14 DAY TRIAL // Pushing all devices to the latest version of Windows is something that proved to be impossible on several occasions, even for a company the size of Microsoft.
Back in 2014 when the software giant discontinued Windows XP, the 2001 operating system was still running on some 25 percent of the PCs worldwide. And now, more than five years since it went dark, it has a market share of more than 2 percent.
History is set to repeat with the end-of-support of Windows 7 in January 2020, but also when older Windows 10 versions reach their retirement date.
Because this happens every six months, as per Microsoft’s own schedule, the company needs to make sure that users update to the latest Windows 10 version to continue to receive updates.
With the approaching Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803) set for November 12, 2019, Microsoft is embracing a completely different approach.
The May 2019 Update, which is the latest stable version of Windows 10, will be pushed to devices running Windows 10 April 2018 Update and older automatically via Windows Update. This means Windows Update will download all the necessary files all by itself in the background and then prompt for a restart when it’s ready to initiate the update to Windows 10 version 1903.
While many believe this is an aggressive approach that reminds of forced updates, Microsoft says it’s turning to this system because it’s pretty much the only way to keep devices updated.
“We will begin updating devices running the April 2018 Update, and earlier versions of Windows 10, to ensure we can continue to service these devices and provide the latest updates, security updates and improvements,” John Cable, Director of Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery, says.
To make sure the forced update scandal isn’t coming back, Microsoft is giving users more time to decide when to update.
While the April 2018 Update is set to be retired for Home and Pro computers in November, the automatic rollout on Windows Update will kick off next month. This means users will have some six months to decide when to update.
“Automatic updates starting in June.”
“We are starting this machine learning (ML)-based rollout process several months in advance of the end of service date to provide adequate time for a smooth update process,” Cable said.
Moving forward, the same system will be used for future Windows 10 updates too. When the second update of the year, currently codenamed 19H2, goes live, Microsoft should then prepare the retirement of the October 2018 Update, and thus offer the new update automatically via Windows Update to devices running version 1809.
“For Windows 10 devices that are at, or within several months of reaching, end of service, Windows Update will automatically initiate a feature update; keeping those devices supported and receiving the monthly updates that are critical to device security and ecosystem health,” Cable notes.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have no other choice than to update. Disabling Windows Update, which is something I never recommend, obviously blocks a new OS feature update from being installed on your device.
Additionally, you can turn to dedicated policies (if available on your Windows 10 version) or pause updates to further delay the deployment of a new Windows 10 version.
At first glance, Microsoft’s new approach seems to make sense, but there’s no doubt there’ll be users frustrated their devices got updated automatically. This is why I think Microsoft should insist harder on making everyone aware of this new system and, more important, why it’s using it, because otherwise, it’s forced updates all over again.