Back in October, we reported Microsoft is likely to sign off on the Windows 10 20H1 update as early as December. It now seems that is increasingly likely that the first 2020 feature update will arrive in May. On November 26, Microsoft confirmed the update will be known as Windows 10 version 2004.
The announcement was made with the release of Windows 10 Preview Build 19033 on the Inside. As we have seen with recent Windows 10 20H1 updates, the preview did not include any new features. Instead, Microsoft rolled out bug fixes and performance improvements.
Typically, Microsoft signs off a Windows update a month before it goes public. For example, Windows 10 1803 (April 2018 Update) made RTM in March (hence the build number). It was then launched in April.
Under this naming cycle, Windows 10 version 2004 will be signed off (reach RTM) in April 2020 and like launched in May.
While Windows 10 20H1 will land in April, Microsoft is mostly finished in its development of the platform. Certainly, no more new features will arrive in the coming months. According to the Windows team, new builds from the next development branch will be introduced on the Fast Ring soon.
That branch is Windows 10 20H2, so Insiders on the Fast Ring will be moving to that release. Those members who want to stick with Windows 10 20H1 should change settings to remain on the branch.
Old System Returns
Earlier this week, Microsoft suggested it will abandon its recently announced Windows 10 update strategy.
Microsoft had changed its Windows 10 update strategy. As we reported in June, Microsoft changed major Windows 10 updates to once-yearly events. The Fast Ring would handle major Windows 10 updates, which were moved to once annually. As for the Slow Ring, it was scheduled to be solely for testing minor updates. These would arrive in the second half of the year.
Responding to negative feedback, Redmond suggests the pilot program will be removed for Insiders. Furthermore, it is not expected to return.
“There isn’t a formal plan in place to deliver future releases in the same way”– Microsoft.
