Getting the Latest Windows 10 Feature Update

The following applies no matter what that Feature Update's version number might be until and unless Microsoft changes something about the process, and it's been the same since 2015 up until this writing:

First, and most importantly, the best thing you can do is to wait until it's offered to you via Windows Update.

Second, and it really should go without saying at this point in time, every computer user who values their data should be taking full system image backups along with separate user data file backups, and should always take same before ever forcing a Feature Update.

However, I know that many will not follow that advice no matter how often it's been offered and by how many subject matter experts, and in an effort to preclude the, "How do I get it now?," flood I'm going to give the brief "how to" which I hope will stop the flood:

Option 1:   Go to the Microsoft Windows 10 Download Page and activate the Update Now button (which triggers the Update Assistant, which will lead you through the Feature Update).

Option 2.   On the same page, download the Media Creation Tool via the Download Tool Now button, and use same to create a bootable USB drive to install the Feature Update.  Use any one of the following sets of instructions.  Doing a Feature Update install takes precisely the same steps, but you're actually doing an update rather than an install-over repair install:

Non-Destructive Repair of Windows 10 - Answers to commonly asked questions

Doing an In-place "Upgrade" to Reinstall Windows 10 Keeping Apps/Programs and User Files

How to: Perform a Repair Upgrade Using the Windows 10 ISO file

Even when I'm doing Feature Updates well after the introduction date on machines that seem to be having issues with Windows Update, I strongly prefer the second option to the first.  You already have all the things you need to complete a Feature Update on the bootable media, so even if you experience internet connectivity issues during the update it should still be able to complete.

Still, unless you have very good reason not to do so, the best thing you can do is to wait until it's offered to you via Windows Update.

Addendum:  As of this evening the Version 1903 "Health Dashboard" is now active on Microsoft's site.  [And this site will probably remain at the same URL for future Feature Updates as well.]  It tracks issues that are being encountered (whether fixed or active) during the course of the rollout.

Edited by britechguy, 22 May 2019 - 08:28 AM.
Added notes about taking backups and the Feature Update "Health Dashboard" page.

Thanks for the sound advice.

That's nice advice Brian. Being an impatient man, I have updated four PCs using Media Creation Tool. I am pretty satisified with this v1903 performance. It runs real nice. I guess it will be offered via WU sooner.

Now available via Windows Update function.

Did download/install yesterday...it takes a few hours but was totally smooth.

Louis

Edited by hamluis, 15 July 2019 - 05:08 PM.

So how do I update my windows 10 if I dont have a wifi conect

Use ethernet.

The following applies no matter what that Feature Update's version number might be until and unless Microsoft changes something about the process, and it's been the same since 2015 up until this writing:

 

First, and most importantly, the best thing you can do is to wait until it's offered to you via Windows Update.

 

Second, and it really should go without saying at this point in time, every computer user who values their data should be taking full system image backups along with separate user data file backups, and should always take same before ever forcing a Feature Update.

However, I know that many will not follow that advice no matter how often it's been offered and by how many subject matter experts, and in an effort to preclude the, "How do I get it now?," flood I'm going to give the brief "how to" which I hope will stop the flood:

Option 1:   Go to the Microsoft Windows 10 Download Page of bigg boss 13 live and activate the Update Now button (which triggers the Update Assistant, which will lead you through the Feature Update).

Option 2.   On the same page, download the Media Creation Tool via the Download Tool Now button, and use same to create a bootable USB drive to install the Feature Update.  Use any one of the following sets of instructions.  Doing a Feature Update install takes precisely the same steps, but you're actually doing an update rather than an install-over repair install:

 

Non-Destructive Repair of Windows 10 - Answers to commonly asked questions

Doing an In-place "Upgrade" to Reinstall Windows 10 Keeping Apps/Programs and User Files

How to: Perform a Repair Upgrade Using the Windows 10 ISO file

 

 

Even when I'm doing Feature Updates well after the introduction date on machines that seem to be having issues with Windows Update, I strongly prefer the second option to the first.  You already have all the things you need to complete a Feature Update on the bootable media, so even if you experience internet connectivity issues during the update it should still be able to complete.

 

Still, unless you have very good reason not to do so, the best thing you can do is to wait until it's offered to you via Windows Update.

 

Addendum:  As of this evening the Version 1903 "Health Dashboard" is now active on Microsoft's site.  [And this site will probably remain at the same URL for future Feature Updates as well.]  It tracks issues that are being encountered (whether fixed or active) during the course of the rollout.

My windows didn't accept any serial key? I don't want to loose my passwords.

^^^^ Is this an upgrade or a clean install? Do you have a license number or product code?

FWIW:  I did a clean install 2 days ago (version 1809) and then installed all critical updates for that version.  When there were no more critical updates for that version...I was then preesented with the Feature Update option.  From start to finish (preparation-downloading-installing-incorporation...the entire process took about 90 minutes or so.

Brian is spot-on with his suggestion to just wait until WU offers you the Feature Update...it's painless and (surprisingly) fairly quick).

Louis

Louis, Who is your post directed at?

Thank you for this important advice.

I have a home office with four desktops and one laptop running Windows 10. 

On three of the four desktops, these Windows 10 updates have forced me to re-install Windows from a downloaded file via a USB stick and with another license bought from Ebay.  It's cost me hours of wasted time.  I shall follow the advice in Britechguy's post before allowing Windows Update a chance to Uxxx-up the last two.

I just want to add my voice to the complaints about Windows 10, because making Microsoft aware of just how fed up their customers are is the only way to make them improve, or their customers will walk.

• Uninstall latest update - did not work (because the update is pending);
• Restore from a Restore Point - did not work (because no restore points - but I am certain I did create several manual restore points.)
• Startup Repair - did not work.  It actually gave me a message telling me this didn't work.
• Repair Windows - did not work.  Seemed to start but nothing happened.
• Reset Windows - did not work.  Pressed the "Get Started" button - nothing happens.
• That was via the recovery menu.  Trying Safe Mode, several things are just not accessible, eg some settings pages did not load.
• One one PC even the USB drive and downloaded installation file did not work.  It seemed to start installing then failed.  In the case of that PC, to keep my employee working, I went out and bought a new PC.  When the Update hit that a reinstall from USB did work.

Each PC seemed to have a slightly different recovery options, maybe the differences between Windows 10 versions (1809, 1903, 1909 etc), or W10 Home v Pro, sorry that I can't be more specific here as I didn't set out to log each step.

There are many good things about Microsoft, but basic reliability is more important.  Most business software (here in the UK) still seems to be Windows-based, so we feel we are stuck with Windows, but as more software becomes browser-based I can see that there may come a time when I can do without Microsoft. 

My two Unbuntu PCs are still working fine, and I am getting more familiar with Linux each year.

The purpose of this post is:

1.  To show what steps I took that did not help, and retrospectively just a waste of time, so maybe save you that time and direct you to the more knowledgeable advice available in Bleeping Computer which you should try first.  Thanks for your help guys.

2.  To let Microsoft to know that I am really, really fed up with the money cost and many hours of wasted time this has caused me.  I am sure there are others who feel the same.

Hi, 

  Guys i am using window 10 profession for 5 year my experience with this very good and its performance is very good.

I have a naive question or two. First, when I open windows update and go to update history, the last "attempt" was the 2020-05 cumulative update for WIndows 10 version 1909 ( it failed or some reason, but previous updates did succeed). I am also informed in the main windows update screen that two updates are available :2020-01 for version 1909 and 2020-05 cumulative update for version 1909. Both are labeled as "pending downloads". IT seems I have a different version than the new update, so will I be retaining version 1909, or will the new update I've read about be applied to my laptop here? 

​

â€Second, since I have two updates waiting, 2020-01 and 2020-05, will both load when I press the button? What about  2020-02 through 2020-04? 

​ Finally, what in hell are these weird symbols on the left when I hit the Enter key?