Topics Map > Applications & Software
Windows 10 and Office 365 Standard Updates
Overview:
UWSA automatically applies updates to your device in order to keep the operating system and other applications up-to-date and secure. This document provides information on Windows 10 and Office 365 Standard and Feature updates.Click on the links below to skip directly to a section:
Standard Monthly Updates for Windows 10 and Office 365
What Are These Updates?
Standard updates for Windows and Office products are released on the second Tuesday of every month by Microsoft. UWSA waits a week to vet these updates and then delivers them to the organization on the third Tuesday each month.How Will I Receive These Updates?
Updates are delivered through the Software Center, an application that is used to manage applications and system updates for Windows devices. When an update is downloaded and ready to be installed, they will be installed automatically in the background whenever possible. If a reboot is necessary to complete an installation, you will receive a notification window that will ask you to restart your computer. You will have the option to snooze the update notification for up to four hours or restart immediately.
Required Restarts
A small window with a progress bar will appear with a 30-minute countdown prior to rebooting to give you notice to save any documents before the restart occurs. Once this appears, you cannot delay the restart.
If you do not restart your computer by the weekend after an update is installed, your computer will attempt to automatically restart. It is strongly recommended that you restart your device on your own when prompted to prevent loss of work on anything you may leave open.
Windows 10 Feature Updates
What are These Updates?
Feature updates are larger updates to Windows 10 that can provide new features as well as additional security and stability updates beyond what the monthly updates provide. These updates increase the version of Windows 10 you are running, and eventually, older versions of Windows 10 will stop receiving updates. It is imperative that you update your machine when notified to do so.
The installation for Feature updates may take longer than standard monthly updates. In addition, the device may need to reboot multiple times during the installation of the update.
You will be notified when the update has been completed and you are able to log in again. The initial log-in after a Feature update typically takes longer than normal. Once logged in, you may notice the appearance of the desktop and some applications have changed. Microsoft often provides you with a pop-up window highlighting any new features and/or changes.
You can choose to snooze the update, but once you have received a pop-up for a Windows 10 Feature Update, you will have exactly 14 days to restart your device to install this update. If the 14 days have elapsed and you have not restarted your computer, the update will occur regardless of whether it is a weekend or weekday. Furthermore, since it installs exactly 14 days after the update is received, the reboot may occur during your workday.
(This information was last updated May 5, 2021)
If you want to ensure your version of Windows 10 is up to date, you can check the current version of your machine by going to Settings, clicking on System, then About. The current version is listed under the Windows Specifications section.
What is the Difference Between a Standard and Feature Update?
Feature updates are much less frequent than standard monthly updates. UWSA will deploy one feature update per year unless circumstances require additional updates.The installation for Feature updates may take longer than standard monthly updates. In addition, the device may need to reboot multiple times during the installation of the update.
You will be notified when the update has been completed and you are able to log in again. The initial log-in after a Feature update typically takes longer than normal. Once logged in, you may notice the appearance of the desktop and some applications have changed. Microsoft often provides you with a pop-up window highlighting any new features and/or changes.
How Will I Receive These Updates?
Feature updates will be delivered through the Software Center. When a Feature update is downloaded and ready to be installed, you will be prompted to install it. After it is done installing, you will receive a notification window asking you to restart your computer. You can verify that this is a Feature update by clicking on "More Information" in the pop-up.
Required Restarts
It is strongly advised that you restart your computer the same business day after receiving an update notification window. Since these updates can take a while, it is advised that you start the process at the end of a workday.You can choose to snooze the update, but once you have received a pop-up for a Windows 10 Feature Update, you will have exactly 14 days to restart your device to install this update. If the 14 days have elapsed and you have not restarted your computer, the update will occur regardless of whether it is a weekend or weekday. Furthermore, since it installs exactly 14 days after the update is received, the reboot may occur during your workday.
Current Supported Versions of Windows 10
Current Supported Versions: 20H2, 2004, 1909, 1809, 1803(This information was last updated May 5, 2021)
If you want to ensure your version of Windows 10 is up to date, you can check the current version of your machine by going to Settings, clicking on System, then About. The current version is listed under the Windows Specifications section.
Known Issues:
You may receive the following error below trying to log in after installing a feature update. To resolve this issue, restart your computer again.