Windows 10 will still get smaller feature updates
When Microsoft revealed that the current Windows 10 version would be the last, it was not clear if Windows 10 would still get smaller feature updates or if Microsoft would limit updates to security and bug fix updates.
Microsoft pushed a new update to the release preview development version of Windows 10 this week. This update included two new, but minor, feature changes. In pushing the update, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10 may also get new features in the future.
While there won't be a new feature update for Windows 10 released later this year, or in the 29 months of support the operating system has left, new features and improvements may be included in the cumulative updates that Microsoft releases for Windows 10 on the second Tuesday of each month.
The Release Preview Channel update increased the build number to 19045.3030. It is mostly a bug fix release and not comparable to the massive update that Microsoft released to Windows 11's Release Preview Channel.
The first change improves the search functionality on Windows 10. Microsoft notes that the search box now supports top and bottom taskbar positions, as well as regular or small taskbar icons. The Search Box includes highlights and users may use it to "easily access apps, files, settings, and more from Windows and the web" according to Microsoft.
The second change improves the priority notification feature. Windows may show up to three "high priority toast notifications" at the same time now. Windows apps and native features may use the built-in notification system to inform users about events. Priority notifications have precedence over regular notifications. These notifications may be alarms, reminders or notices for calls.
With the update installed, Windows 10 devices may display up to three priority notifications and one regular notification at the same time.
The remaining changes of the update address issues.
Closing Words
The picture is a bit clearer now regarding Windows 10's last 29 months of official support. Microsoft won't release feature updates for the operating system anymore, but some smaller feature changes will still find their way into the operating system. These changes will be part of the cumulative update for the operating system that Microsoft releases on the second Tuesday of each month.
It is likely that these feature changes will become less and less the closer the operating system gets to October 2025. Microsoft has started to upgrade Windows 10 version 22H1 devices to the latest Windows 10 version automatically. Windows 10 version 22H1 reaches end of support in June 2023.
Now You: Any feature that you would like to see supported in Windows 10?
Microsoft, no one wants your terrible black pattern features. Just send out security updates and leave us the hell alone.
+1
This.
Fortunately I have been using linux mint for 14 years.am very satisfied with it.never any advertisements on screen,no miserable up-dates,never a blue screen,virus scanner is not necessary.and everything is free.it looks largely like windows 7,so you get used to it very quickly.a new version every 5 years and also free.for me never again windows.
I wonder if those “feature” updates will be to show more ads for Bing search and Edge.
The Weather app was turned from a funcitonal app to a webview container.
Now it displays a web page with the weather and ads that can’t be blocked.
Windows 10 is mostly a legacy Windows version now. I don’t see Microsoft doing much more then what it has to in order to fulfill the last couple years of support.
What is legacy nowadays? I honestly look at Windows and apart from what “feels nicest to use”, in a wide array of regards, it seems that Windows hasn’t had any major changes since Vista really – OK, updates are worse and automated now, OK, there is an atrocious settings app – but apart from that there haven’t been any groundbreaking changes. Even Windows 11 now… what does it have? Maybe some more stuff in the “settings” app, which I’ll still avoid accessing as long as things can be done in control panel or command line.
Can you see where I am coming from? There’s no need to act like “Microsoft will focus mostly on W11 now”, as if they’re actually going to do anything substantial… they’re not.
It’s like saying: I built two cars, from scratch – I built car A, then with that experience, I then built car B, which has a fancier paint job, and cooler lights – the engine and internals for both cars are near enough the same, although they don’t look the same externally due to “artistic choice”. Then I announce “I am going to put car A in the garage, and focus on upkeeping car B”, (when in reality all I’m gonna do is clean it, maybe redo the paint work, or the rims, or swap out the stereo unit inside, or put some decals on it, or maybe change the seats to leather) none of those changes actually affect the car in any serious way, they just impact how it’s perceived by others, and maybe how it feels to be inside driving it).
That’s how I see OSes, now. If I see someone using Windows 8, or Windows 11, or Vista, it hardly makes a difference to me, all of these operating systems are so similar in a lot of ways.
Always the same history with Microsoft, first they afraid you to move to W11, and when nobody moves to W11 then they offer features to W10. I bet you all that we will have W10 till 2028 with two or three “unexpected” major security fixes and so forth.