Windows 10: When Win 10 Feature version 1909 reaches end of life in May, does it FORCE the Feature...

When Win 10 Feature version 1909 reaches end of life in May, does it FORCE the Feature update to 20H2 for end users for Win 10 Professional?


We are currently slowly updating our User base from 1909 to 20H2. What happens if we do not complete by the EOL in May? Does it FORCE the update on the end users?

:)

 

When will 1909 be forced to download the Feature Update?

..and which version will it get?

Microsoft have said in the past that an optional Feature Update offered by Windows Update will only remain optional until at or near end of service for your current version. There has never been a clear statement of what 'near' means. To that end I have deliberately left a virtual machine on Win10 Pro version 1909 to see if/when it gets forced to update. I have also set it's group policy to 'notify for download' so that it won't upgrade until I permit it.

1909 reaches end of service on 10th May 2021.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/win...se-information


Today, some two months ahead of end of service, the Feature Update has just switched from being optional to 'Pending download'. Interestingly, it is the update to 2004 that's now being forced, not 20H2. That's still showing as an optional update.

 

What happens when 1803 reaches end of life date

Unless you've taken steps to block/defer feature and/or quality updates, then by now you should see an 'end of life' warning and a 'Download and install now' option for the Feature Update. I see this in 1803 on my test machine:





Some however are seeing a 'not quite ready...' message (usually due the 3rd-party drivers/software that needs an update).




Device not ready to update to 1903


As the end of life approaches an 'un-tweaked' install of 1803 should be automatically updated to 1903 through Windows Update. This has already started....


Microsoft now auto updating Windows 10 version 1803 and older to 1903

If you have 'tweaked' your system in any way to put off updates, then undo those tweaks now. After clicking 'Check for updates' it should either say 'download and install now' if it passes initial compatibility checks, or 'not quite ready...' if it doesn't.

 

Windows 10 version 1909 will reach end of service on May 11, 2021

Current status as of February 3, 2021
Windows 10, version 1909 is designated ready for broad deployment for all users via Windows Update. The recommended servicing status is Semi-Annual Channel.


Reminder On May 11, 2021, the Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations editions of Windows 10 version 1909 and all editions of Windows Server, version 1909 will reach end of service. Education and Enterprise editions of Windows 10, version 1909 will reach end of service May 11, 2022. For information about servicing timelines, see the Windows lifecycle fact sheet.


Read more:

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...indows-10-1909
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lif...0-home-and-pro