Windows 10 version 2004, May 2020 Update, is arriving soon, and in this hands-on video review, you’ll learn about all the new features and improvements shipping with this release.
Codenamed 20H1, this is the ninth major release of Windows 10 that Microsoft is rolling out for desktops, laptops, and tablets, and it’s an incremental update that delivers a new set of visual enhancements as well as several new small features.
You can learn more about this update in this field guide.
Windows 10 version 2004 release date
The new version of Windows 10 is officially rolling out sometime in May as an optional update, but it’ll be a gradual rollout that will take time, which means that no every device will get the notification to install the feature update through the Settings app on day one.
You can force the May 2020 Update using the Media Creation Tool, but the recommended method is to upgrade once it becomes available automatically through Windows Update.
Windows 10 May 2020 Update new features
In this new version, Windows 10 is adding a number of improvements and several new features, including the ability to reset your device downloading a fresh copy of Windows 10 from the Microsoft servers. Instead of using the image locally available on your device.
In the Settings app, you’ll also find an update Optional features page with the ability to install multiple items at the same time, and there are several tweaks to help you manage these settings.
The Sign-in options page introduces a new feature that allows you ditch traditional passwords using an Windows Hello alternative method, including PIN, fingerprint, and face recognition.
There’s a new Text cursor indicator to help you find the cursor anywhere on the screen. The Status settings page now includes a new view of active connections and quick access to change settings, and a lot more.
Across the operating system, this new version ships with a bunch of improvements for the Start menu. You can now rename virtual desktops to anything you want. Cortana becomes a regular app that gets updates from the Microsoft Store. You can now pair Bluetooth devices directly from a notification, and there’s native support for network cameras.
In addition, Windows 10 version 2004 ships with the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2, which now using a real Linux kernel in a lightweight virtual machine, which improves system performance and app compatibility.
If you already installed the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, or you’re planning to get it in the coming weeks, this hands-on video review walks you through everything you need to know about the update.
The update is free for those devices already running Windows 10, and it’ll be officially available at some point in May.
What do you think about the new features and improvements with the May 2020 Update? Tell us in the comments below.
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].