Windows 10 Version 2004 is Now Available
- Paul Thurrott
- May 27, 2020
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51
Following an unprecedented—for Windows 10—testing schedule, Windows 10 version 2004 is now available via the so-called May 2020 Update.
“Beginning today, the May 2020 Update is available for customers who would like to install this latest release,” Microsoft Director John Cable announced today. “We are taking a measured and phased approach to how we offer the May Update, initially limiting availability to those devices running Windows 10 versions 1903 and 1909 who seek the update via Windows Update.”
Windows 10 version 2004 will be supported by Microsoft for 18 months starting today.
“If you’re an IT administrator, we recommend that you begin targeted deployments to validate that the apps, devices, and infrastructure used by your organization work as expected with the new release and features,” Cable continues. “Windows 10 version 2004 is available through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update for Business, and the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) for phased deployment using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager or other systems management software.”
End users wishing to check for this upgrade can navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click “Check for updates.” As Microsoft notes, you may not be offered the download immediately because it is “slowly throttling up this availability over the coming weeks,” or because your PC might have a known compatibility issue that will remain in place until Microsoft is confident that you will have a good update experience.
Onwards to 20H2!
Conversation 51 comments
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sherlockholmes
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I wonder how small 20H2 will b. 20H1 didnt have much new in it. </p>
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SWCetacean
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542962">In reply to SherlockHolmes:</a></em></blockquote><p>Not much in terms of front-facing features, but there was a significant amount of internal work that was done. A lot of that stuff was talked about months ago though, and they weren't directly attributed to being in 20H1 at the time (e.g. all of the DirectX 12 Ultimate stuff was announced last summer and wasn't stated to be part of 20H1, but it is). Plus remember that WSL 2 is finally getting a public release in 20H1.</p><p><br></p><p>As an aside, this is one of the areas where I think the Linux community is better. Linux people love talking about small plumbing improvements to the kernel and filesystems and other OS internals. And the result of this fascination with small internal improvements here and there means that over time Linux becomes an incredibly robust kernel. This isn't to say that Microsoft doesn't do that internally (I'm sure the kernel/core team is also super-focused on small kernel improvements too), and NT is not as bad of a kernel as Linux lovers would believe, but the wider community in Windows doesn't really have that passion for small technical improvements.</p>
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IanYates82
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542962">In reply to SherlockHolmes:</a></em></blockquote><p>I finally got 1909 on my laptop after being stuck on 1803 for ages. </p><p><br></p><p>Tried Windows sandbox finally. Neat idea. Run winver in it and, despite outer windows being 1909, the inner sandbox copy says 1903. I was under the impression that a lot of the windows system files are virtually shared with the sandbox copy so I found it intriguing that the versions differed like that. </p><p>Another reflection of 1909 not really being that different from 1903 I suppose. </p><p>20H2 may follow suit in large part. Hoping for some of that cool WSL2 stuff they announced to maybe flow through though </p>
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pesos
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>We have a few hundred 20H1 machines already deployed. It is a solid release and the IPUs from earlier releases are incredibly fast. Now just hoping MS makes another exception and extends it from 18mo to 30!</p>
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remc86007
Log in to Reply<p>I know it doesn't really matter; but I find it annoying that my Surface Laptop 3 isn't in the first wave of the rollout. You'd think they would have compatibility with their own device sorted out before launch. Perhaps they don't want the risk that there is a breaking bug and then they have to deal with it as the OEM as OS maker?</p>
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Thretosix
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542983">In reply to remc86007:</a></em></blockquote><p>You can force the upgrade from the Microsoft download site. From the same location you can download the media creation tool to download the ISO to make copies to upgrade several PCs at the same time. </p>
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remc86007
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542999">In reply to Thretosix:</a></em></blockquote><p>I tried that. It doesn't work. It says I have the newest version. I'm still on 1909</p>
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epguy40
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543009">In reply to remc86007:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>maybe 2004 is not yet available in your region or area. not everyone will get it at the same time.</p><p>the 2004 media creation tool is working 4 me now – I'm in the west coast of usa :)</p>
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angusmatheson
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542983">In reply to remc86007:</a></em></blockquote><p>I also find it weird that my HP desktop is getting it before my surface pro 7. Does Microsoft want other company’s customers to be their Guinea pigs. If they had faith in it I would think they would give it to surface. And the limited number of configurations seems to make it an idea first run.</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyIt does matter. It makes zero sense that Microsoft’s own devices aren’t fully compatible and ready to upgrade on day one. Zero.
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remc86007
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543252">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>I finally got the update tool to work, it said I was compatible, spent 30 minutes downloading the update and then I get this message: "This PC can't upgrade to Windows 10. Your PC isn't supported yet on this version of Windows 10. No action is needed. Windows Update will offer this version of Windows 10 automatically once the issue has been resolved."</p><p><br></p><p>This is a Surface Laptop 3 15inch with the Ryzen 5. I ran a build of 20H1 back in December on it with no problems…yet now, five months of testing later, on launch day, it isn't compatible.</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyAnd even Google gets this right.
Imagine if Android 11 shipped and some set of third party phones got it, but none of Google’s. It’s inconceivable.
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compuser
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543253">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>It happens. A coworker's Pixel 3 still has Android 9. I think it's up to the carrier to push Android updates, isn't it? (My wifes LG Stylo 4 and my Moto G7 obviously aren't Google devices, but they're both still running Android 9, and Xfinity Mobile says that's the latest Android version.)</p>
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epguy40
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542983">In reply to remc86007:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Tero Alhonen recently got the May 2020 update on his Surface Pro 4 device</p><p>twitter.com/teroalhonen/status/1270019381603549190</p><p><br></p><p>not sure about other Surface Pro devices, fwa ha ha :)</p>
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MacLiam
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>When I installed the Release Preview version of 2004 on my main computer about a month ago, it froze intermittently or got stuck in processes that it couldn't complete. Boots took minutes rather than seconds, so I rolled back to 1909 and blocked new updates for as long as I could. I will install the release version at some point, but will roll back again if there are problems. My event log showed a bunch of DCOM errors.</p><p><br></p><p>A less-used computer got the 2004 update without problems. At the time I didn't bother to try to figure out the different experiences.</p>
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IanYates82
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542987">In reply to MacLiam:</a></em></blockquote><p>Every event viewer I've examined in the past couple of years – server or workstation – shows mystery dcom errors like clockwork unfortunately. They need to get better at including more context for logged errors so we could perhaps see what triggered the dcom component activation and then we can know if it's even worth investigating further or if we can dismiss it as background noise. </p>
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JerryH
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>And – nope – it is not there in Windows Update for Business. Not yet anyway. I just checked as I went to setup a deployment of 2004. 1803, 1809, 1903, and 1909 are there but no 2004. Maybe tomorrow?</p>
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SvenJ
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Not available to me thru Windows Update. But then I'm using a non-mainstream device, a Surface Pro 7.</p>
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IanYates82
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#542990">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>They won't get around to testing such a niche device from an obscure hardware maker for quite some time. You'll just need to be patient </p>
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mattbg
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Just installed with no issues on my self-assembled desktop, but it's not available on my Thinkpad X1 Carbon.</p>
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jslobello
Log in to Reply<p>Windows update didn't find anything for my Virtual Machine. In the past I had luck using the "Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant" to bypass WU. No such luck this time. The freshly downloaded upgrade assistant says "No update found'. I went to visualstudio.com and found the ISO there, which is downloading now.</p>
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luis3007
Log in to Reply<p>Neither WU or the exe from the update to May 2020 update page are working for me</p>
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rossfinnie
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543005">In reply to luis3007:</a></em></blockquote><p><em>Hi the trick seems to be to download the media creator 2004 tool and then select update now.</em></p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyThe quote above says that it’s rolling out in stages. Not everyone will see it immediately.
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epguy40
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543251">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>that's right. I did a windows update check on my dad's Toshiba Satellite C55Dt-A laptop running Win10 Home v1909 last night and the may 2020 update has not shown up yet.</p><p>I can wait a while (like a week or two) since I'd rather get the 2004 version later with newer fixes or newer CUs than the one currently being offered</p>
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simard57
Log in to Reply<p>Not seeing it for HP Spectre 360</p><p><br></p>
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brettscoast
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Thanks for the heads up Paul</p>
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mejason83
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Looks like you can also go here to get the update…</p><p><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10" target="_blank">https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10</a></p>
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rossfinnie
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em> <a href="#543165">In reply to mejason83:</a></em></blockquote><p><em style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hi the trick seems to be to download the media creator 2004 tool and then select update now.</em></p>
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proftheory
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543194">In reply to rossfinnie:</a></em></blockquote><p>For my Yoga 730 I tried Update Assistant and it said I already was. Then Like you I went to Media Creation Tool and selected Update This PC. Then I activated WSL and added Ubuntu and Kali.</p>
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jmarco
Log in to Reply<p>I found it 7:18 pm CST in Windows Update settings as Download Available. Downloading took only 4 min with Spectrum 1 gigabyte wifi and another 24 min to install completely. It is also available as ISO at Window 10 install website.</p>
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red.radar
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Fairly flawless fresh install for me. I thought it was odd that old edge was the native browser… I had to use old edge to get to new edge. However once I installed new edge old edge just disappeared….</p><p><br></p><p>this comment is hard to follow because Microsoft kept the edge brand … </p>
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scottkuhl
Log in to Reply<p>Even the Media Creation Tool won't update the Surface Pro X.</p>
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Scsekaran
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543209">In reply to scottkuhl:</a></em></blockquote><p>2004 update seems to have been withheld for Surface Pro X until mid-June – Devices with more than one always on, always connected network adaptor</p>
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wright_is
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Worked fine for me. Although, like red.radar, it still had old-Edge after the update. I thought it would update Edge at the same time…</p>
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Sihaz
Log in to Reply<p>My surface Pro 7 reports that this update is not available when I try to update using the USB installer I made with the media creation tool. Anyone else seeing this?</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplySurface Pro 7 has a compatibility blocker.
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Sihaz
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543244">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Thanks Paul – oh the irony! :-)</p>
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SvenJ
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#543244"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a><em> </em>The blocker being, we aren't risking our own customers. Let Dell and HP handle the support calls for a while.</blockquote><p><br></p>
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ghostrider
Log in to Reply<p>It always staggers me that people rush to get the latest update on launch day. With Microsoft's track record, delaying it for at least 3 months is probably a good idea. What I can also probably assume is that other than <em>winver </em>now reporting a newer build, most probably won't notice any difference whatsoever.</p>
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SvenJ
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#543229"><em>In reply to ghostrider:</em></a><em> </em>It's already been delayed more than 3 months. This thing was done in Dec. Yea they have been tweaking it, but they have been tweaking 1909, and will continue to tweak. That's they way it is now.</blockquote><p><br></p>
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luckyseven
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543229">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>Launch Day? I've been using it for like six months, already.</p>
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compuser
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543429">In reply to luckyseven:</a></em></blockquote><p>So you're an insider? That's a bit irrelevant to the public launch day.</p>
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simont
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>And as usual, none of my Surface devices can see the update via Windows Update yet.</p>
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gregorylbrannon
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I was able to successfully install it last night on my Gen 1 SurfaceBook.</p>
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john
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>As of 10:00 AM on May 28th the Windows Upgrade Assistant will update to Version 2004. You will first see Version 1909 but after you download the Upgrade Assistant it will offer Version 2004. I'm in the middle of the update process right now and will update this post with the result.</p><p><br></p><p>Update</p><p><br></p><p>I'm running a Surface Laptop 3 Business Edition. The install reported my PC isn't supported at this time. Wow, Microsoft doesn't support their own??</p>
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rlcronin
Log in to Reply<p>For what its worth, I updated 3 machines to 2004 yesterday and today they have all been reverted to 1909. I use ZeroTier to remotely access my machines. ZeroTier adds a virtual network adapter that you then connect to your ZeroTier network-in-the-cloud on each of your machines. They are then all on the same network and you can just use Remote Desktop to get to them. Well, after the 2004 update, the ZeroTier network adapter got reset to being an unidentified public network. I fixed that by uninstalling and reinstalling the ZeroTier adapter and then everything would work, but if I rebooted the machine at all the problem came right back. It's a bit of a show stopper for me since I depend on being able to access multiple machines at various locations around the country.</p>
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bogdan
Log in to Reply<p>No it is not. </p><p><br></p><ul><li>This comment was verified by Jack "The ripper", so it is true, and I can prove it.</li></ul>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#543417">In reply to bogdan:</a></em></blockquote><p>I … what?</p>
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HowGozit
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I am not sure i am game to install this one – at lest on my Surface Go. I ran the Windows Insider – preview ring last month – upgraded 3 times then reverted – the last time I got out of the preview ring.</p><p>Reason – the Surface Go is by no means fast – but after 2004 installed, it was to all intents an purposes – stopped. 100% CPU utilisation for over 20 minutes – 95% on system interupts. </p><p>Drop back to 1909 – and it was fine. 1 minute of startup sluggishness (not stopped, but a little slow – this is usual), then normal – running 3-4 programs simultaneously fine.</p><p><br></p><p>Anyone else have Surface Go issues – If it had been one of the i7 machines I may not have noticed – but the Surface Go ….</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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jmeiii75
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Still not available on my XPS 13. Been seeking like crazy.</p>