14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new cumulative update for Windows 10 insiders in the Release Preview ring.
The company hasn’t provided any specifics on this update, but given it’s only available for users in the RP ring, the purpose of cumulative update KB4490481 is most likely to help test improvements that would be shipped on Patch Tuesday next week.
Installing this cumulative update increases the OS build number to 17763.404, and you can check this by typing winver in the Start menu.
While details are missing, this appears to be the second version of Windows 10 cumulative update KB4490481 after the original update was published on March 20, also for the Release Preview ring. The first iteration of KB4490481 increased the OS build number to 17763.402.
Windows 10 October 2018 Update
What’s important to know is that this cumulative update is aimed at Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update), as the Release Preview ring hasn’t yet received 19H1 builds.
Windows 10 version 1903, also known as April 2019 Update or 19H1, is currently in the latest development stages, and preview builds are available for download for users in the Fast and Slow rings. Microsoft is believed to be working on finalizing the RTM, with the public rollout projected to kick off later this month.
The next patch Tuesday cycle takes place on April 9, and just as expected, all Windows 10 versions will get cumulative updates with both security and non-security improvements.
The Release Preview ring is being used by Microsoft to try out cumulative updates in advance of the public launch for the latest stable Windows 10 version, and it’s likely this approach would continue after the rollout of the April 2019 Update begins this month.
Today’s update seems to install correctly judging from the majority of user reports, but it remains to be seen how everything works when the broad rollout kicks off on Patch Tuesday.