Why doesn’t my Windows 10 Pro ver 21H1 update to ver 21H2? I have waited for that to happen many months now. It is now 15 dec-21. I have read that it can only be done by Windows Update. It seems to be impossible to download a separate KB from Microsoft. But that has not happened to my PC yet. I have Windows 10 Pro version 21H1 installed and my Windows Update works as far as I can see as I get a lot of updates every now and then. Does it depend on my PC. It is a ASUS P8 Z77-V LE.
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Why doesn’t my Windows 10 Pro ver 21H1 update to ver 21H2
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Windows » Windows 10 » Windows 10-other » Why doesn’t my Windows 10 Pro ver 21H1 update to ver 21H2
- This topic has 24 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 6 months ago.
Viewing 10 reply threadsAuthorRepliesgeekdom
AskWoody_MVPDecember 15, 2021 at 8:28 am #2406449Short-circuit the entire Windows update version process:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
Use “Create Windows Installation Media”
On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender1 user thanked author for this post.
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Larbo
AskWoody Lounger -
Peobody
AskWoody PlusDecember 16, 2021 at 2:57 pm #2406687You aren’t the only person. My Win 10 Home running on an HP Pavilion dv6 laptop remains on 21H1. I haven’t read anything about 21H2 that gives me a compelling reason to pursue it but did read an article on ghacks.net stating that it is available as KB5003791.
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Larbo
AskWoody Lounger
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CraigS26
AskWoody PlusDecember 15, 2021 at 8:51 am #2406453Short-circuit the entire Windows update version process:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
Use “Create Windows Installation Media”
Don’t do anything WITHOUT IMAGEs first …. I would have offered — geekdom’s Win 10 Update Asst page above — as a Start, too, BUT maybe he/others can remind us Why Installation Media is Preferred OVER the Update Now button. I’ve used the button 2-3 times without issue but would defer to better reasoning on Plan A.
W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / Macrium Pd vX / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU = 0
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Susan Bradley
Manager -
WSPseudoGeek
AskWoody PlusJuly 17, 2022 at 3:18 pm #2461963I’m having same issue (running Win 10 Home). I was alright staying on 21H1 but noticed that Susan was recommending going to 21H2. That version is not made available on my update page. And I am not receiving any messages that Microsoft is testing compatibility.
I am getting the message that 21H1 KB5015807 is pending download but Susan has suggested deferring for now.
In “services” Windows Update’ is “Running” with the status type “Automatic (Trigger Start).”
Just wondering what is going on. Thanks.
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Susan Bradley
Manager -
WSPseudoGeek
AskWoody PlusJuly 18, 2022 at 12:40 pm #2464054Not that I’m aware. I wouldn’t normally ever do anything to the registry. Is it possible I inadvertently clicked on something to cause that? As far as I can recall, when I use Windows update, I just download and then install. I do have my computer set on “metered” so as to avoid automatic updates, if that means anything to you.
Is there somewhere I might check to see if the “defer” registry key is activated? Thanks for your quick response, btw.
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Towson_Steve
AskWoody PlusNovember 22, 2022 at 10:45 am #2500264Thanks, Ms. Bradley, for all the work you do.
I have two questions, if you have the time:
- I have a desktop running W10 21H1 build 19043_2130 Home edition, not eligible for W11. My check updates page tells me to update to W10 22H2. (I had told windows that I’m metered, because you delay updates so frequently, I’m very skittish.) Other than a backup, are there any other intermediate steps I should take before hitting the download button?
- I could be wrong (usually am), but I seem to remember a news letter article that listed all the versions, and whether it was ok to install. Was there such an article?
I used to be much more familiar with what’s going on with windows, but their drive to make their product idiot-proof, seems to be making an idiot of me. As such, when I read your patch articles, I have trouble keeping your advice for Home version separate from Pro version and Business version. I can hardly use the forum anymore – too far behind in terminology, technology and trends.
Thanks again,
Towson_Steve
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PKCano
Manager
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Alex5723
AskWoody PlusJuly 18, 2022 at 1:23 pm #2464096Is there somewhere I might check to see if the “defer” registry key is activated?
In Windows update screen there should be statement regarding changes made to registry/GPEdit…
WSPseudoGeek
AskWoody PlusJuly 18, 2022 at 2:11 pm #2464156I’m using Windows 10 Home. I don’t think the defer registry option is available to me:
And in my advanced options I have not deferred for 35 days. However, I have “checked” the “metered connection” on so Windows updates are not automatically installed. Could that be why I haven’t been given the option?
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusJuly 18, 2022 at 2:54 pm #2464165“metered connection” on so Windows updates are not automatically installed.
On metered connection Windows updates are not automatically downloaded.
Set metered connection off.
Set targetversion to 21H2 using InControl.
Run Windows update using WUmgr.1 user thanked author for this post.
Paul T
AskWoody MVPJuly 19, 2022 at 12:31 am #2464250Could that be why I haven’t been given the option?
Nope. I have Home with metered and it’s up to 21H2.
cheers, Paul
2 users thanked author for this post.
Just another Forum Poster
AskWoody LoungerJuly 19, 2022 at 7:11 am #2464310My Uncle has a 3 laptops with Win10 Home and we keep the metered connection turned on so they won’t “automatically” update themselves and they do still display new updates when they become available, they just don’t download/install them until he clicks the update button.
BTW, you can “manually” trigger the update by going to Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 page and clicking the Update now button which will download a file called “Windows10Upgrade9252.exe”
Simply run that file and it’ll update you to 21H2.
It’ll only take ~15 mins or so because all it does is turn on the 21H2 features that already existed in 21H1 but were disabled.
1 user thanked author for this post.
WSPseudoGeek
AskWoody PlusJuly 19, 2022 at 1:33 pm #2464376As Paul T related, my other PCs also have metered connection turned on to avoid automatic updates and they also display the new updates when they become available; they don’t download until I click the update button. I’m still wondering why this older Dell XPS 9100 is not doing it. Since 3/30/2022, all cumulative updates have been for 21H1 (before that they were for 20H2.)
I’ll look at your other suggestion.
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PKCano
ManagerJuly 19, 2022 at 2:36 pm #2464391Open the Registry editor:
Type regedit in the search box and press enter.The Registry Editor is a “tree” like File Explorer.
In the left pane, navigate to the paths below (see the second screenshot in #2286499 for what it looks like).
For Win10 Home and Win10 Pro you can manually create the Registry entries as described in Section 2 at this location:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate. REG_DWORD = TargetReleaseVersion, value = 1
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate, REG_SZ = TargetReleaseVersionInfo, value = 2004 (or specified current version)Do you see “20H1” where that screenshot shows “2004”? If so, that is what is preventing the upgrade. Let us know and we will tell you how to change it to 21H2.
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WSPseudoGeek
AskWoody PlusJuly 19, 2022 at 3:16 pm #2464402
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WSPseudoGeek
AskWoody PlusJuly 19, 2022 at 3:12 pm #2464401HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate. REG_DWORD = TargetReleaseVersion, value = 1
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate, REG_SZ = TargetReleaseVersionInfo, value = 2004 (or specified current version)Do you see “20H1” where that screenshot shows “2004”? If so, that is what is preventing the upgrade. Let us know and we will tell you how to change it to 21H2.
I have attached a printout of what my registry shows at that location. (I can’t yet tell if it will be visible to you.) There is no reference to TargetReleaseVersion
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PKCano
Manager
Microfix
AskWoody MVPJuly 19, 2022 at 4:13 pm #2464411As we don’t know the state of your system file integrity…
Within an elevated cmd prompt (right click cmd prompt shortcut, select run as admin) then insert the following into the cmd prompt window:sfc /scannow
followed by the [Enter] key to establish file integrity is good and fix any errors.
Once it’s finished,(may take a while) restart the device.Then go to Powershell shortcut, (right click the shortcut and select run as admin)
Insert the following into Powershell followed by the [Enter] keyDISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Once finished, restart the device and then try again to download the enablement package via Windows Update.(kb5003791)
If this doesn’t work, at the very least you and we all know your system is healthy for further investigation…
Windows - commercial by definition and now function...Viewing 10 reply threads -

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