Feature Updates

Windows feature updates are new versions of the OS, released twice a year, during spring and fall time frames, and supported for 18 months. These updates typically include new features, visual improvements, and significant enhancements to improve the overall experience and security.

From Windows 10 20H2 there will no longer be 2 releases per year, reducing to only 1 release per year and each Feature Update will now be supported for a full 30 months.

You can check which Windows version is installed on your computer, by typing winver in the search box on the taskbar and selecting winver from the result list.

Why it matters?

It is crucial to upgrade your Windows when a new version is released not to make your whole system vulnerable. When the newest version becomes available, the older ones will be out of support after some time. To view the Windows versions and their end-of-support dates click here.

If the support of your Windows Feature Update has ended, you won't be getting new third-party software patches, as their vendors release software compatible only with the supported Windows Feature Updates.

Important Information

Feature Updates are not actually updates, but rather operating system upgrades and should be used on Windows 10  and 11 only.

These upgrades can take up to 1.5 hours to complete.

These upgrades take significantly longer than typical updates, require a system reboot, and have specific pre-requisites that must be met prior to the deployment.  

Please, review the Microsoft release notes for further details.

Prerequisites 

An uploaded ISO More information can be found on the official Microsoft Website.

PreparationsPreparations

Before pushing a Feature Update to many target devices, please adhere to the following standards

❶

Ensure the installation ISO is genuine and is the appropriate version intended to

upgrade to (ex. A Windows 10 1809 upgrade requires the Windows 10 1809

installation ISO).

You can find out how to create a Feature Update ISO on the Microsoft Website.
❷

Prepare a test environment that is a representative sample of the rest of the population.

  • Rather than target a test lab devoid of end-users, it's better to target a small department or a diverse group of end-users from many departments. This ensures an accurate sample and will better show any potential upgrade conflicts with existing business applications.
  • Build a direct communication channel with the test sample and end-users. Of course it's important to ensure initial installations are successful, but it's even more important to ensure there is no potential impact to core business processes or simply resistance to change, especially when new operating system upgrades change the interface and flow.
  • The 'feedback' process should typically take at least 1 week to ensure there are no issues.
  • Recommendation from Microsoft: "When doing so, clearly state that you're looking for feedback rather than people to just 'try it out' and that there could be occasional issues involved with accepting feature updates right away. With Windows as a service, the expectation is that there should be few issues, but if an issue does arise, you want testers to let you know as soon as possible. When considering whom to recruit for pilot groups, be sure to include members who provide the broadest set of applications and devices to validate the largest number of apps and devices possible." (Source)
❸

Prepare an exclusion environment of which to ensure Feature Updates are NOT going to be pushed to. 

This typically includes production servers and/or sensitive departments/end-users.
❹

Other preparations (all recommended, but optional):

  • Check device manufacturer's website to check compatibility.
  • Ensure the target device(s) have enough disk space at the time of scheduled deployment (7GB minimum).
  • Disable Antivirus software (recommended by the industry).
  • Disable all background software.
  • Disable peripherals and external USB devices (conflicts can occur during reboot installation).
  • Update or disable display adapters.
  • System integrity check using CMD prompt:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • rundll32.exe pnpclean.dll, RunDLL_PnpClean /DRIVERS /MAXCLEAN

How to create and upload Windows Installation ImagesHow to create and upload Windows Installation Images

Learn how to add your organization's install images for upgrading with Creating and Managing Images article.

How to update your Windows 10 to the latest versionHow to update your Windows 10 to the latest version

Guided walk-through: Feature Update Deploy