With Microsoft actively encouraging its staff around the world to work from home, the company has decided that it will suspend all non-essential updates to Windows 10 from May.
In an announcement on the official Windows Message Center, the company added: “We have been evaluating the public health situation, and we understand this is impacting our customers. In response to these challenges we are prioritizing our focus on security updates.”
Starting in May 2020, we are pausing all optional non-security releases (C and D updates) for all supported versions of Windows client and server products to prioritize security and keep customers protected and productive. More information here: https://t.co/G5NcWtIiEQ.
— Windows Update (@WindowsUpdate) March 24, 2020
The C and D updates are typically delivered in the third and fourth weeks of each month, and have no impact on the security of your PC. The updates that arrive earlier will continue, allowing Microsoft to reallocate resources and handle the huge increase in demand as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
While more significant updates may still come before May, the limitations on in-person collaboration makes it extremely difficult to introduce wholesale changes longer term. It’s widely accepted that the outbreak will last many months, with experts predicting we are still a few weeks away from the peak in the US, where Microsoft are based.
The company has taken this step early to ensure users aren’t disappointed at the lack of new features in updates to come. It’s further evidence of them being one of the most proactive during the coronavirus outbreak so far.
Windows 10 has already seen some big changes in its five-year lifespan, and it seems stability at a time of increased demand is the priority. Microsoft delivers software updates regularly throughout the year, so there is no longer an expectation for major releases, as has been the case in the past.
Author: Anyron Copeman, Senior Staff Writer
As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.