“You agree to receive these updates without notice”

Jul 17, 2015 10:44 GMT  ·  By

Windows 10 Home won't provide users with an option to defer updates and choose what and when to install, and in the EULA that Microsoft included in Windows 10 build 10240, which is said to be at least an RTM candidate (if not the RTM itself), the company confirms that this is indeed the case for Home users.

Basically, computers running Windows 10 Home will get updates and security patches automatically and they will all be installed once they are downloaded.

Users cannot disable this process and cannot delay it, so once Microsoft ships new updates, Windows 10 Home computers are the first to get and install them.

The licensing agreement in Windows 10 explains how this works:

“The Software periodically checks for system and app updates, and downloads and installs them for you. You may obtain updates only from Microsoft or authorised sources, and Microsoft may need to update your system to provide you with those updates. By accepting this agreement, you agree to receive these types of automatic updates without any additional notice.”

Pro users can defer the updates

Windows 10 Pro users, on the other hand, are provided with a new feature called Windows Update for Business, which allows them defer updates and delay installation for a maximum of 8 months. This means that IT admins can wait for more than half a year to see if there are any issues with specific updates and only then install them on their computers.

Windows 10 Enterprise gets the Long Term Service Branch (also known as LTSB), which gets updates every few years and is only recommended for those who don't necessarily need the latest in terms of features and improvements.

More on these new update systems for Windows 10 can be found here, but for most users who will be running Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, the bottom line is that the former will get everything automatically while the latter will provide delay options for up to 8 months.