Microsoft says that Windows 10 version 1809, October 2018 Update, is “fully available” through Windows Update starting December 17 (according to this support website), but only for advanced users.
While the October 2018 Update was originally released on October 2, Microsoft was forced to pause the rollout as a result of data loss and a number of other isolated issues, such as issues with drivers and iCloud, then a month later, on November 13, the company re-released the update, but it was limited only to devices confirmed to be absolutely compatible.
It now appears that the company is a little more confident, and it’s making version 1809 available for any users who click the “Check for updates” button in the Windows Update settings page. However, this is only for consumers, as it’s yet to be announced when the October 2018 Update will be fully available for business use.
Although the update is more broadly available, Microsoft has been blocking the update on certain devices known to have issues, and until the problems are resolved the block will remain.
Currently the company is blocking the update on devices with specific drivers and software, including for devices with some Intel display drivers (versions 24.20.100.6344 and 24.20.100.6345), Radeon HD2000 and HD4000 graphics, F5 VPN client, and some Trend Micro products.
It’s time to upgrade
If you’re still stuck with the April 2018 Update, version 1803, it’s now the time to upgrade. Since the original release, the second update for 2018 has received several quality updates to fix many of the issues, and according to Microsoft is safer to install. However, you always want to be prepared in case something goes wrong using this guide and creating a full backup of your device before the upgrade.
If you want to wait a little longer, remember that you can always delay the October 2018 Update using this guide.
Windows 10 version 1809 is available for download using Windows Update, but if your device isn’t getting the new version, and you’re confident, then you can get it using a few different methods:
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].