Windows 10 build 18850 (20H1) releases with improvements

Microsoft pushes a new preview for the Windows 10 20H1 update coming next year, and here's all you need to know.

Windows 10 build 18850
Windows 10 build 18850

Ahead of the 19H1, and even before the 19H2 release, Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 10 build 18850 for PCs enrolled in the Fast ring with the Skip Ahead option. This is the fourth preview available to testers as part of the 20H1 development arriving in spring 2020, and while it doesn’t include new features, the update delivers several fixes and improvements for the Snip & Sketch experience.

Windows 10 build 18850, according to the company, fixes problems with Narrator, Windows Sandbox, Lock screen, Start menu, Microsoft Edge, and it also include changes to improve syncing reliability with the cloud clipboard experience.

As part of the Snip & Sketch changes, build 18850 addresses a problem that resulted on snips being a bit blurry after saving or copying to clipboard

Resolves an issue where copying to clipboard would fail if you switched out of the app while the copy operation was in progress. Fixed an issue where auto-copy changes to clipboard wasn’t working. And now, the experience includes Narrator (screen reader) confirmations when a snip is copied to clipboard.

The company explains that some features need a longer lead time, but once the April 2019 Update releases, devices in the Windows Insider Program will resume getting builds for the 19H2 development.

Alongside the new improvements, Microsoft is also announcing several known issues for Windows 10 build 18351 at the Windows Blog.

Download Windows 10 build 18850

Although there are no ISO files for Windows 10 build 18850, the update is available immediately through the Fast ring. This preview build will download and install automatically on your device, but you can always force the update from Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates button.

Warning: This is a pre-release version of Windows 10, and it’s not recommended to install on your primary machine. If you’re planning to test this build, make sure to create a backup of your files before proceeding.

You can also check out these resources:

About the author

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.