A new Windows 10 feature update is on its way

Jan 29, 2019 12:58 GMT  ·  By

Windows 10 version 1903, or the April 2019 Update, is already approaching its final development stages, with the launch set to take place in the spring.

According to Microsoft’s typical release schedule, the update is projected to be finalized in March and then shipped to all device beginning with April.

As it happens with every update, version 1903 will be pushed to devices in stages, which means that not everyone will be getting it at first, but gradually as software and hardware compatibility issues are resolved.

The closer we get to the March deadline, the more we know about the final feature lineup of the April 2019 update, and right now, it’s hard to believe that any breaking changes would be introduced in the remaining weeks.

With the feature lineup nearly finalized, there’s a lot to discover in this OS feature update, but here are my three favorite improvements which I think are reason enough to upgrade my devices.

Light theme

First and foremost, it’s the light theme. As long-time Windows users certainly know, the latest versions of Windows 10 came with major improvements for the dark mode.

With the release of the April 2019 Update, the software giant tried a new approach and focused on a light theme, which comes with a more modern look on the desktop.

The light theme itself has triggered a series of other refinements in Windows 10, including new icons specifically optimized to look right in this new mode. As you can see in the screenshot below, the Start menu itself has received some touches in this regard, so the desktop as a whole will join Microsoft’s push for a modern experience.

To enable the light theme in Windows 10, head over to Settings > Personalization > Colors > Light.

The new light theme in Windows 10

Windows Sandbox

As a heavy Windows 10 user who relies on this operating system both at home and at work, having a Windows installation in tip-top shape is critical. I’ve been using virtual machines to test software for several years already, and the upcoming April update will make things a lot easier for me.

Windows 10 version 1903 will come with Windows Sandbox, a new feature which is technically a native virtual machine platform that allows you to run apps in a secure environment.

The Sandbox prevents malware and other modifications from expanding to the rest of the operating system, and once you close it, all the changes are completely removed, thus keeping Windows 10 untouched.

The idea is pretty similar to the one of a virtual machine, so users who have tried this before know how useful it is. To enable Windows Sandbox, type Turn Windows features on or off > Windows Sandbox.

Windows Sandbox in Windows 10 version 1903

Tamper protection

As I use my Windows 10 device for testing all kinds of stuff and opening untrusted links, it’s critical for me to have a fully-featured security product to block any potential exploit targeting my data.

Until now, Windows Defender has served its purpose very well and not a single form of malware reached my files.

And beginning with Windows 10 version 1903, Windows Defender is being improved with Tamper Protection, a new feature that blocks any modifications to your security settings. This new setting makes sure that malware or other unauthorized individuals cannot change your security configuration in a way that would allow malicious payloads to compromise the device.

Tamper Protection is enabled by default, but if you want to disable it, you can do so from Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Virus & Threat Protection Settings > Manage Settings.

Tamper Protection in Windows 10 version 1903

Photo Gallery (4 Images)

The next Windows 10 update is due in April
The new light theme in Windows 10Windows Sandbox in Windows 10 version 1903
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