Start transforming your game’s economy and increase your bottom line. Get the free guide now. Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. Microsoft today released a new Windows 10 preview, the first 20H1 build. No, that’s not a typo: Microsoft really is already developing the update that will be released in the first half of 2020. The update bumps Windows 10 from build 18334 (made available to testers on February 9) to build 18836. Windows 10 is being developed as a service, meaning it receives new features on a regular basis. Microsoft has released six major updates so far: November Update, Anniversary Update, Creators Update, Fall Creators Update, April 2018 Update, and October 2018 Update. The seventh update has been under development in the 19H1 branch. Today’s build is for Windows Insiders who have chosen the Skip Ahead option, which only a small subset of Insiders can opt into. Normally, that would have meant 19H2 builds, since 19H1 hasn’t been released yet, but Microsoft has chosen to really skip ahead this time around. Here’s how the company explained it: These builds are from the 20H1 development branch. Some things we are working on in 20H1 require a longer lead time. We will begin releasing 19H2 bits to Insiders later this spring after we get 19H1 nearly finished and ready; once 19H1 is “nearly finished and ready” we’ll also use the Release Preview ring for previews of drivers and quality updates on 19H1. Windows Insiders today can thus either continue to test 19H1 builds or try the first 20H1 build. But 19H2 builds won’t show up for a few more months. Bug fixes and known issues This 20H1 build includes the following general bug fixes and improvements: The new tamper protection setting in the Windows Security app protects your device by helping to prevent bad actors from tampering with the most important security settings. The setting is designed to be on by default, however the default state is not currently in effect for current Insider Preview builds. You may see a new recommendation in the Windows Security app suggesting you turn this setting on. Fixed an issue where turning off Location from the Action Center might take multiple clicks to react. Fixed an issue resulting in being unable to re-arrange pinned folders in Start’s tile grid. Fixed an issue where newly installed apps might not show up in search results. Fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders not being able to open Cortana when in Tablet Mode. Fixed an issue from the previous flight where right-clicking the desktop would bring up a light colored context menu in dark theme. Updated the name of the “Windows Light” theme to now be “Windows (light)”. Fixed an issue where Cortana’s icon on secondary monitors wouldn’t update colors after switching between light and dark theme. Fixed an issue where when using light theme + small icons + a vertical taskbar orientation, text written on the taskbar would stay white and thus wouldn’t be readable. Fixed an issue that could result in open apps not being shown on the taskbar (but being visible in Alt + Tab). Fixed an issue resulting in build unable to log into WinRE with an admin account in the last couple of flights. Addressed reports of devices getting stuck with “Hibernating…” text on the screen on resume from hibernate. Fixed an issue resulting in greys having an unexpected slight pinkish/purple-ish tinge on some devices in recent flights. Fixed an issue in Ease of Access’s Cursor and pointer settings, mouse pointer size and color are now retained on upgrade. Fixed an issue where the Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly. This build has eight known issues: The issue impacting Creative X-Fi sound cards remains. Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD). While we’ve done some work to improve night light reliability in this build, we’re continuing to investigate issues in this space. When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly. Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue. File Explorer may hang when trying to rename, delete, or move MKV files. In Windows Sandbox, if you try to navigate to the Narrator settings, Settings app crashes. If you install any of the recent builds from the Skip Ahead and switch to either the Fast ring or the Slow ring – optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings. As always, don’t install this on your production machine.<doc-sep>Microsoft has delivered a new Windows 10 Preview Build to Windows Insiders who managed to get into the Skip Ahead program. While we were expecting the Windows maker to drop builds from the 19H2 branch (version 1909) due for a release at the end of this year, Microsoft has managed to surprise everyone by starting work on Windows 10 20H1 - the version that will be released in April next year. "Some things we are working on in 20H1 require a longer lead time," Dona Sarkar and Brandon LeBlanc wrote in today's blog post. They promised to begin releasing 19H2 builds later this spring after 19H1 is ready for public release. The blog post added that "once 19H1 is 'nearly finished and ready' we’ll also use the Release Preview ring for previews of drivers and quality updates on 19H1." New Build Alert for Windows 10 Sun Valley Insiders in the Dev Channel Today's preview doesn't offer any new features as expected and brings general performance improvements and bug fixes. While today's build is focusing on bug fixes, it will be interesting to see what the company is planning for 20H1 because it certainly looks like some big changes are coming our way. Here is everything that is new with Windows 10 20H1 Build 18836<doc-sep>
Microsoft has thrown us all for a loop with its announcement today of the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build. At the start of the month, Microsoft opened up its Skip Ahead program , which allows Windows Insiders to test [early builds of] future Windows 10 versions. At the time, we incorrectly assumed that Microsoft would be delivering the Windows 10 19H2 (2019, Second Half) Update to testers, since Windows 10 19H1 Update testing is wrapping up. However, Microsoft today announced that those on the Skip Ahead track will instead receive builds of Windows 10 20H1. That's right, Microsoft is skipping ahead by two full versions for a major Windows 10 update that won't arrive until more than a year from today. "Some things we are working on in 20H1 require a longer lead time," writes Microsoft. "As is normal with builds early in the development cycle, builds may contain bugs that might be painful for some." Perhaps the reference to needing a longer lead time means that this will be a groundbreaking release for Windows 10 with a host of new and advanced features... but that's just pure speculation at this point. For those wondering what's going on with the previously expected Windows 10 19H2 builds, Microsoft says that those builds will be pushed to Windows Insiders "later this spring." In the meantime, Microsoft is continuing to put the finishing touches on Windows 10 19H1, which will likely be called the April 2019 Update. There are a number of changes, improvements and fixes that are associated with this first Windows 10 20H1 build, along with the following known issues: Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD). While we’ve done some work to improve night light reliability in this build, we’re continuing to investigate issues in this space. When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly. Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue. File Explorer may hang when trying to rename, delete, or move MKV files. In Windows Sandbox, if you try to navigate to the Narrator settings, Settings app crashes. Given how early Microsoft is distributing this release, we'd think twice before installing it on your primary rig. However, if you have a secondary PC that you don't use very often, it might be worth it to install to see what Microsoft is cooking up.