14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is getting ready to retire another Windows 10 version, as per the updated lifecycle updated earlier this year.
Windows 10 version 1809, or the October 2018 Update, has been one of the most controversial feature updates for Microsoft’s desktop operating system, with many actually describing it as the company’s biggest flop so far.
And it was all because the October 2018 Update shipped with a major bug potentially leading to the removal of certain user files stored in libraries, all because Microsoft actually failed to address it before rolling out the new version to production devices. The software giant eventually decided to pull the update temporarily, only to re-release it approximately one month later with other bugs.
Windows 10 October 2018 Update was supposed to be retired in May this year, but due to the global health crisis that forced many of us to start working from home, the company eventually decided to extend its end of support date by six months. The idea was as simple as it could be: IT admins thus had more time to upgrade the computers in their fleets and therefore prepare for the demise of Windows 10 version 1809.
“The final security update for this version will be released on November 10, 2020, instead of May 12, 2020. In March, we announced that we would pause optional non-security update releases (also referred to as "C" and "D" releases) for all supported versions of Windows client and Windows Server to give organizations time to focus on business continuity in the face of the global pandemic. Based on your feedback and the increase in standard business operations, we will resume optional releases beginning in July 2020 for Windows 10, version 1809 and Windows Server, version 1809 and later,” Microsoft announced earlier this year.
Now the time has come, and Windows 10 version 1809 is projected to be retired next week, with users once again warned that they should upgrade their devices as soon as possible. Not all SKUs are impacted by this change though, as Microsoft will also discontinue the versions that are aimed at consumers. The Education and Enterprise SKUs of Windows 10 version 1809 will continue to be serviced just like before.
“On November 10, 2020, the Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, and IoT Core editions of Windows 10, version 1809 will reach end of service. After that date, devices running these editions will no longer receive monthly security and quality updates containing protections from the latest security threats. We recommend that you update these devices to the latest version of Windows 10 immediately,” Microsoft warns.
So what’s next for Windows 10 users still running the October 2018 Update?
Basically, the easiest way to continue receiving updates is to install a newer version of Windows 10. Microsoft has recently kicked off the rollout of the October 2020 Update, an update that’s thus two years newer and which comes with the latest features developed by Microsoft, including theme-aware live tiles and other improvements under the hood.
The rollout of the October update, however, takes place in stages, and not all devices can download it right now from Windows Update. Alternative methods, however, like the Media Creation Tool, allows users to install the October update without waiting for this release to show up on Windows Update.
Microsoft has also announced a series of upgrade blocks that prevent the update from being offered to devices that could be impacted by various issues, and these are lifted once patches for these glitches are released.