Quality Updates and Feature Updates?
Q In Issue 560’s Reader Support section you answered Roger Hughes’ question about his missing Reserved Storage in Windows 10. In your reply you referenced the Quality Updates that, as you stated, Windows seems to download every month, more or less. However, when I check my Windows Update I see that there’s also a heading of Feature Updates, which seem altogether rarer. Could you tell me what the difference is, and why I get many more Quality Updates than Feature Updates? Graham Raymond
A In simple terms, Quality Updates are generally repairs while Feature Updates are functionality upgrades. When it comes to the reliable operation of Windows, fixes are clearly more important than upgrades to features – so Quality Updates are more frequent.
Delving back into recent history, Microsoft had long adhered to what had become known as Patch Tuesday. This referred to the second Tuesday of each month, when the firm would routinely release what are now known as Quality Updates. However, Tuesday would occasionally become Thursday, and even more occasionally slip further.
Now, in the Windows 10 era, while the frequency is still broadly monthly, Microsoft releases Quality Updates as and when it feels they’re necessary – not to some notional fixed schedule.
Feature Updates are a bit more predictable. They’re the major downloads that, since Windows 10 launched in 2015, have happened roughly every six months and enhance or otherwise alter your day-today Windows experience. For example, the most recent Feature Update – known as the May Update – introduced the option to set a ‘light’ theme across Windows, and flexibility to pause updates.
However, the codename for the May Update is 1903, which is indicative of when Microsoft planned to finalise the release – March 2019.
All of this adds up to what’s known as 'Windows as a Service' (or Waas), meaning that Windows 10 is now continually evolving. Quality Updates are important, but not exciting. Feature Updates certainly promise excitement, but they’re not vital to the safe functioning of Windows. Microsoft recently said it will cut Feature Updates to just one a year (see News, Issue 60, page 6).
Want to know the difference between technical terms? Email noproblem@ computeractive.co.uk