Windows 10 update release date

Microsoft will reportedly start proper work on Windows 10 version 21H1 in February when testers in the Release Preview Ring will begin evaluating preview builds (19043 or newer) via enablement package.

Windows 10 21H1, for the uninitiated, is a service pack-style update with the focus entirely on quality improvements and bug fixes. There won’t be any new major feature additions (as the October 2020 Update was the previous year) and Microsoft is now planning to release it in May or June 2021.

In a new code commit, Microsoft confirmed that it’s working on a new “Windows release” and it will be released to the public in June 2021. In addition to the release date, Microsoft also noted that the next feature update will include built-in protections against Kernel Transaction Manager (KTM).

“The Windows Release coming out this June 2021 has a new API that can disable KTM exploits. Verified on an internal OS build that the KTM exploit is no longer available,” the Chromium code commit reads.

Chromium code commit

If you have been following the release cycle of Windows updates, you might have noticed that the first major update of the year is released in the month of May. For example, Windows 10 version 1903 and version 2004 updates were released to consumers in the last week of May.

Therefore, it’s very likely that Windows version 21H1 will be released in May 2021 and it will be rolled out to more users in June 2021.

However, at the same time, it’s also possible that Microsoft is talking about Windows 10 21H2 “Sun Valley” update, which is expected to hit the RTM (release to manufacturer) status in June.

What to expect in Windows 10 version 21H1

We haven’t heard much about the Spring 2021 update yet and no details on exactly what we can expect were revealed.

However, one of the changes we could see with the Windows 10 Spring 2021 update is a new section for the graphics card in the Settings app. The update is also expected to add native support for DNS over HTTPS (DOH).

With 21H1 seemingly a minor update, the following upgrade for late 2021 makes sense for a big redesign. Windows 10 21H2 (fall 2021 update) is expected to include a new Start Menu, Action Center, Taskbar, and inbox applications. There’ll be performance and dark theme ‘consistency’ improvements too.

Update 1: The Chromium post appears to have been edited and it does not contain the release month anymore.

About The Author

Mayank Parmar

Mayank Parmar is an entrepreneur who founded Windows Latest. He is the Editor-in-Chief and has written on various topics in his seven years of career, but he is mostly known for his well-researched work on Microsoft's Windows. His articles and research works have been referred to by CNN, Business Insiders, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, Microsoft and many others over the years.