Windows 10 Version 21H1 is Available for Commercial Pre-Release Validation

Microsoft announced today that Windows 10 version 21H1 can now be validated by its commercial customers before general availability.

I know. What does that even mean?

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If I’m reading the Microsoft post correctly, it means that Windows 10 version 21H1 is now available in the Windows Insider Program’s Release Preview channel, one of the final milestones before the public release. This means that commercial customers can now deploy this release to users via Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), or Azure Marketplace, or manually via a downloadable ISO file.

“As previously announced, [Windows 10] version 21H1 will be delivered to devices currently running Windows 10 version 2004 or version 20H2 using an enablement package,” Microsoft’s Aria Carley explains. “This is the same technology we used to update devices from Windows 10, version 2004 to version 20H2. Do you want to see how quickly devices update from version 2004 or 20H2 to version 21H1, and how little downtime is involved? Now you can!”

Windows 10 versions 2004, 20H2, and 21H1 all share “a common core operating system with an identical set of system files,” and when you upgrade to 21H1 from one of those older releases, the few new features it includes are “in an inactive and dormant state” by default. They are enabled via an “enablement package,” which Microsoft describes as a “small, quick-to-install ‘master switch’ that activates the new features.”

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Conversation 10 comments

  • jmarco

    18 March, 2021 - 3:56 pm

    <p>Why does Microsoft continue to use vague reasons for making their next Windows 10 version available? It's like Microsoft is always worried about backlash from Windows 10 users about any major change. Their explanations seem like "Microsoft Talk" instead of just plain language any users can understand.</p>

    • Thomas Parkison

      18 March, 2021 - 7:59 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#618867">In reply to JMarco:</a></em></blockquote><p>That's because they are. Bashing Microsoft is an Internet-wide favorite pastime.</p>

      • Paul Thurrott

        Premium Member
        19 March, 2021 - 9:24 am

        I’m pretty sure that bashing anything is an Internet-wide favorite pastime. Microsoft doesn’t own an especially big chunk of that.

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      19 March, 2021 - 9:25 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#618867">In reply to JMarco:</a></em></blockquote><p>I can't complain enough about their inability to clearly communicate. </p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    18 March, 2021 - 6:33 pm

    <p>… So all of the features are already there, but I can't use them because they haven't been enabled. That's what I'm getting from this. Is there a way to just enable all of them at once instead of having to wait and thus have all that useless cruft taking up space without being useful?</p>

  • winner

    18 March, 2021 - 9:12 pm

    <p><em>"If I’m reading the Microsoft post correctly, it means…"</em></p><p><br></p><p>Paul, you're not reading their post correctly. And if they perceive that you might have interpreted their bombastic obfuscative text correctly, they're going to change the meaning and say that "we have no other comment at this time…"</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      19 March, 2021 - 9:22 am

      I feel like an interpreter sometimes. 🙂

      • winner

        19 March, 2021 - 1:29 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#618966">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Your and Mary Jo's WW interpretation discussions have kept me entertained for years!</p>

        • Paul Thurrott

          Premium Member
          20 March, 2021 - 8:44 am

          Nice, thank you.

  • b6gd

    19 March, 2021 - 7:35 am

    <p>I would NOT rush into this. </p><p><br></p><p>My company is still suffering from broken printer issues. Microsoft has now released three out of band updates to fix the issue. All caused by the March updates. </p><p><br></p>

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