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.
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.
