It’s time to fire up your Windows Insider machines and get ready for some action. Microsoft has just pushed out Windows 10 Redstone 5 Insider Preview build 17723 and 19H1 (Redstone 6) build 18204. This is the first time we’re seeing a preview of 19H1, which is the newly re-named codename for the next version of Windows, so there are definitely exciting times ahead.
Time for some new builds! In the Fast ring? 17723 is available! In Skip Ahead? 18204 is available! Check for updates and enjoy! Details are in the latest blog post: https://t.co/UybMzyJlWL pic.twitter.com/HmryTm44z7
— Windows Insider Program (@windowsinsider) July 25, 2018
Microsoft hasn’t yet explained why they are naming these new builds 19H1, but it was assumed that it stands for the first half of the year 2019 (19 for the year, H1 for the first half.) Anyway, only Skip Ahead Insiders who will be seeing 19H1 build 18204. Fast Ring insiders who didn’t yet opt to Skip Ahead will still be on the Redstone 5 release cycle and will instead be seeing build 17723 instead.
This is all because Microsoft has now “forked” development and RS5 builds will come from the RS5_RELEASE branch, and 19H1 builds from the RS_PRERELEASE branch. Builds will largely be the same between these two branches for now, but eventually, you’ll see the differences.
There are not many big changes in either of these releases, asides from a Mixed Reality Flashlight, improvements to Edge and Gamebar, and the addition of Emoji 11. Other smaller changes include time accuracy and traceability improvements, and an improved kiosk setup experience. Microsoft is also working on improving your update experience, and this build has a preview of a new reboot logic when updating.
We’ll have more on these new features later, but for now, get downloading!
