Upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 using Intune

This Intune Windows 11 24H2 upgrade guide covers the details for upgrading your existing Windows 10/11 devices to Windows 11 version 24H2. You can create a feature update deployment policy in Intune to upgrade devices that run Windows 10/11 to Windows 11 version 24H2.

Microsoft has started rolling out its Windows 11 2024 update with lots of useful improvements. Windows 11 version 24H2 includes changes to the Start menu, File Explorer, Settings, and more. Refer to the following guide to find out all the new features included with version 24H2.

Windows 11, version 24H2, is basically a feature update for Windows 11. It includes all features and fixes in previous cumulative updates to Windows 11, version 23H2. Performing Windows 11 24H2 upgrade using Intune is pretty easy and straightforward. Let’s get started.

Prerequisites

The first step in preparing for a Windows 11 24H2 upgrade is to ensure your devices meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. If you want to upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 using Intune, here are some things you need to know.

• Licenses: Creating and targeting a feature update for the 24H2 upgrade requires a license for Intune. Refer to the information on subscriptions required for deploying feature update in Intune.
• Enrollment: The device must be enrolled in Intune MDM and should be either Hybrid AD joined or Microsoft Entra joined.
• Telemetry: The devices that you intend to upgrade to 24H2 must have telemetry turned on, with a minimum setting of Required.
• Device Editions: The feature updates deployment is supported on Windows 10/11 devices running the following editions:
  • Pro
  • Enterprise
  • Education
  • Education
  • Pro for Workstations
• Licenses: Your organization must have one of the following subscriptions that include a license for Windows Update for Business deployment service:
  • Windows 10/11 Enterprise E3 or E5 (included in Microsoft 365 F3, E3, or E5)
  • Windows 10/11 Education A3 or A5 (included in Microsoft 365 A3 or A5)
  • Windows Virtual Desktop Access E3 or E5
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium
• The Microsoft Account Sign-In Assistant (wlidsvc) service must be enabled for installing feature updates. If the service is blocked or set to disabled, the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade will fail. By default, the service is set to Manual (Trigger Start), which allows it to run when needed.

Steps to Intune Windows 11 24H2 Upgrade

If your organization is ready for the Windows 11 24H2 update rollout using Intune, the below steps are for you. Note that before utilizing Intune for mass deploying the 24H2 update to users, you must test this update on a few devices first. Gradual rollout of updates is the approach that most organizations prefer.

Step 1: Create a Feature Update Policy for Windows 11 24H2

The first step in deploying the Windows 11 24H2 update involves creating a feature update policy in Intune. To accomplish that, sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center. Go to Devices > By platform > Windows > Manage updates > Windows 10 and later updates. Switch to the Feature updates tab and click Create profile.

Step 2: Configure Feature Update Deployment Settings

On the Deployment settings page, enter a meaningful name and a description for the policy. In my case, the following details are specified:

• Name: Upgrade to Windows 11 24H2
• Description: A feature updates deployment profile to upgrade your Windows 11 devices to version 24H2

Next, you’ll have to specify the feature update you want devices to be running. Click on the drop-down next option: feature update to deploy and select Windows 11, version 24H2 from the list.

Once you choose the required Windows 11 version, the next step is to choose how you want to make the update available for end users. Intune offers two options for deploying feature updates to end users.

1. Make available to users as an optional update: If you pick this option, the user must navigate to the Windows update settings page to see and select to install the Windows 11 24H2 update. Users have to click Download to install the update.
2. Make available to users as a required update: If you pick this option, the next time the device checks for updates, the 24H2 update is treated and automatically installed as a Required update.

In the below example, the Windows 11 24H2 update is deployed as an optional update for users.

Step 3: Intune Rollout Options for Windows 11 24H2

With Rollout options, administrators can manage when Windows Updates makes the update available to devices that receive this policy. This is a critical step in updates deployment and must be configured as per the business requirements.

There are three rollout options to choose from and they are as follows:

1. Make update available as soon as possible: With this option, there’s no delay in making the update available to devices. This rollout option is useful when you are testing the Windows 11 24H2 upgrades on a pilot batch of devices in Intune.
2. Make update available on a specific date: This option lets administrators choose a specific date and make the 24H2 update available on that date. Remember that the Windows Update won’t make the update available to devices with this configuration until that day is reached.
3. Make update available gradually: Choose this option to distribute the Windows 11 24H2 update to your endpoints at different times. When you gradually roll out an update, it is performed on groups of devices (offer groups) and distributes the availability of the update across the time you’ve configured. This option can reduce the effect on your network when compared to offering the update to all devices at the same time.

For testing, I have configured the rollout option to make the update available as soon as possible. Click Next.

On the Assignments page, select Add groups to include and then assign the feature updates deployment to one or more device groups. Select Next to continue.

Under Review + create, review the settings. When ready to save the Feature updates policy, select Create.

A notification appears in the top-right corner of the Intune admin center confirming that the feature update policy for Windows 11 24H2 upgrade is successfully created.

Step 4: 24H2 Upgrade End-User Experience

After the feature update deployment policy is assigned to the device groups, the devices will receive the policy once they sync with Intune. To accelerate this process, you can manually sync Intune policies on Windows devices.

To test the upgrade, I signed in to a Windows 11 device running version 23H2. On this device, before the update 24H2 appeared, I had to manually initiate Check for Updates. What this does is force the device to check the latest updates for Windows.

After waiting for over 5 minutes, finally the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade appeared on the device. The 24H2 update started to download and the installation was done. The device running Windows 11 23H2 was upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 with a single reboot.

To complete the upgrade, you must restart your Windows PC. Thanks to the feature update deployment policy, we were able to successfully upgrade Windows 11 24H2 using Intune in a matter of short steps.

Troubleshooting Intune Windows 11 24H2 Upgrade Issues

Additional troubleshooting may occasionally be needed when you apply the feature update deployment policy to upgrade devices to Windows 11 version 24H2. For example, in rare cases, the update doesn’t show up on certain devices, and you’ll have to review the upgrade logs, policy downloads issues, etc.

1. Manually Sync the Intune Policies on Devices: As a basic troubleshooting step, you can manually sync the Intune policies on a device that doesn’t get the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade.
2. Examine the event logs: Event logs are very critical and play a major role during troubleshooting the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade issues. On the device that doesn’t receive the Windows 11 24H2 upgrade, launch the event viewer. Navigate to Application and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > DeviceManagement-Enterprise-Diagnostics-Provider. Here you will find the events logged for admin, Autopilot and operational categories. Select Admin and examine the events for errors.
3. Check the WUfB Policy registry entries and values: When you deploy the Intune WUfB feature policy, the settings are applied at the registry level. To determine what WUfB settings are applied for the device, you can browse to the following registry key. Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\providers\3E958E50-698D-4DEB-AC3D-03EFBEA01C2F\default\Device\Update.