates.

That’s why Windows Configuration Update will not be available on all Windows 11 22H2 devices. The update will be downloaded and installed in those devices which have “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle option turned on or enabled on Settings -> Windows Update page.

You can consider Windows Configuration Update as a beta or testing update although it’s not a testing update. Windows 11 users who want to test drive new and latest features earlier than general availability, can turn on the toggle option and install these Windows Configuration Updates in their devices.

If the toggle option is turned off, Windows Configuration Updates will never be installed in those devices. The new features and enhancements will be available in those devices when Microsoft rolls out them to all.

Is Windows Configuration Update a Standalone Update?

No. Windows Configuration Update is not a general update. It doesn’t contain any KB number and download link. It can be considered as a signal to tell Windows Update to enable the new features and changes or not in a Windows 11 device. The actual Windows update containing the new features and changes is downloaded and installed on all devices when the user checks for new updates but those new features and changes are only enabled if the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle option is turned on or enabled. Reset of the devices get the same new features and changes after a few days via regular Patch Tuesday updates.

So there is no download link or offline installer to install a Windows Configuration Update.

You can check it yourself! If you turn off the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle option on Windows Update Settings page, the recently released Cumulative Update Preview KB5026446 for Windows 11 22H2 doesn’t enable new features and changes present in Moment 3 update. But if you turn on the toggle option before installing the KB5026446 update in your Windows 11 device, all new features and changes of Moment 3 update are immediately activated and enabled in your device. That’s why many people didn’t get the new Moment 3 update features enabled in their Windows 11 devices even after installing the required KB5026446 update as they didn’t turn on the toggle option in their devices.

So Windows Configuration Update is not a standalone update but is used by Microsoft to enable or disable new features in Windows 11 devices via regular cumulative updates.

How to Download and Install Windows Configuration Updates in Windows 11?

If you want to get all Windows Configuration Updates in your Windows 11 device, you just need to turn on or enable the toggle option on Windows Update page. Following steps will help you in enabling the required option in your Windows 11 computer system:

1. Open Settings app from Start Menu. Alternatively, you can press WIN+I keys together to directly launch Settings app.

2. Now click on Windows Update tab or section present in left-side pane.

3. In right-side pane, you’ll see the required “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle option.

If you want to receive new Windows Configuration Updates to test the latest features immediately, enable the toggle option i.e. set it to ON.

If you are worried about installing and testing new features in early stage, keep the toggle option OFF.

NOTE: The new toggle option is added by KB5026372 update in Windows 11 devices. This update was released on May 09, 2023 as a part of Patch Tuesday. We posted about this update in our exclusive Important Security News and Updates article. If you don’t see the toggle option, download and install the KB5026372 update in your Windows 11 device and you’ll get the toggle option.

Now you’ll receive all Windows Configuration Updates released for Windows 11 in your computer system. This is the actual use of the new “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle option added on Windows Update page.

How to Check Whether Windows Configuration Update was Installed?

You can check whether your Windows 11 device contains a Windows Configuration Update or not using following steps:

1. Open Settings app from Start Menu. Alternatively, you can press WIN+I keys together to directly launch Settings app.

2. Now click on Windows Update tab or section present in left-side pane.

3. In right-side pane, click on “Update History” option.

4. Scroll down to bottom and expand the “Other Updates” section.

Now you’ll see “Windows Configuration Update” section if your device has received it.

You can click on “Learn More” link given next to the configuration update section to check what changes were made by the update in your device.

Official Changelog Page of Windows Configuration Updates for Windows 11

Microsoft has created a dedicated changelog page to list all Windows Configuration Updates released for Windows 11 operating system. At the moment, only one Configuration Update has been released for Windows 11 22H2 on May 24, 2023.

Windows Configuration Updates Changelog Page

On May 24, 2023, Microsoft released KB5026446 cumulative update preview for Windows 11 22H2 which brought Moment 3 update. Devices which have “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle option turned on, received the Windows Configuration Update enabling new features and changes. Devices which didn’t have “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle option enabled, didn’t receive the new Windows Configuration Update thus no new Moment 3 Update features and changes. These devices will receive the Moment 3 update features and changes next month i.e. June 2023.

I hope now you understand the use of Windows Configuration Updates in Windows 11 devices.

Also Check:

[Fix] Windows Updates Fail to Install with 0x800f081f Error Code

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