Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Version 20H2
- Paul Thurrott
- Oct 20, 2020
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Microsoft announced today that it has begun rolling out the October 2020 Update, which will upgrade Windows 10 to version 20H2.
“In this work, learn, and connect from home environment where people are relying on their PCs more than ever before, we are taking a measured seeker-based rollout approach to the October 2020 Update,” Microsoft’s John Cable announced. “We are throttling availability over the coming weeks to ensure a reliable download experience so the update may not be offered to you right away. Additionally, some devices might have a compatibility issue for which a safeguard hold is in place, so we will not offer the update until we are confident that you will have a good update experience.”
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So, no surprises there. But if you’re interested in experiencing Windows 10 version 20H2 as soon as possible for some reason, and you didn’t previously take advantage of my tip for doing so ahead of its general release, here’s how you can get it now, assuming you are running Windows 10 version 1903 or later and it’s being made available to your particular PC configuration: Just open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If the update appears, select Download and install.
As with last year’s Windows 10 releases, those already running the latest Windows 10 version (2004 in this case) will have a faster overall update experience because the update will install like a monthly update, and not as a real feature update. Those with Windows 10 version 1903 or 1909 will experience the normal and time-consuming feature update installation process.
Windows 10 version 20H2 doesn’t have a lot in the way of major new features—I already have a separate article on that topic—but it does provide enterprise and education customers with 30 months of support. So the October 2020 Update is also now available through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update for Business, and the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC), Microsoft says.
“As with each release, we will closely monitor the October 2020 Update experience and share timely information on the current rollout status and known issues (open and resolved) across both feature and monthly updates,” Cable notes. Which is hilarious, since Microsoft didn’t do anything of the kind with the previous feature update.
Conversation 32 comments
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blue77star
<p>Have been running 20H2 since March, pretty good release (stability) wise.</p>