14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has officially launched the new Windows 10 October 2018 Update, and this time the rollout begins unexpectedly early.
The company has skipped a Windows Insider ring and jumped directly to the public availability of Windows 10 October 2018 Update, apparently suggesting that the release is reliable enough and no further testing is necessary.
While this could indeed be the case, it’s important to note that the October 2018 Update is rolling out in stages to users across the world, but Microsoft also allows you to download it right away without waiting.
Here’s how the automatic rollout works. Basically, Microsoft pushes the October 2018 Update in waves in order to collect data on possible bugs and fix them before more computers that would be potentially affected by the same problems receive it.
This approach relies on a machine learning system that has also been used when Microsoft released the April 2018 Update and it helped reach the broad availability stage much faster. Microsoft explains the following:
“With the October 2018 Update, we are expanding our use of machine learning and intelligently selecting devices that our data and feedback predict will have a smooth update experience.
We will be further enhancing the performance of our machine learning model by incorporating more device signals such as improved driver telemetry and weighting of key features such as anti-malware software as we broaden the phased rollout. As we did with the April 2018 Update, we will be proactively monitoring all available feedback and update experience data, making the appropriate product updates when we detect issues, and adjusting the rate of rollout as needed to assure all devices have the best possible update experience.”
How to get the October 2018 Update right now
In other words, this approach means that if you use your computer normally every day, you won’t see a notification to update your computer to the October 2018 Update until this new OS release is ready for your system.
This time can vary depending on the found issues and how fast Microsoft ships a fix, but otherwise, this is the correct approach to guarantee a smooth update experience.
In the meantime, Microsoft also allows users to manually download and install the October 2018 Update without waiting anymore. This is possible by simply checking for updates in Windows Update.
What you need to do is launch the Settings app and go to the following path:
Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates
Simply checking for updates manually should allow your system to download the October 2018 Update easily, with the process to be performed in the background while you use your system.
Super-important to know is that this option only works on devices where no compatibility issue is detected, and the same machine learning system is being used. In other words, if there’s as chance that the update fails on your system, checking for updates wouldn’t display any results, and the October 2018 Update wouldn’t be offered for download.
You can also use the Media Creation Tool to download and install Windows 10 October 2018 Update on your system.
The process typically depends on your system performance and network speed, and the faster your Internet connection, the fewer minutes it takes for all files to be downloaded. The installation process also takes your system offline for a while, so you should save your work before rebooting.
There are no reports of failed install of the October 2018 Update so far and everything appears to be running quite smoothly, though it remains to be seen how the experience really is as more computers are offered the new OS feature update.