14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft rolled out new Windows 10 cumulative updates as part of its Patch Tuesday cycle, and just like it happens every month, manual installation is also allowed thanks to packages published in the Update Catalog.
The two cumulative updates are KB4015217 and KB4015583 and are released for Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) and Creators Update (1703), respectively, bringing bug fixes and security patches.
Both updates are being shipped via Windows Update and Windows 10 systems are getting them automatically, with a reboot required to complete the install. The manual download, however, can come in handy not only to avoid potential issues experienced during the automatic delivery but also to update systems that do not have an Internet connection.
IT admins can use these packages to speed up the patching cycle within their networks, and installing the most recent cumulative update always brings computer completely up to date, with no other patches required whatsoever.
Delta updates for the win
What’s important to note, however, is that the size of cumulative updates for Windows 10 Anniversary Update is continuously increasing because of this approach, as packages that need to be downloaded include all the previously released fixes. Although the full file is downloaded, the computer only applies the fixes that are missing from your system and were introduced since the previous cumulative update.
To avoid downloading the full update, Microsoft is also publishing delta updates and you can find the links below. With a delta update, you only download a package that includes the fixes developed since the previous cumulative update, but this means that your system already needs to be up to date before this month’s Patch Tuesday cycle.
You can use the download links below to get the update that works on your computer and keep in mind that reboots are necessary to complete deployment. Delta updates should be used only if the previous cumulative updates have already been installed.
Version 1703 (Creators Update)
Version 1607 (Anniversary Update)