Windows 10: Microsoft confirms Windows 10 21H1 update with no major changes

In the last two years, we have seen a pattern of a major feature update, followed by a minor one with bug fixes and improvements. As we’ve reported previously, huge alterations are now happening to the release cycle of Windows 10 feature updates and the first update of the year will be a minor affair.

Windows 10’s next feature update is ‘version 21H1’ i.e ‘Build 19043’, and Microsoft has finally confirmed that it’ll be based on the October 2020 Update (version 20H2), as our sources have previously suggested, except this time we’ve official confirmation from the Redmond giant.

In a note to hardware partners, Microsoft stated that Windows 10 version 21H1 would follow the ‘same guidelines as 20H2’ and it will not modify the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program, which means version 21H1 will be compatible with all existing PCs, apps and drivers.

“No change [to driver signature]. Drivers that meet all the applicable Windows 10, version 2004 requirements will be digitally signed with the same signature attributes,” Microsoft confirmed.



Although even so, it’s likely that there’ll be quality improvements, minor new features for consumers, and some new known issues as well.

Windows 10 version 21H1 rollout plans


Windows 10 users running version 20H2 can directly update to version 21H1 using an ‘enablement package’, which is expected to be smaller than one hundred megabytes.

The Windows 10 21H1 feature update is expected to launch in the spring of 2021 and it’s also getting a throttled roll out to avoid potential download issues. However, users can manually seek it by going to “Check for updates” under Windows Update.

Since the version 21H1 is based on version 20H2, the update process will be quicker as it will install like a monthly update.

At the moment, we don’t know if there’ll be anything exciting in this release, though we do know one thing: this update focuses more on the Settings app of the OS and general quality improvements.

In the next few weeks, users in the Release Preview channel will start receiving version 21H1 preview builds and Microsoft will share more details through their press release or blog posts.

The road after version 21H1


Once the minor update of the year ‘version 21H1′ is released, it would make sense that the next version of Microsoft’s desktop system would be ’21H2’, also known as Sun Valley update and it will include bigger changes.

Before version 21H2, Microsoft is planning to launch the highly-anticipated Windows 10X on single-screen devices.

The post Microsoft confirms Windows 10 21H1 update with no major changes appeared first on Windows Latest

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Two major Windows 10 updates scheduled for 2017




It may come as no surprise, but Microsoft won't release another major update for Windows 10 in 2016. The good news is you can expect two big updates to Microsoft’s latest operating system in 2017.

Microsoft let the information slip in a TechNet blog post published earlier in the week. “Windows 10, version 1607 is our third Windows 10 feature update released,” Microsoft said in the blog post. “Based on feedback from organizations moving to Windows 10, this will be our last feature update for 2016, with two additional feature updates expected in 2017.”

The blog post appears to confirm reports from the Windows rumor mill about the timing of the next two updates for Windows 10. The first update, dubbed Redstone 2, is expected to roll out in early 2017 with the second, Redstone 3, landing in the summer or early fall, similar to the timing of the recently released Anniversary Update (previously known as Redstone 1).

This schedule would put Microsoft back on a two updates per year schedule similar to the initial rollout of Windows 10, as Windows Central first pointed out. In 2015, Microsoft released Windows 10 (also known as Threshold) in July and then the November Update(dubbed Threshold 2) three months later.

This time around, Redstone 2 is expected to roll out in the spring and then Redstone 3 should hit about four to six months later.

The impact on you at home: Of the two updates, Redstone 2 looks to be the most interesting so far. Not necessarily because of the features, which are believed to be largely things that weren’t ready for the Anniversary Update. The big deal is that the early 2017 update is expected to roll out in concert with new hardware from Microsoft, asZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley first reported back in March.

Early builds of Redstone 2 are expected to roll out to Windows Insiders in the coming weeks.

Two major Windows 10 updates scheduled for 2017

 

Microsoft Confirms Windows, Office 6-Month Update Cycle

Microsoft has been steadily increasing stability, features and, the company hopes, attractiveness of its latest Windows 10 operating system. Recently, its Creator's Update has brought, among other features, a performance-boosting Game Mode, a 3D version of the popular and (respectably ancient) Paint app, as well as increased privacy control, something users clamored for. Now, the Redmond company has confirmed that it's looking towards a six month update cycle for Windows 10 (thus aligning it with Office 365 ProPlus), looking to streamline and increase predictability of its support.

Microsoft released the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in August 2016, and the Creators Update made its public debut on April 11 2017, which is already close to the six-month update cycle the company is now confirming (seven months, in this case.) Now the company has confirmed that it plans to release its next step on the Windows 10 operating system on September 2017. From then on, updates should arrive in a steady cadence, on every subsequent March and September. Each Windows 10 feature release will be serviced and supported for 18 months, as is currently the case, and the company has also added that its System Center Configuration Manager will support this new aligned update model for Office 365 ProPlus and Windows 10, "making both easier to deploy and keep up to date."







Source: Blogs.Windows.com, Tom's Hardware

 

Next Major Windows 10 Update Named "Spring Creators Update"

The next Windows 10 service pack major update has been named "Spring Creators Update." Windows Insider Program users toying with Build 17618 of the operating system spotted a listing of all the major updates of Windows 10 known to the build, when running "Get-VMHostSupportedVersion" in Power Shell. The last entry reads "Microsoft Windows 10 Spring Creators Update 1803." The version number (1803 in this case), often coincides with the public release date of the update. The Fall Creators Update 1709, released in 2017-09 (September) to Insiders. Going by that convenion, Spring Creators Update could see a "branded" Insider preview build this month, 2018-03 (March), with a public release usually 3-4 weeks after, presumably before Summer kicks in.