Windows 10: Microsoft will only offer one major update per year

With the arrival of Windows 11, Microsoft has decided to review the pace of updating Windows 10. Like its successor, the operating system will now only receive one major update per year, compared to two until here.

Microsoft had decided to review the way it brought new features when Windows 10 was launched. With this operating system, the American firm had got into the habit of offering two major updates a year. Deployed using Windows Update, one brings new stuff while the other is generally security-focused. The year 2021 was no exception to the rule with the arrival of the May 2021 update (21H1), then the 21H2 update (November 2021) that Microsoft is just starting to deploy. A well-established process… which was shattered with the arrival of Windows 11.

The new operating system has become the priority of Microsoft, which has decided to only offer an annual update. This rhythm will now be applied to Windows 10, as explained by the program manager at Windows. “We will be moving to a new Windows 10 release cadence to align with the Windows 11 cadence, targeting annual feature updates”, says John Cable. Information that already appears on the official Windows 10 documentation. “The next Windows 10 feature update is scheduled for the second half of 2022”, adds the manager. He recalls in passing that the OS will be officially supported at least until 2025, ten years of support.

For now, the company is focused on rolling out the 21H2 update in waves. We have already mentioned the new features brought by this version which will benefit from 18 months of support for the Family and Pro editions. John Cable urges affected users to install the update as soon as it’s offered or upgrade to Windows 11 if they have an eligible machine. He specifies in passing that the 2004 version of Windows 10 will no longer be supported as of December 14.

Windows 11: Microsoft is accelerating the pace of deployment

If Microsoft has planned to update its old OS for a few more years, do not expect to discover major new features. The focus is now on Windows 11, which embodies the present and the future of the company. The latter has been available for a few weeks and accompanies new computers on the market.

The head of Windows programs also evokes positive feedback on this version, the deployment of which will accelerate. “Based on the positive experience of the update rollout and user feedback we’ve seen so far, we are accelerating the pace of the rollout faster than we anticipated, and are now returning the Windows 11 upgrade more widely available for eligible Windows 10 devices. » We recently gave an update on this promising, but sometimes frustrating new release.