Windows 10 update 21H1 is starting to rollout to Windows 10 Insider Preview users on the Beta channel. As of February 17, 2021, Beta channel users can download and install the latest version of the operating system before its wider rollout sometime in the next few months.
Windows 10 21H1 Begins Rollout to Insider Preview Users
As per a post on the official Windows 10 blog by John Cable, Vice President of Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery, Microsoft is "releasing 21H1 builds to Windows Insiders in the Beta channel."
The blog post also confirmed that the Windows 10 21H1 update isn't going to be a transformative process for the operating system. 21H1 focuses on improving "core experiences" for users, which will place a strong emphasis on bug fixes, stability, security, and quality.
But that doesn't mean there aren't a few new features on the way, even if the new bits aren't as exciting as a visual overhaul or shiny new app:
- Windows Hello: Receives multicamera support allowing users to set the external camera as the default option when multiple Windows Hello cameras are available.
- Windows Defender Application Guard: Receives performance upgrades, including the optimization of document opening times.
- Windows Management Instrumentation: This Group Policy Service receives a performance update, delivering better performance for remote work scenarios.
Microsoft also confirmed that the update will be delivered using the regular Windows 10 update process, which won't require a lengthy download and installation. 21H1 is considered an enablement package, which means part of the update is designed to switch on Windows features already present in the operating system code but not currently activated.
When Is Windows 10 21H1 Update Coming to the Stable Channel?
Now, onto the big question: when is the Windows 10 21H1 update rolling out to the Stable channel? There was some speculation that the official date may be as late as June 2021, after a Microsoft Edge Developer included the date in a code commit.
Unfortunately, the post on the Windows 10 blog doesn't provide any further clues other than what we already know.
Broad availability of Windows 10, version 21H1 will begin later in the first half of this calendar year, and we will provide more information on the release and how to get it as we get closer to the launch of this next feature update.
Until that time, you'll have to make do with a Windows Feature Experience Pack if you're desperate for some new Windows features.
These new Feature Experience Pack downloads are designed to be much smaller than a traditional Windows 10 feature update while still allowing for the introduction and testing of new Windows 10 features.