Windows 10 October 2020 Update is rolling out now. Here’s how to download it

Tuesday, Microsoft’s Windows 10 ($ 145 at Amazon) The October 2020 Update began rolling out to all Windows 10 users. Like most of the Fall Updates, this one (also known as Windows 10 version 20H2) focuses on enhancements rather than major new features, but will include the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browserand updates to the Start menu, taskbar and notifications. (If you are running Windows 7, you can still download Windows 10 free to get the update as well).

Windows 10 is now on over a billion devices worldwide, Microsoft said in March. Now that support for Windows 7 has officially ended, Microsoft encourages people to upgrade your PC to Windows 10 to run smoothly and safely or to buy a new computer.

Read more: The best antivirus protection of 2020 for Windows 10

Major operating system updates occur every six months, with the most recent prior to this being the May 2020 update. If you’ve already installed that update, the October version should only take a few minutes to download. But if you don’t have the May 2020 Update installed first, it could take 20-30 minutes, or longer on older hardware, according to our sister site ZDNet.

Here’s what we know about the Windows 10 October 2020 Update and how to download it to your device once it’s available to you. This story is periodically updated with current information.

When will the Windows 10 October 2020 update be available?

Microsoft is taking a slower rollout approach for the October 2020 Update, as it did with the May 2020 Update earlier this year. The company is accelerating availability over the next several weeks to ensure a more reliable download experience, which means the update may not be available on your device right away. Some devices may have compatibility issues at first and will not have the option to upgrade until Microsoft is sure it will run smoothly, according to a blog post.

Before the official release, the October 2020 update was available to those on the Windows Insider show on the release preview channel.

How do I download the Windows 10 October 2020 Update?

The October 2020 update is currently available for select devices running Windows 10, version 1903 or later and who want to install the new version. To check if it is available to you, go to Settings > Update and security > windows updateand click Search for updates. If available, you will see Feature update to Windows 10, version 20H2. Click Download and install.

Once the download is complete and the update is ready to install, you will receive a notification from Microsoft so that you can choose the appropriate time to finish the installation and restart your computer. If you’ve been running the May 2020 update, the process should only take a few minutes.

What new features does the October 2020 update include?

The Windows 10 October 2020 Update doesn’t include many massive changes from the May update, but there are many smaller improvements that should improve your computing experience. According to Microsoft, these include:

• Microsoft Edge: The update will include the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser instead of the first-time legacy version. The new Edge browser includes a privacy feature that attempts to block sites that track you online and a feature called Collections that allows you to collect information from different websites as you research.
• Start Menu: A new Start menu will feature a more streamlined layout, replacing the solid-color backplates behind the logos in your app list with partially transparent backgrounds, which will help the icons stand out more. You can also set an accent color if you want.
• Eyelashes: Open all tabs in Edge on Alt + Tab, instead of just activating it in each browser window. You can also set it to show only your last three or five tabs, or turn it off completely in Settings> System> Multitasking.
• Taskbar: Customize your taskbar so you can find what you’re looking for faster.
• Notifications: See where your notification is coming from by checking the app logo at the top and dismiss it by clicking the X in the upper right corner. The Focus Assist notification and summary will be disabled by default.
• Settings: Find more Control Panel features on Settings About page Settings> System> About.
• 2-in-1 devices: For these device users, instead of getting a notification asking if you want to switch to tablet mode every time you disconnect the keyboard, it will happen by default.

Read more: This is the best way to set up your new PC or laptop

Will older versions of Windows 10 still work?

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 1809 (also known as the October 2018 Update) for Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions in November. (Support was originally scheduled to end in May, but Microsoft delayed this due to the impact of the coronavirus.) Support for Enterprise and Education editions will last until May 2021.

You can still use version 1809, but the loss of support from Microsoft means that you will no longer receive important security patches or other updates.

Version 2004 (also known as the May 2020 update) will be supported until December 2021.

Read more on TechRepublic: 20 Pro Tips to Make Windows 10 Work the Way You Want (Free PDF)

Do I have to update to the October 2020 version?

Microsoft does not recommend that you upgrade, of course, but it is not required, unless you are nearing the service end date for the version you are currently running. You can learn more about the upgrade process on ZDNet.

To see what version of Windows 10 you have, go to Settings > System > About and scroll down to Windows Specifications, where you will find the edition and version number.

If you have version 1903 (released May 2019) and want to keep it, you have until December before support ends. If you have version 1909 (released November 2019), you have until May 2021 to update. And if you have the 2004 version (released in May 2020), you have until December 2021 to update.

What else?

In a May blog post, Panos Panay, Microsoft’s Product Manager for Windows and Devices, gave an update on the Windows 10X operating system. The operating system, announced last year, was designed to work with the new dual display Neo surface devices, which are not yet available. However, given the changes in the world and the fact that most people become attached to more laptops Y two-in-one devices right now, Microsoft will move the Windows 10X focus on single screen devices instead, wrote Panay.

“With Windows 10X, we design for flexibility, and that flexibility has allowed us to shift our focus to single-screen Windows 10X devices that harness the power of the cloud to help our customers work, learn and play in new ways,” he wrote Panay. in the post. “These single-screen devices will be the first expression of Windows 10X that we deliver to our customers, and we will continue to seek the right time, together with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market.”

For more information, see Windows 10 tips and tricks Y Six Simple Security Changes Every Windows 10 User Should Make.

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