If you’ve been following along with Windows Insider news lately, you’ve likely noticed that the latest Windows 10 20H1 (which is technically now called Windows 10 2004) builds are becoming smaller in scope. Well, it turns out that Microsoft might already be winding down the development of the upcoming Windows 10 update. A final Windows 10 2004 build could also be coming this week, with the update becoming pushed out to everyone in March or April, according to the latest rumors.
For those following along with 20H1 development, I'm told Microsoft is hoping to have a final build in the bag by December 13. That build will then be serviced in the Slow/RP rings until GA in March/April. So, plenty of time to bake.
— Zac Bowden (@zacbowden) December 10, 2019
Although best treated as just speculation, this timing does make a lot of sense. It was previously said that Microsoft would be following the Azure development cycle for Windows 10. Additionally, Microsoft is now pushing out the latest Windows 10 2004 builds to both Slow ring and Fast ring Windows Insiders, ensuring that these builds are quality and contain fewer bugs. Interestingly, according to Microsoft’s Flight Hub, Windows Insiders are now testing the 43rd Windows 10 2004 build. In last yeat’s Windows 10 19H1 release, Windows Insiders tested a total of 33 builds. So, although not official, things are falling into the frame of the update being near-final.
Last year’s Windows 10 20H1 update was released on May 21, 2019, so it would also appear as though Microsoft could perhaps be ahead of schedule with the Windows 10 2004 Update. At any rate, in November, Microsoft did say that it was “getting ready for what’s next,” so it is likely we could see the Windows 10 2004 Update get pushed out to the Release Preview ring soon, and see the first windows 10 20H2 preview builds within the next few weeks.
Whenever the Windows 10 2004 Update does become official, it will be a bit bigger than the previous Windows 10 November 2019 Update released this year. Just to name a few, some new features range from a new and improved Cortana, updated File explorer search, improvements to Windows search, GPU temperatures and disk types in task manager, and a new cloud reset feature. Microsoft is also working on an improved tablet experience in Windows 10 with this update as well.
