Windows 10 Version 20H2 is Just About Done

Insiders on Skip Ahead Get a New Build This Week Too

Microsoft announced today that Windows 10 version 20H2 is ready for commercial validation, one of the final milestones in the schedule for this decidedly minor upgrade.

“Windows 10 version 20H2 is now available for commercial customers to begin feature exploration and validation prior to being released for general availability,” Microsoft’s Aria Carley wrote. “You can access Windows 10 version 20H2 through all standard outlets, including Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and Azure Marketplace, or you can download an ISO file.”

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Like Windows 10 version 1909, Windows 10 version 20H2 is not a real feature update if you’re upgrading from version 1903. In that case, it is just another cumulative update, similar to the updates we all install every month. (For those upgrading from versions of Windows 10 prior to version 1903, Windows 10 version 20H2 will install like a normal feature update.) That means it will install very quickly, though it does require a reboot.

“As with Windows 10 versions 1903 and 1909, versions 2004 and 20H2 share a common core operating system with an identical set of system files,” Carley continues. “New features are included in monthly quality updates for version 2004 in an inactive and dormant state. These new 20H2 features remain dormant until they are turned on through the ‘enablement package,’ a small, quick-to-install ‘master switch’ that activates the Windows 10, version 20H2 features.”

The enablement package she refers to was apparently added to Windows 10 version 2004 with the June 2020 monthly quality update. So organizations running managed, commercial versions of Windows 10—e.g. Windows 10 Pro or better—can now flip the switch and check out the handful of new features.

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Conversation 18 comments

  • RobertJasiek

    21 August, 2020 - 1:33 pm

    <p>And when will 2004 be done? Still waiting for it to appear.</p>

    • ebraiter

      26 August, 2020 - 10:36 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#562909">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>Ummmm. You're blocked. An issue with something on your system. Most common issue now are certain Conexant audio drivers.</p>

  • sephdk

    21 August, 2020 - 1:59 pm

    <p>I'm still blocked from 20H1, so I will probably get 20H2 by 2022.</p>

  • sherlockholmes

    Premium Member
    21 August, 2020 - 2:13 pm

    <p>Makes you wonder why Microsoft didnt invent this "master switch" earlier. </p>

    • bart

      Premium Member
      21 August, 2020 - 2:55 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#562917">In reply to SherlockHolmes:</a></em></blockquote><p>Guess MS had to wait until the 'Common core' was a thing, before implementing the 'master switch'. </p><p>My best guesstimate </p>

    • proftheory

      Premium Member
      21 August, 2020 - 7:14 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#562917"><em>In reply to SherlockHolmes:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><em>Can't call it a Master any longer.</em></blockquote>

  • locus123

    21 August, 2020 - 2:31 pm

    <p>Still blocked from 2004.</p>

    • epguy40

      18 September, 2020 - 3:15 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#562931">In reply to locus123:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>that means your machine still has outdated or old drivers that "block" the offering of the 2004 update</p><p>check with the manufacturer of your PC on its web site for 2004 compatible drivers</p>

  • darkgrayknight

    Premium Member
    21 August, 2020 - 2:44 pm

    <p><em>Like Windows 10 version 1909, Windows 10 version 20H2 is not a real feature update if you’re upgrading from version **1903. In that case, it is just another cumulative update, similar to the updates we all install every month. (For those upgrading from versions of Windows 10 version **1903, Windows 10 version 20H2 will install like a normal feature update.) That means it will install very quickly, though it does require a reboot.</em></p><p><br></p><p>**I'm thinking you mean 2004 rather than 1903</p>

  • SvenJ

    21 August, 2020 - 3:57 pm

    <p>Another update already? Didn't we just get 20H1 (2004) like two days ago?</p>

    • rbwatson0

      Premium Member
      23 August, 2020 - 2:23 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#562961">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>No, not on my Surface 7 Pro. Still don't have it. Assuming 20H2 will just show up one day.</p>

  • JerryH

    Premium Member
    21 August, 2020 - 3:59 pm

    <p>Besides the 1903 error, the last two sentences are wrong. The enablement package is an MSU file – an update file – that is about 100 Kb (Kilobytes) in size) that you run to enable the features. For enterprises that were on 1903, you deployed the enablement package to get to 1909. Same thing with machines on 2004, you deploy the enablement package to get to 20H2. It is not something that is already added to Windows. It is how you move forward. If you are deploying via say SCCM SUM, you would send out the enablement package.</p>

  • navarac

    21 August, 2020 - 5:01 pm

    <p>….and another new name (Aria Carley).</p>

  • blue77star

    22 August, 2020 - 12:52 am

    <p>Running 20H2 when 2004 got out, it is pretty much done and it works well.</p>

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    22 August, 2020 - 1:13 am

    <p>Can we please do away with the separate builds. This is just nuts. We are now backporting features with cumulative updates, we might as well just do the enablement on a single build and call it a day. </p>

  • pesos

    Premium Member
    22 August, 2020 - 3:24 pm

    <p>Navarac, Aria's not new. And as for 20h2, been running it for a couple months with no issues on x64 and arm64. Good build. We already have about 5% of our work machines on it.</p>

  • epguy40

    18 September, 2020 - 3:13 pm

    <p>hi Paul Thurrott</p><p><br></p><p>looks like 20H2 might be called the "October 2020" Update as this recent announcement from MS came out Fri. Sept. 18:</p><p>blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2020/09/18/preparing-the-windows-10-october-2020-update-ready-for-release/</p>

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