Windows 10 21H1 has been in development through preview channels for most of the last year. Microsoft has today finally confirmed the next feature update for Windows 10, finalizing what we now know will be called the Windows 10 May 2021 Update. As for build number, this is Windows 10 version 21H1.
In confirming the release, Microsoft has also settled on which new features are rolling out with Windows 10 May 2021 Update.
It seems as far as major feature upgrades go, version 21H1 is minor in terms of what it brings to the Windows 10 party. Still, you’ll find additions like moving between Windows Hello webcams and some tools for enterprise users.
Users will get Windows 10 May 2021 Update when it launches next month. As usual, Microsoft will be rolling the release out in stages and it will be a cumulative update. As always, we advise holding off on updating until Version 21H1 is more stable.
New Features
In terms of features, here’s what we are getting:
- “Windows Hello multicamera support to set the default as the external camera when both external and internal Windows Hello cameras are present.
- Windows Defender Application Guard performance improvements including optimizing document opening scenario times.
- Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Group Policy Service (GPSVC) updating performance improvement to support remote work scenarios.”
And, erm, that’s it. Comfortably the smallest feature update we have ever seen for Windows 10. In fact, there are no new feature landing on the platform front end. We are unsure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.
On the one hand, rolling out a slew of new features often makes new Windows versions buggy and confusing. On the other hand, who doesn’t like new features to play with? We guess Microsoft is penciling in Windows 10 21H2 (Sun Valley) as a major feature release. We already know that version will get a new design and some floating widgets.
Tip of the day:
Did you know that as a Windows 10 admin you can restrict user accounts by disabling settings or the control panel? Our tutorial shows how to disable and enable them via Group Policy and the registry.
