Mary Jo Foley
for All About Microsoft
| November 16, 2021
| Topic: Windows 10
Credit: Microsoft
On November 16, Microsoft is starting to roll out Windows 10 21H2, also known as the Windows 10 November 2021 Update. As part of this rollout announcement, officials also are finally providing some answers as to what’s next for Windows 10: It’s moving from a twice-yearly to a once-yearly feature update pace, just like Windows 11 already offers.
The next Windows 10 feature update following 21H2 will be in the second half of 2022, officials said today. And Home and Pro editions of the 21H2 update will get 18 months of support, while Enterprise and Education editions will get 30 months, starting today.
Microsoft is renaming the service option for Windows 10 releases to the “General Availability Channel” starting with the 21H2 update, replacing the current “Semi-Annual Channel” term for servicing options.
However, Microsoft officials recently said the new Windows Hello for Business deployment method — also known as “cloud trust” — is still not ready and will be delivered in a future update to those with 21H2.
Also: Windows 10 is a security disaster waiting to happen
Windows 10 version 21H2 also includes security updates for the following: Windows AI Platform, Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Apps, Windows Cryptography, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Input and Composition, Windows Kernel, Windows Media, Windows Office Media, and Windows Virtualization.
Microsoft is updating a number of its deployment tools and technologies simultaneously with the release of 21H2, trying to bring what’s available for Windows 10 in alignment with Windows 11. Along those lines, Microsoft has begun rolling out its updated Microsoft Store app store, which first debuted in Windows 11 to Windows 10 PCs, officials reiterated today.
Microsoft will continue to provide updates and fixes to Windows 10 until October 2025. After that time, users will face a rather complex choice, as outlined by my ZDNet colleague Ed Bott, of having to go with Windows 11, run Windows 11 on devices Microsoft has deemed to be ineligible, keep running Windows 10 with no security updates, or switch away from Windows altogether.
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