14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 19H1, due in the spring of this year, could introduce a major change for the Home SKU, as Microsoft is exploring an option that would allow users to pause automatic updates.
Right now, Windows 10 Home devices receive system updates as soon as Microsoft releases them, and there is no option to pause them. Such functionality, however, is offered in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, and this made many refer to Home users as Microsoft’s own guinea pigs.
However, according to a report from Thurrott, Microsoft could be changing this approach with the release of the 19H1 update in April.
The latest preview build of Windows 10, available right now for Fast ring insiders, allows users on the Home SKU to pause updates for up to 7 days. This means updates would no longer be installed when they are released, but pushed back for up to a week if the user wants it.
Update to launch in April
Given Windows 10 19H1 is still in preview stage, this could all change by the time Microsoft signs off the RTM build, which as per the company’s typical roadmap, should happen in March this year.
But on the other hand, the 7-day delay setting could also change and increase to 35 days. At this point, Windows 10 Pro devices running stable builds are allowed to pause updates for a maximum of 35 days, whereas computers that are powered by the same OS version and enrolled in the Windows Insider program can only do this for up to 7 days.
If the same approach is used, Windows 10 Home users could also be allowed to pause updates for 35 days when the stable build of the 19H1 update goes live in the spring.
Microsoft is yet to release a statement on this, so we’re looking forward to an announcement in this regard, possibly when a new preview build goes live in the coming weeks.