Windows 10 October 2020 Update hits Release Preview Insiders, drawing closer to launch

Surface Pro 7
Surface Pro 7 (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft pushed the Windows 10 October 2020 Update to Release Preview Insiders today.
  • This is the last Insider stop before the update will make its way to the public.
  • Insiders enrolled in the Release Preview channel can download the update now via Windows Update.

The Windows 10 October 2020 Update is making its final Insider stop before it spublic release. Microsoft announced today that the update is now available for Windows Insiders enrolled in the Release Preview channel. It's being offered as build 19042.508.

Release Preview Insiders won't have the update automatically installed. Instead, Microsoft is opening it up for "seekers" who choose to install it through Windows Update. From Microsoft's blog post:

Please note that the October 2020 Update will be offered to Insiders in the Release Preview Channel via our "seeker" experience in Windows Update at first. This means Insiders will need to go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and choose to download and install 20H2. Once an Insider updates their PC to the October 2020 Update, they will continue to automatically receive new servicing updates through Windows Update (like the monthly update process).

As part of this rollout, Microsoft is also automatically updating Insiders on the Beta channel to the October 2020 Update as part of its servicing testing. If you're enrolled in the Beta channel and have yet to install this build, Windows Update should grab it automatically.

The Windows 10 October 2020 Update is expected to begin its initial public rollout at some point in the coming weeks. There's no exact date available yet, and things could always be delayed if there are any showstopping bugs that crop up. Oncethe public release starts, it will slowly open up to more devices to avoid any major, unforseen issues.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl