Skip to main content

Windows 10 upgrades are now delivered differently. Here’s why that matters

Windows 10's new motto is more bug fixes, less problems

The major updates to Windows 10 can be a headache. From the infamous blue screen of death errors, data deletion bugs, or privacy concerns, installing the latest version of Windows 10 isn’t as seamless as it should be.

That’s why, heading into the release of this year’s Windows 10 19H2 Update, Microsoft is making a change to the way major updates are rolled out. You’ll still be seeing the latest versions of Windows (often known as “featured updates”) through Windows Update, but under the hood, things work very differently.

Recommended Videos

Here’s an explanation of how things work, and how it will impact you come download time.

Twice a year, just as before

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Before getting into changes, there is a need to address some history. Unlike years past when Windows versions were released every three or five years, Microsoft sells Windows 10 as “Windows as a Service.

What does that mean for you? Well, it boils down to twice a year major featured updates to Windows 10. One in the spring, and another in the fall, usually in April and October. This keeps the operating system fully updated, fresh with new features, and is intended to help companies and PC manufacturers with deploying Windows 10.

For instance, earlier this year, Microsoft released the Windows 10 May 2019 Update. Internally, the update was code-named 19H1, and it was pushed out in late spring — the first half of the year. The next update to follow it is currently in testing with Windows Insiders and is code-named 19H2. It is rumored to be released in the second half of the year, in September.

However, in the face of criticism of buggy updates, starting with 19H2 in 2019, Microsoft is changing the way it handles things. This twice-a-year motto has been used for quite some time. Last year, Windows 10 received the April 2018 Update, followed by the bug-plagued October 2018 Update.

An emphasis on quality

Windows Update and Security
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Now, it’s time for the changes. While Microsoft will still update Windows 10 twice a year, featured updates from the second half of the year (for the fall) has now shifted to servicing Windows with bug fixes.

For example, this year’s May 2019 Update from the spring already delivered on new features such as a new light theme and improved start menu, as well as Windows Sandbox. That means that the incoming 19H2 update won’t necessarily ship with brand-new features and is primarily designed to “fix” errors and bugs with the May 2019 Update.

“The next feature update for Windows 10 (known in the Windows Insider Program as 19H2) will be a scoped set of features for select performance improvements, enterprise features, and quality enhancements,” Microsoft explained.

So, why does that matter for you? Well, if you’re already running the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, it should mean for a more quality experience when updating to the new version of Windows 10. Similar to the service packs from Windows XP and Windows 7, Windows 10 featured updates are now smaller in scope.

It also means that if you’re already running with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, the incoming 19H2 Update will be less disruptive to your laptop or desktop. While still completely optional, the download size will be significantly smaller, and 19H2 will appear in Windows Update just as a standard Windows security patch. It should install faster, and without the headaches from previous Windows 10 feature updates.

You’re still in control

Microsoft

But what if your PC is on an older version of Windows 10? Do these changes to the way major Windows 10 Updates are rolled out still apply to you? Will you have smaller update sizes? The short answer is No, but you’ll still be in control.

According to Microsoft, this new system only applies if your PC if it is already running the May 2019 Update.

“For consumer or commercial users coming from versions of Windows 10 earlier than the May 2019 Update (version 1903), the process of updating to the new release will be the same as it has been and work in a similar manner to previous Windows 10 feature updates,” explained Microsoft.

In April, Microsoft announced separate enhancements to the Windows Update method, so these will all apply to you. Your PC won’t automatically download the 19H2 update. You’ll see it appear under Windows Update, and you’ll be in full control if you want to install it or not with a Download and Install button.

A slower pace is a good thing

Compared to other major operating systems, Windows 10’s upgrade system is a bit complex. Apple only releases MacOS versions once a year, but Microsoft doubles that to two. Previously, these twice-a-year updates ensured Microsoft was always adding new features to Windows 10, but now, it’s more of a focus on bug fixes.

That’s a good thing, as considering all the types of hardware in the wild, Windows is much more difficult to maintain. Microsoft wants a healthy Windows 10 experience for everyone, everywhere. With support for Windows 7 ending soon, that’s more important than ever.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Need to work from the road? Here are the 5 best laptops with LTE
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2018) review

Ever wish your laptop acted — well, more like your phone, especially when it comes to data connections? The answer is LTE, the widely used wireless data transmission standard/broad term for mobile data connections starting with 4G. Laptops that have LTE tech can connect with cellular data signals just like your phone, allowing them to use your carrier plan for more reliable internet, especially in areas where Wi-Fi may not be an option or smart security choice.

The key is that LTE is always evolving (the name literally means Long-Term Evolution). The latest laptops to hit the market are carrying what's now simply called 5G, the latest high-speed, high-security connection, if your carrier currently offers it. Since the 5G rollout has begun, you will probably want to look for a laptop with technology that will support the 5G standard, which uses a different radio spectrum and requires new components. Here are your best options, plus some choices for saving money with an older version of LTE.

Read more
Windows 11 hits more devices just as the Windows 10 November 2021 Update deploys
Windows 10 refresh features.

Microsoft just made two big announcements related to Windows 10 and Windows 11. For those who aren't ready for Windows 11, or can't upgrade, the Windows 10 November 2021 Update is now rolling out. And for anyone who is eager to upgrade to Windows 11, the new operating system is now more broadly available for download on more eligible devices.

The Windows 10 November 2021 update isn't as major as previously released featured updates. Microsoft has focused it on productivity, management, and security. Yet the update is still being released using the same measured approach in the past to ensure a smooth rollout. You won't be missing much if you can't download it as the new features are focused for IT administrators.

Read more
Not ready for Windows 11? The Windows 10 November 2021 update is coming
Windows 10 refresh features.

If your PC is one of the many that are unable to officially run Windows 11, then you might want to get ready for the next big Windows 10 Update. Microsoft just announced that it is taking final steps and getting ready to launch the Windows 10 November 2021 Update.

This next version of Windows 10 underwent over five months of testing with Windows Insiders and is now in its final phases. There aren't any big features that come along with it, but Microsoft notes that build 19044.1288 is the final build for the November 2021 Update.

Read more