14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 May 2020 Update, or version 2004, was announced last month, being offered to a limited set of users who manually check for updates in Windows Update.
These users are called “seekers,” and Microsoft allows them to download the May update by heading over to Windows Update and clicking the “Check for updates” button. If the update is available for their devices, Windows 10 then downloads the necessary files for the whole thing.
This week, however, Microsoft has started the automatic rollout of Windows 10 May 2020 Update, which means that some users are getting the update without them having to check for updates manually. However, there are several things that everybody must know about this automatic rollout.
First and foremost, it’s not a forced upgrade. While some claim devices are upgraded without users’ consent, this is not the case, as everyone can choose when to install the May update and restart their computers. On the other hand, the necessary files are downloaded in the background, but the update can’t complete without users specifically giving their consent.
Then, Windows 10 May 2020 Update is only offered automatically to devices running Windows 10 version 1809. This is because version 1809 is the next one to hit the end of support (now scheduled to happen in November), so Microsoft upgrades these devices to make sure they are protected once the time comes.
Without support, a Windows 10 version no longer receives updates and security patches, leaving devices exposed to potential exploits.
“Windows 10, version 2004 is available for users with devices running Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909, who manually seek to “Check for updates” via Windows Update. We are continuing our phased approach on initial availability, as we listen, learn, and adjust. Today we are slowly beginning the training of our machine learning (ML) based process used to intelligently select and automatically update devices approaching end of service. The recommended servicing status is Semi-Annual Channel,” Microsoft explains.
The automatic rollout for all users is yet to start. For the time being, Windows 10 version 2004 continues to be available only for seekers as a manual download and for version 1809 devices as an automatic download.
Microsoft hasn’t provided any specifics as to when the automatic rollout for everyone is supposed to kick off, but in most of the cases, broad availability is announced in a few months after the first devices get it. So if everything goes according to the plan, the May 2020 Update should become available for everyone by the end of the summer.
The timing seems to be just right, as Microsoft has also started the work on another Windows 10 feature update that’s currently referred to as version 20H2. This is projected to be finalized in September and then shipped to users beginning with November.
Needless to say, while the May 2020 Update is only available for certain users, you can still install it without having to wait for the automatic rollout to kick off. For example, the Media Creation Tool can help take care of the whole thing, while also providing additional options to create bootable media that can then be used to upgrade other devices to the May 2020 Update.
At the same time, stand-alone ISO images can be used to start from scratch regardless of the operating system that is running on a specific device. On the other hand, if Microsoft has put an upgrade block in place, users are not recommended to turn to other methods to install the May update.