Windows 10 is never finished, with Microsoft adding a bevvy of new features to the OS twice a year.

1. Dummies Cheat Sheet Windows 10 For Seniors
2. Windows 10 Cheat Sheet Pdf

The latest bundle of improvements is almost here, with the April 2018 Update available to download from Monday 30 April. The update has arrived slightly later than anticipated, and with a different name than the expected 'Spring Creators Update'.

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Windows 10 users can expect a smattering of improvements, the most interesting of which is Timeline, which allows users to easily jump back to what they were doing on a Windows 10 device at an earlier point, while IT admins and developers also get some smart upgrades to command line tools and Linux support.

Of course, not everyone will be thrilled to have a major update pushed upon them, even if it will be quicker to install than earlier releases, but there are ways to put off the upgrade.

Here's everything you need to know about what's in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update — whether you're a consumer or an IT admin — how to get it, what you'll need and, if you're so inclined, how to put it off for as long as possible.

SEE: All of TechRepublic's cheat sheets and smart person's guides

What are the new features in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update?

For a full run-through of these new features and how to use them, check out our walkthrough.

Timeline

Windows 10's Task View has been upgraded to show a history of previous files, apps and sites you've had open, allowing you to pick up where you left off in supported apps like Office. Past activity can also be tracked on other PCs, Android handsets and iPhones, provided they are linked to the same Microsoft account.

SEE: Toolkit: 21 useful Active Directory scripts for Windows (Tech Pro Research)

Nearby sharing

Sharing files and URLs between PCs via Bluetooth is now far easier using Windows' nearby sharing feature, accessible via the Share icon in supported apps such as the Edge browser, Photos and File Explorer.

Swift Pair

Connecting two devices via Bluetooth requires even less setup, with supported devices automatically triggering an Action Center notification asking if you want to pair the PC with the device.

SEE: Software usage policy (Tech Pro Research)

Fluent design

Microsoft's slow revamp of the look and feel of Windows 10 continues, with elements of its Fluent Design System used even more widely throughout the OS.

The design language adds light, depth, motion, and the quality of physical materials to the Windows UI and apps.

Below you can see the glow that the Reveal effect adds to the cursor in the Start menu and the My People hub.

Better privacy

Microsoft continues to try to address concerns about Windows 10 snooping, with the biggest step forward being the Windows Diagnostic Data Viewer.

The viewer lets you examine the data collected from your PC and sent to Microsoft by the Universal Telemetry Client.

Information broken down includes that relating to device connectivity and configuration, the services and apps used, web browsing history, and related to typed, voice and handwritten inputs.

Also new are pages in the Privacy section of the Settings app that give you greater control over which apps use your webcam and which apps have access to your Documents, Pictures and Videos folder, as well as to the wider file system.

Fewer distractions

Focus Assist gives you more control over which notifications Windows 10 shows you, with the ability to set the hours during which notifications will be muted. There's fine-grained control, allowing you to only let notifications of a particular priority through, as well as the ability to quickly switch between three Focus Assist priority modes.

A better Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store is infamous for its rather lacklustre selection of software — so it's good news that help could be at hand.

The Windows 10 April 2018 Update will see Progressive Web Apps added to the store, in a move that has the potential to bring many new apps to its virtual shelves.

PWAs are basically web apps that behave like native apps, are able to work offline, send notifications and be installed on PCs.

Developers have an incentive to develop PWAs due to them already being supported by major browsers such as Chrome, more so than they do at present to develop UWP apps for the Microsoft Store.

One of the first PWA Store apps to be revealed is from Twitter.

Sharper Edge

Microsoft's Edge browser may be something of an also ran in the race against Chrome, but it's slowly getting better.

The update adds a variety of new features, including the ability to mute tabs, support for extensions in Private Mode and autofill on web payment forms, the ability to pin a book to the Start menu and a redesigned hub that shows bookmarks, downloads, eBooks and history.

Other tweaks

Alongside the big changes there are an array of smaller alterations, too numerous to list in full. Here are some of the more notable changes:

• voice dictation is easier, and is now available in any text field or supported app by pressing Win + H.
• good news if you hate Windows 10's automatically hiding scrollbars, you can now stop them shrinking out of view by adjusting a toggle in Settings -> Ease of Access -> Display.
• a Font page in the Settings app lets you preview, install and customize new fonts.
• a Start-up page in the Settings app lets you determine which apps run at start-up.
• password recovery for Windows 10 PCs that are logged into using a local, rather than a Microsoft, account.
• a multi-GPU feature that allows you to specify which apps should use the more power-hungry discrete GPU.
• the removal of the HomeGroup feature.
• My People hub now allows you to drag contacts to rearrange their priority, as well as drag pinned contacts to and from the Taskbar.
• the virtual assistant Cortana has been redesigned to be simpler to use, with a new Organizer interface and My Skills tab.
• limit how much bandwidth downloads taking place in the foreground use under Delivery Optimization in the Settings app.

SEE: Windows 10 April 2018 Update: How to get it early (TechRepublic)

What are the new features for business users, IT admins and developers?

While some of the bigger features such as Timeline will benefit both consumer and business users, the April 2018 Update introduces a number of positive changes for IT admins and developers.

Windows Defender Application Guard

Windows Defender Application Guard (WDAG) is designed to help protect firms against online threats by adding container-based isolation to Windows 10's Edge browser, allowing it to safely contain malware so it can't spread within a company's network.

While not a new feature, it is now available on the Windows 10 Pro edition for the first time. The April 2018 Update also boosts performance when browsing using WDAG, and also allows users to download files from the container to the host machine.

Windows Subsystem for Linux

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows Windows 10 to run various GNU/Linux distros from the Windows Store, providing access to Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora, and most recently Debian and Kali Linux.

New features include:

• support for Unix sockets, allowing for communication between Windows and the WSL, a major benefit of which is allowing WSL to run the Linux Docker Client and interact with the Docker Daemon running on Windows.
• run Linux software as background tasks after closing the WSL console window.
• a tool wslpath for converting file paths between Windows and Linux.
• the ability to share the WSLENV environment variable between Windows and Linux.
• better filesystem support, with Linux permissions added as metadata to files.
• the ability to use the VS Code IDE to debug Node.js projects running Node.js from a Linux-based system.

Other developer and admin-focused improvements are:

• the new Windows AI platform will allow developers to use pre-trained, machine-learning models in their apps on Windows devices.
• Microsoft Edge now allows its developer tools, accessible by pressing F12, to be docked to the right edge of the Edge window.
• laying the groundwork for reducing the memory footprint of the registry by introducing a new minimal registry process.
• more options for admins to set and enforce policies on corporate devices using Windows AutoPilot.
• Windows Analytics gains a page for monitoring Delivery Optimization Status, which will allow admins to see the bandwidth savings achieved by downloading updates to a single machine and then distributing those updates to other PCs on the local network.

Virtualization improvements are:

• Windows Hypervisor Platform gets an extended user-mode API that allows third-party virtualization stacks and applications to create and manage partitions at the hypervisor level, configure memory mappings for the partition, and create and control execution of virtual processors.
• Linux virtual machines (VMs) running on Hyper-V can now benefit from an enhanced session mode.
• a quick create tool for VMs.

Windows native command line tools have also been expanded, with the addition of:

• support of the tar command for creating and unpacking .tar files, and the curl command for sending and receiving files.
• an OpenSSH-based client and server for easier remote command line administration.
• support for Universal Windows Platform console applications, which means these applications will now be available in the Microsoft Store.

Finally there are new upgrades for the Windows Pro for Workstations edition:

• addition of ultimate performance mode, which reduces latencies associated with power management techniques.
• removal of Candy Crush and other consumer-focused apps from the Start menu by default.

SEE: Windows 10 S: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Which features didn't make the cut?

Cloud clipboard

This long-awaited feature now looks likely to arrive on Windows 10 with the Redstone 5 update in Fall of this year.

Much as the name suggests, cloud clipboard will allow users to copy images, links, text and even documents between Windows 10 PCs and phones running Android and iOS, providing they are signed into the same Microsoft account.

Preview versions of the feature show cloud clipboard either automatically sharing whatever is copied with linked devices, or being triggered manually by pressing the Windows key + V and then selecting something stored on the clipboard.

Sets

Another widely trailed new feature for Windows 10 that isn't included is Sets, although to be fair this was never scheduled for the April 2018 Update.

Sets introduces support for tabbed windows, allowing users to group together related apps, documents, files and websites into separate tabs in a single desktop window.

The idea is to allow the user to group together every piece of content related to a specific task inside a single window, for instance putting Office documents and websites side-by-side.

Microsoft is promising Sets support in a wide variety of apps, with indication that the feature will arrive for the Redstone 5 update in Fall of this year.

How can I get the Windows 10 April 2018 Update early?

The Windows 10 April 2018 Update will be available to download from Monday 30 April and begin rolling out via Windows Update from 8 May, although it could take months for Microsoft to upgrade your PC.

If you want to try it out now, you can upgrade now by following our step-by-step guide.

SEE: Windows 10 April 2018 Update: Act fast to delay this big upgrade (ZDNet)

How can I delay upgrading to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update?

Conversely you may be indifferent to the new features on offer or want to sit the upgrade out until any bugs have been ironed out.

If you want to delay the upgrade, then check out our how-to guide for business and home users.

SEE: Windows 10 April 2018 Update is loaded with productivity features (TechRepublic)

Can my machine run the Windows 10 April 2018 Update?

Microsoft hasn't changed the minimum specs for the base version of Windows 10 in the run up to the April 2018 Update, which remain:

• Processor: 1GHz or faster processor or SoC
• RAM: 1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
• Hard disk space: 16GB for 32-bit OS or 20GB for 64-bit OS
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
• Display: 800x600

This is the bare minimum required to run Windows 10 however, with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage advisable for comfortable use alongside a 4th-generation Intel Core processor or later, or AMD equivalent. Using the VR and AR features in the Mixed Reality platform will also require a modestly powerful discrete GPU or high-end integrated GPU. However, it seems unlikely that any of the new additions to the OS with the April 2018 Update will change the specs needed to run Windows 10 in any meaningful way.

As with previous feature upgrades for Windows 10, older budget laptops may also not be eligible to receive the updates, with affected PCs including those running on Intel Atom Z2760, Z2580, Z2560, and Z2520 processors, such as the HP Envy X2 laptop.

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Like a Swiss Army Knife, Windows 10 was designed to do just about everything for everyone...or at least that's Microsoft's hope. It's built to provide a unified operating system that can run across multiple platforms, such as PCs, tablets, and smartphones. It's also designed to provide PC users with a more traditional Windows experience compared to Windows 8's touch-centric UI, something Microsoft hopes will win over long-time Windows users and many IT departments that skipped Windows 8. Lastly, Windows 10 marks the beginning of Microsoft's new Windows-as-a-service strategy, which could signal the end of numbered Windows releases.

To help IT leaders quickly get up to speed on Windows 10, we compiled the most important details and related resources on Microsoft's latest operating system into this guide, which we'll periodically update as new information becomes available.

SEE: Windows 10 power tips: Secret shortcuts to your favorite settings (Tech Pro Research)

Windows 10 May 2019 Update

The latest release of Windows 10—1903, or the May 2019 Update—was made '... available to the Release Preview ring of the Windows Insider Program on April 8, 2019,' states ZDNet contributing writer Ed Bott. ZDNet contributor Mary Jo Foley reported that on April 18, 2019 Windows 10 was made available on MSDN, as well as its Windows Server 1903 component. The Windows 10 May 2019 Update became widely available to consumers on May 21, 2019.

• Microsoft is making big Windows 10 update changes starting with the May 2019 release (ZDNet)
• Windows 10 May 2019 Update: Everything you need to know (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10 May 2019 Update: How to get it early (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10 May 2019 Update: How to delay it (TechRepublic)
• Microsoft blocks Windows 10 May 2019 Update on PCs that use USB storage or SD cards (ZDNet)
• How to stop Microsoft from blocking the Windows 10 May 2019 Update on your PC (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10: Microsoft lists the processors you'll need for the May 2019 Update (ZDNet)

Windows 10 October 2018 Update

This release of Windows 10—1809, or the October 2018 Update—is now available (if temporarily stalled). Like its predecessors, it's best considered an evolution of the original Windows 10 release. With editions for home users, business professionals, and for enterprise, it offers a mix of features for every user—working across PCs and tablets.

Over the last three years Microsoft has slowly been evolving the Windows user interface to take advantage of more natural ways of working with a computer. The mouse and keyboard are still there, but screens are more touch-friendly, with a powerful on-screen keyboard powered by the same underlying machine learning system as the familiar mobile SwiftKey. There's also support for eye tracking, for Microsoft's own rotary Dial, and for on-screen pens.

Each new release adds new interaction models, as Microsoft takes advantage of its Windows-as-a-Service model to push out regular small changes that over time add up to a new Windows. The old numbered and named releases have gone away, as have the themed semi-annual updates. Now Windows gets its name from the month it's released, just like the Xbox gaming platform.

SEE: Windows-as-a-service fail: Microsoft keeps customers in the dark (ZDNet)

1809 is the last of the Redstone series of Windows 10 releases. Originally codenamed RS5, it's added new dark mode UI elements, as well as a wider implementation of Microsoft's new Fluent design style, across both the OS and Windows 10's built-in applications. Other new features include deeper integration with Android phones via the Your Phone app, improved screen capture tools, a cloud-hosted clipboard, plus changes to the Start menu search experience and the Cortana virtual assistant.

This release also introduces a business-friendly support model, with support for the September/October releases extended to 30 months, with 18 months support for the March/April releases. It's a change that will make it easier for businesses and users that want to update Windows every one or two years, without having to go to the feature-limited Long Term Servicing (LTS) release. Other Enterprise updates include new sign-in and security tooling, and the policies to ensure they can be managed and deployed to all users.

Executive summary

• What is Windows 10? Windows 10 is the latest major release of Microsoft's Windows operating system and is the successor to Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. Windows 10 includes support for tablets and IoT devices. It remains backwards compatible with software written for most earlier versions of Windows and DOS, and has added support for Linux applications and for Arm processors as well as Intel and AMD x86 hardware.
• Why does Windows 10 matter? Windows 10 contains a host of new features, security updates, and a platform-unifying design aimed at both enterprise users and consumers. Windows remains Microsoft's flagship product, and is still the dominant PC operating system. By switching to a semi-annual release schedule, it's able to add new features and support new services building on a familiar platform and user interface. Microsoft calls this delivery model 'Windows-as-a-Service.'
• Who does Windows 10 affect? Windows 10 is available from the Microsoft Store and from other retailers, and it will be the default operating system of many newly purchased computers and electronic devices. Windows 10 is now installed on around 700 million devices, and all of these will be able to install and use the 1809 update. With an accelerated delivery model, Microsoft is aiming to bring as many users as possible to the new release as quickly as possible.
• When was Windows 10 released? Microsoft made Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro generally available on July 29, 2015 through a staggered release schedule. Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education editions were made available beginning on August 1, 2015. Microsoft released the Windows 10 April 2018 Update on May 30, 2018 and began rolling it out to customers on a staggered basis. The Windows 10 October 2018 Update began rolling out in October 2018 but was delayed due to severe bugs; as of December 2018, the rollout was back on track. The Windows 10 May 2019 Update became generally available on May 21, 2019.
• How can I get Windows 10? Windows 10 is available to purchase through the Microsoft Store and through other retailers, with downloads from the Windows 10 website via Microsoft's media creation tool. This can install Windows 10 on PCs directly or create bootable USB installation drives. ISO files are also available for DVD installation. Upgrades to 1809 from previous Windows 10 releases will come via Windows' built-in update tool.

SEE: All of TechRepublic's cheat sheets and smart person's guides

What is Windows 10?

Officially unveiled on September 30, 2014, Windows 10 is the current major release of Microsoft's Windows operating system and is the successor to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. The latest version—1903, or the May 2019 Update—was made available on MSDN on April 18, 2019.

Developed under the codename 'Threshold' with later builds coming from the 'Redstone' branch, Microsoft's goal with Windows 10 is to provide a common operating system that can run across multiple platforms—including PCs, tablets, smartphones, embedded systems, and even Xbox One, Surface Hub, and HoloLens. Each platform has a device-specific user interface (UI), but shares the same Windows 10 core.

Windows 10 includes several new features and important changes, in addition to its platform-unifying design. Many new features are designed to improve the desktop experience and draw in business users who were turned off by Windows 8's tile-based UI and the initial removal of the Start menu. Key features include:

• Start menu: Windows 10's Start menu combines the Windows 7-like application list and the live tiles interface from Windows 8's Start screen. Windows-8 style 'modern' apps (now called Universal Windows Platform or UWP apps) can run within a window on the desktop, like standard desktop programs. There's also support for apps developed with the Windows 10 Desktop Bridge, which lets Windows Win32 applications take advantage of Windows 10 features including Live Tiles. A new wider application launch view in the October 2018 Update gives you access to more application options, and improves application search.
• Action Center: The Charms menu is replaced with the Action Center, a sidebar that provides notifications and contains buttons for common tasks.
• Tablet mode: A new tablet mode is designed to make Windows 10 easier to operate without a keyboard or a mouse. From the October 2018 Update, the on-screen keyboard is powered by the same technology as Microsoft's Android and iOS SwiftKey.
• Improved security: New security features include Windows Hello, an integrated biometric authentication system, and Windows Defender Application Guard, which runs the Edge browser in its own Hyper-V isolated process.
• Microsoft Edge: Formerly codenamed Project Spartan, Edge is the default web browser in Windows 10. With the release of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the Edge browser now supports extensions, greatly increasing the flexibility of the browser. Internet Explorer 11 is included with the OS, but is basically unchanged from the version of IE11 found in Windows 7 and 8.1. Edge is also Windows' built-in PDF viewer and ePub ebook reader. The underlying EdgeHTML engine is a modern HTML 5 browser, with support for most modern web standards.
• Cortana integration:Cortana, Microsoft's voice-powered personal assistant, makes its desktop debut in Windows 10 and can be configured to take over the Search box. It now also works with Amazon's Alexa and with a range of home automation hardware. The October 2018 Update gives Cortana and Windows Search a new, wider search look-and-feel with additional search options. However, some features, like parcel tracking, are being moved from Cortana into other Windows applications.
• Xbox Live integration: Although not critical for many business users, Xbox Live is built into Windows 10. Users can stream games from an Xbox One to a desktop, laptop, or tablet over Wi-Fi, play multiplayer games with people on different platforms, and more. A built-in Game Bar mode allows full-screen recording, which works with desktop apps as well as games.
• Enhanced graphics: Windows 10 includes new versions of DirectX and WDDM to improve game performance. Workstation apps can also use these features to access GPU hardware for additional compute performance.
• Above the login screen: The Windows 10 Anniversary Update (1607) allows users to access several applications, including Cortana and the Calendar app, without having to log in first.
• 3D Paint app: The Windows 10 Creators Update (1703) added a new 3D Paint app, which allows users to more easily create and share 3D scenes and models.
• Windows Timeline and Shared Experiences: With the April 2018 Update (1803), Windows Timeline added cross-system support for shared activities, showing what Office documents you've worked on and which web pages you've visited. You can resume work through Cortana, and pick up web browsing sessions from another PC—and also send browser sessions from mobile devices to the desktop. A new Your Phone app in the October 2018 Update brings recent photographs and SMS messages from your Android phone to your desktop. It will also soon add application mirroring for other Android apps.
• Snip & Sketch: Microsoft has used the October 2018 Update to deliver a new version of its screen capture tooling. Use Shift+Win+S to launch a new screen capture experience, with a pen-enabled editing tool to edit and annotate your captures.
• Sticky Notes: Originally part of the Windows Ink Workspace, Sticky Notes is now an app in its own right, with a major update promised that will integrate it with Windows' other note-taking and task management tools.
• Cloud Clipboard: Windows now offers a clipboard history that works across devices logged into the same Microsoft account, using the same Microsoft Graph that powers the Timeline.
• UI improvements: Microsoft is moving away from the flat look of Windows 8 with a more natural Fluent Design language. This adds translucency and new animations, and is slowly being rolled out across Windows and its various core applications. Closely related is a 'dark mode' for Windows, with a new dark version of Windows Explorer.
• Storage Sense: Microsoft has replaced the old Disk Cleanup utility with a new application, Storage Sense. This new to0l automatically deletes old cached and temporary files from your storage devices to free up space for new files. The automated management of hard drive storage will increase the overall performance of a Windows 10 device without requiring interaction with users.
• Windows Calendar: It has been a long time coming, but with the October 2018 Update, Microsoft has finally added a much-needed search feature to the Windows Calendar app. Users can now type in a few key words to find their appointments, even if they were added to the calendar by Cortana.
• Windows Sandbox: The Windows 10 May 2019 Update adds a new containerization feature to the Pro and Enterprise versions that allows executable applications to be tested by running them in a safe isolated version of Windows 10. Through configuration users can even block the Sandbox from accessing networks and the internet. Closing the Sandbox will remove the application and its remnants.
• Reserved Storage: With the May 2019 Update, Windows 10 will now have the ability to hold 7 GB of hard disk storage in reserve for use during system maintenance. Clean Windows 10 installs after the May 2019 Update will activate this feature automatically. Previously installed versions of Windows 10 updated to version 1903 will be required to manually activate the feature.
• Cortana search separation: The May 2019 Update will separate Cortana and the standard search box on the Taskbar. Cortana digital assistant interaction now has its own icon, while the search box remains on the Taskbar as before.
• Improved Start menu: The May 2019 Update further refines the look and feel of the Windows 10 Start Menu. The new and improved Start menu should have less automatically installed tiles and the layout should seem much less cluttered.
• Chromium-based Microsoft Edge: With the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, the Microsoft Edge web browser will be a Chromium-based open source application. This opens the Edge browser up to more third-party plugin development.
• Linux file system: The May 2019 Update adds support for Linux files directly into the Windows 10 File Explorer application.

Windows 10 comes in four Editions (versions): Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education.

Dummies Cheat Sheet Windows 10 For Seniors

Microsoft's official system requirements for Windows 10 are:

• Processor: 1GHz or faster processor or SoC
• RAM: 1GB for 32-bit OS or 2GB for 64-bit OS; recommended 4GB
• Hard disk space: 16GB for 32-bit or 20GB for 64-bit OS
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
• Display: 800x600

Additional resources:

• Five reasons to upgrade to Windows 10 (TechRepublic)
• Five reasons not to upgrade to Windows 10 (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10 review: Full of promise, but not a must-have just yet (TechRepublic)
• Review: Goodbye, Windows 8; hello, Windows 10 (ZDNet)
• Windows 10: The end of computing as we know it (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10 and the cloud: Still hazy (ZDNet)
• Windows 10 and Edge: How Microsoft's new browser could soon challenge Chrome (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10 supports AllJoyn making the Internet of Things possible (TechRepublic)
• Here come the Windows 10 computers: PCs, convertible laptops and mini-desktops (TechRepublic)

Why does Windows 10 matter?

Windows 10 is Microsoft's effort to recapture many enterprise users who balked at Windows 8's mobile-focused interface and to finally move the last Windows XP and Vista holdouts onto a newer OS.

Windows 10 builds on Windows 7 and on Windows 8, mixing a familiar user interface with mobile and touch-friendly user elements. With Windows XP and Vista no longer supported, and Windows 7 close to end-of-life, it's intended to be both an upgrade from older Windows releases and the OS on new Windows PCs. With new security features and a built-in store, it also brings a new set of modern application development APIs in the shape of the cross-platform UWP.

Windows 10 Cheat Sheet Pdf

Beyond the new features, security updates, and its platform-unifying design, Windows 10 marks a significant shift in how Microsoft's characterizes its flagship operating system. Microsoft is encouraging people to think of Windows 10 as a 'service.' The 'Windows as a Service' delivery model allows Microsoft to regularly deliver new features as part of a semi-annual delivery model.

April/May releases will be supported for 18 months, and September/October releases will be supported for 30 months. Alongside the regularly updated releases, Microsoft also offers a long-term servicing branch that's intended for critical applications that require minimal updates, and which will be supported for 10 years.

Windows 10 Home users only get access to the Current Branch of Windows, which is delivered via the Windows Update service. There's no way of directly delaying or disabling updates to Windows Home, as Microsoft intends for home users to have the most secure version of Windows possible.

Similarly, Windows 10 Pro allows access to Current Branch releases and the Current Branch for Business. Using the Current Branch for Business, you can delay major updates until they've been tested and approved. However, security updates will be installed automatically. Education users get the same options as Windows 10 Pro.

Windows 10 Enterprise adds support for the Long Term Servicing Branch, though with LTSB there's no access to the Windows Store, Cortana, or Edge. Most of the other Windows 10 default applications aren't included either, and aren't supported even if sideloaded. New releases come every 2-3 years.

SEE: Beyond the basic Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts: Clever things you can do with keyboard settings (TechRepublic)

Microsoft has recently changed the names used for the different Windows 10 channels, as part of aligning Windows 10 with both Office 365 and Microsoft 365. Current Branch is now referred to as Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted), Current Branch for Business is the Semi-Annual Channel, while the Long Term Servicing Branch is now the Long Term Servicing Channel.

Insider channels give early access to new features, but should only be used for test machines or by enthusiasts. Skip Ahead is for early access to the next major build of Windows, with Slow and Fast rings giving access to the current development builds. A Release Preview option gives early access to drivers and security updates, allowing IT departments to qualify updates in advance of wider availability. Microsoft actively suggests that IT departments keep a selection of machines on the different Insider rings in order to ensure that key applications are compatible and to set development targets for new Windows SDK releases.

Additional resources:

• How to enroll in the Windows Insiders Program (TechRepublic)
• Piecing together the Windows as a Service puzzle for Windows 10 (ZDNet)
• Microsoft: 10-year support lifecycle (ZDNet)
• Mandatory Windows 10 Home updates: The good, the bad, and the potentially ugly (ZDNet)
• Microsoft releases tool to hide or block unwanted Windows 10 updates (ZDNet)
• Windows 10 S: A cheat sheet (TechRepublic)

Who does Windows 10 affect?

Users running an eligible version of Windows 7 (SP1) or Windows 8/8.1 could have upgraded to Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro for free until July 29, 2016. However, the time for the free upgrade has passed anda copy of Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store costs $119.99.

Users running Windows XP or Windows Vista must purchase a copy of Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store or other retailer. There is no direct upgrade path from Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 10. On these machines, Windows 10 must be loaded as a 'clean install,' and users should back up their data prior to installing the new operating system.

Additional resources:

• Everything you need to know about Windows 10 Enterprise support (TechRepublic)
• 10 things SMBs need to know about Windows 10 (TechRepublic)
• Seven must-read Windows 10 deployment tips for net admins (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10: Will your PC run it? (ZDNet)
• How long should you wait before deploying Windows 10? (Tech Pro Research)
• Windows 10 on an old PC: When it comes to specs, how low can you go? (TechRepublic)

When was Windows 10 released?

Windows 10 general availability (GA) began on July 29, 2015, with Microsoft adopting a staggered deployment schedule.

Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education editions were made available beginning on August 1, 2015 through Microsoft's Volume Licensing Center (neither edition was included in the first-year-free program).

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update was released on August 2, 2016. The update included new and better security features with improvements to applications like Windows Hello, Windows Defender, and Windows Information Protection. The Anniversary Update also augmented support for digital pens with the addition of Windows Ink, a built-in platform that can interpret input beyond the traditional mouse and keyboard. Microsoft Edge gained support for extensions, including AdBlock, Translator, and Office Online. Extensions allow developers to create apps inside Edge and greatly enhance the browser's overall capabilities.

SEE: TechRepublic's Windows 10 Flipboard magazine

The Windows 10 Creators Update was released on April 11, 2017, and included a new 3D Paint app, new security features, changes to how Microsoft updates Windows 10, and laid the foundational for new hardware and content based on augmented and virtual reality.

The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update was released on October 17, 2017, and its new features include built-in ransomware protection, bandwidth controls, and more. Find out whether your machine will run the update, and why IT admins should prepare for the inevitable glitches and hiccups.

The Windows 10 April 2018 Update, released on May 8, 2018, added Timeline as a way of sharing documents and web history between machines, allowing you to pick up work where you left off.

The Windows 10 October 2018 Update began rolling out in October 2018, as scheduled; however, there were several severe bugs associated with the release at that early stage, and the rollout was delayed for approximately a month. As of December 2018, the rollout was again back on track and despite some additional minor bugs, it should be installed on all Windows 10 devices by early 2019.

ZDNet contributor Ed Bott writes, 'Microsoft made Windows 10 version 1903 (also known as the Windows 10 May 2019 Update) available to the Release Preview ring of the Windows Insider Program on April 8, 2019.' The Windows 10 May 2019 Update, as well as its Windows Server 1903 component, was released on April 18, 2019 on MSDN. The official rollout is still expected to be in late May 2019.

Additional resources:

• Windows 10 October 2018 Update file-wiping bug: Does Microsoft need to slow the updates? (TechRepublic)
• How the Windows 10 October 2018 update will impact your enterprise IoT deployments (TechRepublic)
• Want to use Windows 10 on a Raspberry Pi to build an appliance? Now you can get enterprise-grade support (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10: Microsoft promises updates will soon be smaller and easier to delay (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10 then and now: The changing look of Microsoft's latest OS (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10: You've got questions, I've got answers (ZDNet)

How do I get Windows 10?

For the first year of general availability, Windows 10 Home and Pro were free if you were running a genuine copy of an eligible version of Windows 7 (SP1) and Windows 8/8.1. On eligible machines, an icon for the Get Windows 10 app appeared in the taskbar and allowed users to 'reserve' a free copy of the operating system.

As of July 29, 2016, the free upgrade is no longer an option. Users can purchase Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store for the retail price of $119.99. Frugal shoppers may be able to find Windows 10 available at a lower price.

Additional resources:

• How to enroll in the Windows Insider Program (TechRepublic)
• How to avoid installing Windows 10 crapware (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
• Can't activate Windows 10? Microsoft adds troubleshooter to resolve common complaints (TechRepublic)
• How to clear storage space on your PC for Windows 10 updates (TechRepublic)
• Download: Take control of your privacy in Windows 10 (TechRepublic)
• Windows 10 ebook: Streamline your work with these power tips (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
• Download: 12 tips to get more out of Windows 10 (TechRepublic)

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Editor's note: This article was first published in July 2015. The latest update was in May 2019.