Microsoft has accelerated the migration from Windows 10 to the November 2019 update by targeting more computers on the October 2018 update, version 1809, for an automatic update.
The next phase of the Windows 10 1909 push comes just over two months after Microsoft started rolling out this update, which looks more like a service pack than the company’s historic biannual updates for Windows 10 .
On November 12, Microsoft made Windows 10 1909 available to “ requesters ” who must check for Windows Update updates to download and install the version.
SEE: 20 professional tips to make Windows 10 work the way you want (Free PDF)
Since Tuesday, Windows 10 1909 is available for all users of a “recent version” of Windows 10 who check Windows Update.
But more importantly, Microsoft has now started the movement to move users from Windows 10 1809 to the latest version of Windows.
“We are entering the next phase of our controlled approach to automatically launch a feature update for an increased number of devices running the October 2018 update (Windows 10, version 1809) Home and Pro, keeping these devices supporting and receiving the monthly updates that are essential to device security and ecosystem health, “said Microsoft.
“Our deployment process begins several months before the end of service date to provide sufficient time for a smooth update process.”
Windows 10 1809 was a disaster version for users, prompting many to stick with version 1803 or the April 2018 update. Microsoft started moving users to Windows 10 1803 Home and Pro to version 1903 in July of last year and continued to automatically update 1803 systems until November 2019, when support ended.
The 1809 version was labeled “ ready to use ” in March 2019, much later than earlier versions. There are a few months left before the 1809 version of Windows 10 reaches the end of the service.
SEE: The rush to upgrade to Windows 10 allowed us to buy PCs again – but not for very long
Support for the Windows 10 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions in 1809 ends on May 12, 2020. The downtime for Enterprise and Education editions does not occur until May 11, 2021. A major difference from Windows 7, for which free support ended last week, there is no option to purchase extended security updates for versions of Windows 10.
Windows 10 1909 was the first time that Microsoft introduced its new update process, which uses the same technology it uses to provide monthly updates, as opposed to its more significant feature updates twice per year.
The new, lighter update approach – which also meant that version 1909 was the same as 1903 with a later “ activation package ” – did not extend to PCs running Windows 10 1809 and earlier. These devices had to be updated using the standard method.
