- Microsoft releases Windows 10 21H1 (May 2021 Update) for commercial pre-release validation.
- The new version of Windows 10 is ready for PCs not using the Home edition and managed by IT admins.
- Windows 10 21H1 is not yet available for regular customers.
Windows 10 21H1, May 2021 Update, is available for download for commercial customers to validate their apps and explore the new features ahead of the official release later this spring. At the Tech Community blog (via ZDNet), Microsoft explains organizations can now access the version through all the standard channels, including Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and Azure Marketplace, or downloading the ISO file.
However, this release is not meant for regular consumers. According to the company, a computer is a commercial device when it is not running Windows 10 Home, or it’s managed through Microsoft Endpoint Manager or a third-party MDM tool. Or if the computer has a volume license key, CommercialID, or is joined to an Active Directory domain.
As the software giant has previously noted, the first semi-annual update of Windows 10 will be considered a small update with minor changes and several fixes. Customers with devices running version 2004 or 20H2 will receive the May 2021 Update as a quick enablement package that does not require a full installation of the operating system.
On the other hand, consumers using an older release, such as version 1909 or older, then the upgrade process will not change and reinstallation will be required.
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 14 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 20 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].