Windows 10 optional updates to resume in July

Windows Update Insider
Windows Update Insider (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Optional cumulative updates for Windows 10 will return next month.
  • Microsoft paused the optional updates for a few months due to the current global pandemic.
  • The optional releases will be available for Windows 10 and Windows Server 1809 and later.

Microsoft announced this week that optional cumulative updates for Windows 10 will return in July 2020 (via ZDNet). The optional updates were paused months ago due to the current global health crisis. Microsoft will release the optional updates to Windows 10 and Windows Server version 1809 and later.

In addition to unpausing the optional updates, Microsoft made several changes to help people stay up to date. First these optional releases will now be referred to as "Preview" releases. They will be available for Windows 10 and Windows Server version 1809 and later. The new naming scheme will appear in the Windows Update section of Settings.

To simplify the update process, Microsoft will only roll out these "Preview" releases in the "C" week of each month, meaning the third week. Additionally, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) users won't see the "Preview" releases for Windows 10 or Windows Server within the (WSUS) channel.

Lastly, people in the Windows Insider Program or Windows Insider Program for Business will see in-development versions of the "Preview" releases in the second week of each month.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com.