If you’ve been wondering what’s the Windows 10 Creators Update? The Creators Update (formerly known as “Redstone 2”) is just another update for Windows 10. However, unlike those updates you get every second Tuesday of every month, the Creators Update is more significant and includes new features and changes to improve the user experience.
Why is called the ‘Creators Update’
Microsoft has chosen the “Creators Update” name because, according to the company, the new update helps everyone to be a creator. However, the name has a more marketing purpose, as using a friendly name it’s easier to sell than using numbers. However, for more technical users “Windows 10 version 1703” will make more sense.
What’s the Windows 10 Creators Update version number
Actually, “Windows 10 version 1703” is the official version name Microsoft uses to identify this release, and it follows the same version number scheme we’ve seen with the Anniversary Update (version 1607), and the November Update (version 1511), which indicates the year and month of the release.
The Creators Update is the third major release for Windows 10 that rolls out eight months after the Anniversary Update, and about six months before the next major feature update, which currently we know as Redstone 3.
Furthermore, the new update is part of the new Windows as a Service (WaaS) model, which means that instead of getting a brand-new version of the OS (e.g., Windows Vista and Windows 7) around every three years, you’ll get roughly two incremental updates with new features and improvements every year. In this new servicing model, the work to improve Windows 10 is an ongoing process, and it’s never consider a final product.
When the Windows 10 Creators Update will release
The new version of Windows 10 officially released on April 11, 2017, and it’s a free update for all devices already running Windows 10.
Similar to previous releases, Microsoft is delivering the Windows 10 Creators Update on stages, meaning that everyone will not get it the same day.
Instead, only a select group of PCs, laptops, and tablets to be known the update works correctly on will be getting the update first. Then when the update has been through more testing, and it’s proven to work as expected, Microsoft will continue the rollout with other devices.
This means that if your device isn’t seeing the Creators Update, it’s likely because the update is not ready for your device.
It’s always not recommended to force major feature updates like this one, unless you know exactly what you’re doing, and you understand the implications.
How to download the Windows 10 Creators Update
When the Creators Update launches, and it’s ready for your device, you’ll receive a Windows Update notification asking you to review your privacy settings before downloading the update, and it’ll install as a regular update.
If you can’t wait, there is a number of ways to get the Windows 10 Creators Update using the Media Creation Tool and Update Assistant. You can also download the Windows 10 ISO file with the Creators Update if you want to take this route.
What’s new on the Windows 10 Creators Update
The Windows 10 Creators Update includes a slew of new features and improvements. Some of these features include mixed reality (virtual and augmented reality) and 3D support out-of-the-box.
The update also brings new improvements on gaming, such as Game Mode to improve gaming performance, and you’ll be able to play games in 4K resolution. In addition, Windows 10 now includes Beam integration to broadcast gameplay online without the need of third-party tools or complicated setup.
Cortana gets smarter and more useful. In the Creators Update, you’ll now get a full-screen experience of Cortana when your computer idles for at least 10 seconds. Also, there is a new pick up where you left off in Cortana feature, which allows you resume working on a file, app, or web page on another device.
There is a new Night Light feature that adjusts the blue light of your display at night to help prevent eye strain and improve sleep quality.
You can now customize theme using the Settings app, there is a new option to block non-Store apps on your computer, and Windows Update will no longer reboot your computer when least expected to apply new updates.
Microsoft Edge gets improved with a number of tweaks, new ebook reader experience to read those epub books you get from the Store or locally stored on your computer, and there is a new tab managements system.
On the security front, Microsoft is adding the Windows Defender Security Center, which is your new hub to control malware protection, device performance and health, firewall and network protection, and family options.
You can check all the new features for the Windows 10 Creators Update here.
How to defer the Windows 10 Creators Update
Although the Creators Update is a great release, significant updates like this one are known not to be 100 percent free of bugs, even more during the rollout period.
If you want to avoid possible errors and other issues, it’s always a good idea to defer Windows 10 feature updates for at least a month or two until you know for sure the update is stable and working correctly.
Original published on March 2017, updated on April 2017.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].