Windows 10 is an operating system developed by Microsoft. Microsoft described Windows 10 as an “operating system as a service” that would receive ongoing updates to its features and functionality, augmented with the ability for enterprise environments to receive non-critical updates at a slower pace or use long-term support milestones that will only receive critical updates, such as security patches, over their five-year lifespan of mainstream support. It was first released in July 2015.
Channels
Windows 10 Insider Preview builds are delivered to Insiders in three different channels (previously “rings”). Insiders in the Dev Channel (previously Fast Ring) receive updates prior to those in the Beta Channel (previously Slow Ring), but might experience more bugs and other issues. Insiders in the Release Preview Channel (previously Release Preview Ring) do not receive updates until the version is almost available to the public, but are comparatively more stable.
| Version | Codename | Marketing name | Build | Release date | Support until (and support status by color) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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LTSC | Mobile | |||||
| 1507 | Threshold 1 | N/A | 10240 | July 29, 2015 | May 9, 2017 | October 14, 2025 | N/A | |
| 1511 | Threshold 2 | November Update | 10586 | November 10, 2015 | October 10, 2017 | April 10, 2018 | N/A | January 9, 2018 |
| 1607 | Redstone 1 | Anniversary Update | 14393 | August 2, 2016 | April 10, 2018 | April 9, 2019 | October 13, 2026 | October 9, 2018 |
| 1703 | Redstone 2 | Creators Update | 15063 | April 5, 2017 | October 9, 2018 | October 8, 2019 | N/A | June 11, 2019 |
| 1709 | Redstone 3 | Fall Creators Update | 16299 | October 17, 2017 | April 9, 2019 | October 13, 2020 | January 14, 2020 | |
| 1803 | Redstone 4 | April 2018 Update | 17134 | April 30, 2018 | November 12, 2019 | May 11, 2021 | N/A | |
| 1809 | Redstone 5 | October 2018 Update | 17763 | November 13, 2018 | November 10, 2020 | January 9, 2029 | ||
| 1903 | 19H1 | May 2019 Update | 18362 | May 21, 2019 | December 8, 2020 | N/A | ||
| 1909 | 19H2 | November 2019 Update | 18363 | November 12, 2019 | May 11, 2021 | May 10, 2022 | ||
| 2004 | 20H1 | May 2020 Update | 19041 | May 27, 2020 | December 14, 2021 | |||
| 20H2 | 20H2 | October 2020 Update | 19042 | October 20, 2020 | May 10, 2022 | May 9, 2023 | ||
| 21H1 | 21H1 | TBA | 19043 | TBA | 18 months | |||
| Legend: Old version, unsupported Older version, supported Latest version Latest preview version | ||||||||
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PC version history
Mainstream builds of Windows 10 are labeled “YYMM”, with YY representing the two-digit year and MM representing the month of planned release (for example, version 1507 refers to builds which initially released in July 2015). Starting with version 20H2, Windows 10 release nomenclature changed from the year and month pattern to a year and half-year pattern (YYH1, YYH2).
| Legend: | Old version | Older version, still maintained | Latest version | Preview version |
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Version 1507
Version 1511 (November Update)
Version 1607 (Anniversary Update)
Version 1703 (Creators Update)
Version 1709 (Fall Creators Update)
Version 1803 (April 2018 Update)
Version 1809 (October 2018 Update)
Version 1903 (May 2019 Update)
Version 1909 (November 2019 Update)
Version 2004 (May 2020 Update)
Version 20H2 (October 2020 Update)
The Windows 10 October 2020 Update (codenamed “20H2”) is the tenth and current major update to Windows 10. The update is the cumulative update to the May 2020 Update, and carries the build number 10.0.19042. The first preview was released to Insiders who opted in to Beta Channel on June 16, 2020. The update was released on October 20, 2020. Notable changes in the October 2020 Update include:
- New theme-aware tiles in Start Menu
- Improvements to Microsoft Edge
- New Microsoft Edge based on Chromium included by default
- Switch between multiple tabs and Windows apps by pressing Alt+Tab ↹
- Quick access to active tabs for pinned sites in the taskbar
- Price comparison tool
- New personalized and out-of-box experience for taskbar
- Improvements to notification experience as well as tablet experience for 2-in-1 devices
- Migrated Control Panel’s System Information UI into the Settings About page in the Settings app
- Improvements to Modern Device Management (MDM)
| showPreview builds of Windows 10 version 20H2 |
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| showPublic patches of Windows 10 version 20H2 |
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Version 21H1
The eleventh major update to Windows 10 (codenamed “21H1”) is the cumulative update to the October 2020 Update, and carries the build number 10.0.19043. The first preview was released to Insiders who opted in to Beta Channel on February 17, 2021.
| showPreview builds of Windows 10 version 21H1 |
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Fast Ring / Dev Channel
| Legend: | Expired preview version | Old preview version, still maintained | Latest preview version |
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Fast Ring
On December 16, 2019, Microsoft announced that Windows Insiders in the Fast Ring will receive builds directly from the RS_PRERELEASE branch, which are not matched to a specific Windows 10 release. The first build released under the new strategy, build 19536, was made available to Insiders on the same day.
The MN_RELEASE branch was available from May 13, 2020 to June 17, 2020. The branch was mandatory for all Windows Insiders.
| showPreview builds of Windows 10 in the Fast Ring |
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Dev Channel
As of June 15, 2020, Microsoft has introduced the “channels” model to its Windows Insider Program, succeeding its “ring” model. All future builds starting from build 10.0.20150, therefore, would be released to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.
The FE_RELEASE branch was available from October 29, 2020 to January 6, 2021. The branch was mandatory for all Windows Insiders until December 10. Afterward, Windows Insiders could choose to move back to the RS_PRERELEASE branch.
| showPreview builds of Windows 10 in the Dev Channel |
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