Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft’s mainstream implementation of the next feature update for Windows 10 continues to dive closer to the finish line. On March 18, Microsoft officials announced that Windows 10 21H1 is now available for “commercial validation before release” by business users.
This testing phase precedes the general availability and is intended for businesses that want to explore the new features and solutions early in the upcoming version. This is for commercial devices only, which Microsoft defines as a computer that does not use the Home version of Windows 10; managed by an IT manager (via Microsoft Endpoint Manager or third-party MDM tool); or covered by a volume license key, a CommercialID or linked to a domain.
As Microsoft announced earlier, Windows 10 21H1 will be a minor update. For customers already on Windows 10 20H2, the latest widely available feature update of Windows 10 available, the upcoming 21H1 version will feel like a cumulative update arriving via a power-on package. For those who have earlier versions, the 21H1 update will last slightly longer and be slightly larger.
Microsoft is making Windows 10 21H1 available for testing today through Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Azure Marketplace. It also makes the 21H1 version available as a downloadable ISO. Users who rely on the Release Preview Insider Channel can go to the Windows Update settings page and update directly from there.
More information is available via Microsoft’s March 18 blog post. Microsoft officials did not say exactly when Windows 10 21H1 will be available for mainstream users, but it is expected in the spring (around May 2021).
(Thanks to Michael Reinders for a tweet with the link to today’s blog post.)