Windows 10 version history

This is the first public preview build of Microsoft Windows 10. It introduces a hybrid start menu that combines the functionality of that of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. In this build, "Metro-Style" apps, direct predecessors to UWP apps, can be run in floating windows. Improvements are made to window management with the introduction of Task View that features virtual desktops. Other improvements in this area include the expansion of the window snapping feature allowing apps to be snapped on up to four corners with "Snap Assist" feature that suggest other windows to snap when the users snaps a window.^[17][18]

The Windows command line console is updated with this build with new functionalities including, allowing users to cut, copy, and paste texts with the standard keyboard shortcuts, the ability to display the console at full screen at any display resolution, and transparency options.^[17][19]

The second public preview build of Windows 10 introduces Action Center, which debuted in Windows Phone 8.1.^[22]

This is the last public preview build to have the version number of 6.4. This build brought upon one of the most controversial changes to the operating system by removing the OneDrive's "Smart Files" that allowed users to view and work with files on OneDrive through File Explorer even if they were not synced to the device. OneDrive now uses selective synchronization of local contents with the cloud service.^[24][25]

Other UI changes in this build include the ability to hide the "Task View" and "Search" buttons from the Taskbar, updated minimize and restore animations, updated menu icon for "Metro-Style" apps from 3 dots to hamburger-style icon.^[25]

New 3 finger gestures have also been added to switch to Task View and switch between virtual desktops.^[25]

Internet Explorer contains opt-in preview of new EdgeHTML rendering engine.^[26][27][28]

This build brings Native support for Matroska file types. It also brings Operating system compression through the Disk Cleanup utility.^[29]

This build was released after Microsoft's January Windows 10 event where it showed off its upcoming roadmap for the operating system as well as introduced new hardware, including the Hololens and Surface Hub. This build brings an all-new Start menu built on top of the UWP APIs. It replaces the Start menu and Start screen, built on legacy DirectUI used on Previous Windows builds and releases. A full screen button is added to the new Start menu, allowing the user to toggle the full-screen experience without having to go to the Settings app, logging out, and logging back in, as it was required in previous builds.^[31]

This build is the first build to introduce Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. It introduces the beta version of the Windows Store built using the UWP APIs. It also debuts the new Xbox app, which Microsoft announced would be used to stream Xbox One games directly to the PC.^[32] A new alarm app is featured and it includes a world clock, timer, and stop watch^[33] A new UWP Calculator app replaces the traditional Win32 calculator. Maps app with Cortana integration^[34] and ability to save maps for offline use^[35] A new Photos app is introduced with aggregated content and automatic enhancements.^[36]

Cortana is introduced on the PC for the first time, with support for U.S. English locale.

There are other user interface changes with this build, including restyled window frames and support for new languages. The Settings app is updated with new layout^[37] The Taskbar is restyled with new opaque appearance, smaller application icons, and underlines to denote active applications. The Action Center is redesigned and includes with quick action buttons.^[38] The search button on the Taskbar is changed to a search box by default. Option to pick default folder when opening File Explorer is added with this build. Early version of DirectX 12 is also included.

Slow ring:
March 24, 2015

This build brings Cortana support to China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom. App updates for this build include Insider Hub, Photos, and Windows Feedback. User Interface changes include the addition of network connections fly-out that can be invoked from the taskbar, handwriting input canvas optimizations for short text entries, lock screen changes with "did you know" backgrounds to help users with Windows 10. The Start button is smaller and has a new hover animation. Functional changes and the addition of transparency to the Start menu. Open applications no longer appear on the taskbar across all virtual desktops by default and can be moved across desktops.

This build also adds the ability to unlock devices with Windows Hello, but requires manufacturers to implement a camera with said capabilities. Print to PDFs is also added.

This build debuts the public preview of Microsoft Edge web browser.^[41] Alarms & Clocks, Calculator and Voice recorder have been updated with new interfaces. Bio Enrollment is also added, although its purpose is still not known and the app is not accessible.^[42]

This build features several new apps as well as improvements to existing UWP apps. The Mail, Calendar, MSN Weather, MSN Money, and other apps have been updated with new interfaces and improved performance. Preview versions of the Music and Video apps are included along with their Windows 8 counterparts. Microsoft Solitaire Collection is now included with the operating system^[46]

This build also brings several UI changes. There is now a new black system theme across the Start menu, Taskbar and Action Center. There is now transparency in the Start menu, the Taskbar, the Action Center, and preview windows, with options to enable or disable it. The Start menu is now resizable. Visuals have been refined for desktop icons, close buttons, and thumbnails

Tablet mode is improved such that entering Tablet mode now causes the Start button, Cortana, and the Task View buttons to all grow in size and space out to be more touch friendly. There is also a new setting to boot direct into Tablet Mode. For tablets under 10 inches, this is the default behavior.

Microsoft Edge has received improvement such that double-clicking on its titlebar now maximizes the application.

Released alongside Microsoft's 2015 build conference, this build introduces new default Windows system sounds. Cortana's user interface is significantly improved;it is now more seamlessly integrated with the Start Menu. Enhancements are made to live tiles, including new animations and the addition the option to disable a live tile. The Start menu's UI has been further refined. Through A/B testing, select users are chosen to experience a translucent Start menu with background blur. The settings app has been improved, including the addition of desktop personalization within the app.

Changes to the desktop user interface is included with this build. The File Explorer and Settings icons in the Start menu are moved to the bottom, near the Power option. The ability to toggle between Start menu and Start screen was moved to the new Start settings page under Personalization settings. People, MSN Weather, MSN Money, Insider Hub, and other apps have been updated with new interfaces and improved performance Microsoft Edge received a New Tab page.

This build also brings changes to how Windows 10 handles default apps. Now, apps cannot modify default apps;only the end user can do so from the Settings app. If an app attempts to change the defaults, the user will simply receive a message describing how to manually change the default apps.

This build brings various visual improvements. Users can now customize Start experience by opening the Settings app > Personalization > Start. There are new icon throughout the operating system. Jump Lists on the taskbar and Start menu, first introduced in Windows 7, are rebuilt using UWP APIs. Further improvements are made to tablet mode, video playback with the Movies & TV app, and Microsoft Edge (still named Project Spartan in this build). This build also adds the ability to print to PDF natively.

Starting with this build, Cortana's speech recognition can be launched using ⊞ Win+C.^[57]

This build brings further UX improvements and refinements, updates to Cortana and its integration with apps and services. This build also includes app updates, including updates to the photos app and the Snipping Tool app that allows the capture of screenshot after a user defined timer. Starting with this build, the Insider Hub app is no longer installed by default but can be reinstalled from the Settings app. The legacy Windows Photo viewer app no longer has various picture format associations in the registry in favor of the Photos app.^[61]

Microsoft Edge has also received significant improvements in this build. The browser no longer refers to itself as "Project Spartan";instead, it bears the "Edge" name. Updates to the browser include an optional home toolbar button, the ability to import bookmarks from other browsers, dark theme, the ability to drag and drop tabs to another Microsoft Edge window, and auto-fill of forms and password fields. The user can also set what page Microsoft Edge displays upon startup and whether to display top sites and/or aggregated news content upon opening a new tab. Microsoft Edge can now also continue playing audio and video even when the app is minimized.

This build includes a new default desktop wallpaper, referred to as "hero image" by Microsoft, that would be included in the public release of Windows 10. The lockscreen is also updated to display a modified version of the default wallpaper on the page where the user enters their login credentials.

This build adds a pop-up help on how to use Tablet Mode.

The final pre-release build of this branch adds the ability to purchase wi-fi connections via the Windows Store. At the time, this feature was only available at Seattle, WA.^[70]

This is the first released to manufacturing (RTM) build of Windows 10. It was released to device manufacturers to be preloaded on their devices. This is also the build that was sold to retail stores in a USB installation media for customers who would like to purchase the operating system as a standalone retail product.

Commonly referred to as "Day One Patch", this is the first general availability build. It is the update users received when they upgraded to Windows 10 through the free upgrade offer or after checking for updates on PCs preloaded with Windows 10.

This cumulative update to Windows 10 adds new functionality to Microsoft Edge. For websites that display dialogue boxes multiple times, Microsoft Edge now provides a checkbox on the dialogue box to prevent further dialog boxes to pop up.^[100]

• Updated color options
• Memory Manager improvements

• Share functionality added to Windows Feedback app
• Redesigned context menus

• Start menu tile columns can be expanded by 33%
• Increased Start menu tile limit to 2048
• Tablet mode improvements
• Logon screen background can now be disabled

Slow ring:
October 16, 2015

• Tab preview added to Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Edge improvements
• Context menu improvements
• Title bar improvements
• Updated icons
• Device activation improvements

• Media Casting added to Microsoft Edge

In this build BitLocker adds support for XTS-AES encryption algorithm.^[161] Other security related features include Enhanced Credential Guard.^[162] In the Settings app, under Privacy, Call History and Email are now included.^[163] Starting with this build, Windows Spotlight is available on the Windows 10 Pro edition.

^{[114][192][193]}

This cumulative update brings improved UI for tracking data under Networking and Wireless > Data Usage in the Settings app.

This update enables UWP games and apps to unlock framerate. This will allow UWP games to disable V-Sync and enable the use of third party features such as G-Sync and Freesync.^[198][199]

^[232]

• History menu added to Microsoft Edge

• Cortana improvements

• Foundation Work for new features

• Getting feedback is an integral part of the Windows Insider Program

• Added more languages to Cortana
• Logon screen background now matches the lock screen background

• Microsoft Edge improvements
• Added extensions to Microsoft Edge
• Added tab pinning to Microsoft Edge
• Added Feedback Hub app

Slow ring:
March 30, 2016

• Ubuntu Bash added to Command Prompt
• Added Skype UWP Preview app
• Action Center improvements
• Updates emoji
• Added dark mode to UWP apps
• Added window pinning to Virtual Desktops
• Redesigned update progress screen
• Updated Windows Update settings

• Added Windows Ink Workspace
• Start menu improvements
• Full-screen All Apps list in Start screen
• Added Cortana to lock screen
• Updated Action Center icon
• Added Cortana to Action Center
• Action Center Quick Actions can be moved
• Added Calendar to taskbar clock
• Taskbar clock now visible on all monitors
• Taskbar settings moved to Settings app
• Added playback device manager to taskbar
• Swipe four fingers horizontally to switch desktops (precision touchpads only)
• Lock screen email addresses are now hidden
• Added media controls to lock screen
• Updated File Explorer icon

• Ubuntu Bash improvements
• Command Prompt improvements

• Swipe navigation added to Microsoft Edge
• Ubuntu Bash improvements
• Updated Windows Ink Workspace icon
• Redesigned User Account Control dialog
• Middle-click dismisses notifications in the Action Center
• Feedback Hub improvements

• Cortana improvements
• Windows Ink improvements
• Added music and timer commands to Cortana
• Added compass to Windows Ink ruler
• Updated File Explorer icon
• Windows Enterprise edition deployment improvements

• Windows Ink improvements
• Consistent background color in Settings app
• Updated Blu-Ray and network icons

Slow ring:
June 17, 2016

• Office Online extension available for Microsoft Edge

Slow ring:
June 21, 2016

• Windows + F launches Feedback Hub
• Added 23 languages to handwriting recognition

• Activation improvements

• New extension for Microsoft Edge

Slow ring:
July 20, 2016

Release preview:
July 28, 2016

• Reliability improvements of Start, Cortana, and Action Center

• Banner notifications in File Explorer

• Improved app and update downloads

• Snooze feature added to Microsoft Edge
• Removed apps will not be reinstalled after an upgrade
• PIN login accepts numbers regardless of Num Lock state
• Microsoft Edge can now export favorites to an HTML file

Slow ring:
October 5, 2016

• Feedback Hub updates
• Maps update
• Skype Preview supports SMS and MMS messaging
• Native support for USB Audio 2.0

• Turn Off the Lights extension for Microsoft Edge
• Tampermonkey extension for Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Personal Shopping Assistant for Microsoft Edge
• Fixed an issue causing Narrator to continually speak the progress of a song
• Fixed an issue where using the tab key to navigate the Settings app wouldn’t work
• Fixed an issue resulting in Explorer.exe frequently crashing for some Insiders, particularly for those with multiple network switches

• The Start menu app list can now be hidden
• The Photos app has been redesigned
• Precision touchpad enhancements
• Preinstalled apps de-provisioned from an OS image will remain that way after an upgrade
• New Windows Update icon
• Service hosts are split into separate processes on PCs with over 3.5 GB of RAM
• Active Hours range extended to 18 hours
• Form field navigation in Narrator

• Extended gesture customization for precision touchpads
• Separate screen time-out settings when using Continuum for Phone
• Updated Wi-Fi Settings page

• Windows Ink improvements
• Windows Ink available for Photos
• Redesigned Camera interface
• Enabling Developer Mode no longer requires a restart
• Narrator improvements
• Windows Subsystem for Linux updated to Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus

• Context Awareness in Narrator
• Outlook Mail and Calendar updates

• Display scaling support for Virtual Machines

Slow ring:
November 16, 2016

• Sticky Notes update
• Windows Ink Workspace improvements
• Enhanced address bar in Registry Editor

• EPUB file extension support for Microsoft Edge
• Enable to read EPUB books in Microsoft Edge.
• This build includes a new preview version app of Paint named 'Paint 3D Preview'
• Replacing Command Prompt with PowerShell in the Win + X file menu.
• Improved Typing Experience with Chinese and Japanese Input Methods.
• Get Office app updated to version 2.0

Slow ring:
December 14, 2016

• Cortana can now shutdown, restart or change system volume with voice commands
• Added Cortana music recognition for Chinese users
• Full screen mode available for Cortana
• Enterprise cloud printing
• Windows Game Bar has full screen support for some games.
• New additions to Windows Ink like Resuming previous screen sketches, updated ink flyout visuals and finer control over ruler rotation.
• Updated Rendering Technology.
• Narrator Improvements.
• New Windows Defender dashboard.
• Registry Editor improvements allowing to change the fonts.
• Improved Update Experience allowing to control when to install an update and enabling to free up space during upgrading.
• Improved Windows 10 experience in Asia consisting Chinese and Japanese IME improvements, new context menu for IME, Line Mode for Chinese (Simplified) handwriting etc.

• Resizing windows should now be smoother
• Microsoft Edge tab preview bar
• "Set aside" feature for Microsoft Edge tabs,
• Jump List for Microsoft Edge, allowing users to open a new window from the taskbar
• Microsoft Edge now blocks untrusted Flash content until the user chooses to play it
• Payment Request API support for Microsoft Edge
• Tile folders added to Start menu
• Redesigned Windows Share
• Win + Shift + S now captures a region of the screen, and saves it to the clipboard
• Improved high-DPI support for desktop apps
• Desktop icon placement and scaling improvements
• Simplified and faster VPN access
• Improved sign-in dialog for apps
• Improved notification experience
• Windows Defender improvements
• Settings app improvements
• Windows Insider BSODs are now green
• Added recurrence options for Cortana reminders

• Microsoft Edge improvements
• Rainbow Flag added to emoji keyboard
• New Bluetooth APIs

• Merged Wi-Fi settings under Wi-Fi Services section in Settings app
• Lighter shade for Cortana search box
• Bigger text in notifications for Cortana
• Cortana notifications now use accent color
• Custom accent colors
• Power slider added to taskbar power flyout

• Beam streaming feature added to Windows Game Bar
• Gaming section added to Settings app
• Game Mode added to Windows Game Bar
• Improved full-screen support for Windows Game Bar
• Read aloud added to Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft Edge now shows full-color, updated emoji
• Windows Out-Of-Box-Experience (OOBE) updates
• Blue Light renamed to Night Light
• Resizing a Hyper-V virtual machine window now changes the guest OS resolution
• Windows Store download progress added to Action Center
• Troubleshooters moved to Settings app

• Braille support for Narrator
• Support for mono audio
• Collections added to Feedback Hub
• Increased Night Light temperature range

• New Compact Overlay window
• Dynamic Lock added to sign-in options
• New Share icon
• Improved full-screen support for Windows Game Bar

• New Windows OOBE Cortana animation
• Flash improvements for Microsoft Edge
• Reading improvements for Microsoft Edge

• Reinstated Cortana's home color on the taskbar
• Improvements to Windows Defender
• Improved translations
• Updated gaming settings icon
• New application installation control

Slow ring:
March 8, 2017

Slow ring:
March 17, 2017

Slow ring:
March 23, 2017 Release preview:
March 30, 2017

Public release:
April 5, 2017
(Manual download) April 11, 2017
(General availability)

Slow ring and release preview:
April 5, 2017

• Updated the share icon in File Explorer in the Share tab to match new share iconography
• Turning the night light schedule off in Settings now turns night light off immediately

• Windows Subsystem for Linux Gains Serial Device support

• Added ability to revert in virtual machines
• New Power Throttling feature

• Added My People
• New experience for Gmail accounts in Mail and Calendar app

• New features in Microsoft Edge’s PDF Reader
• Added Windows Defender Application Guard for Microsoft Edge in Enterprise Edition
• New Ninjacat Icon for Windows Insider Program in Settings app
• Cortana’s settings moved into Settings
• Updated Magnifier Settings page
• Replaced Windows Update dialog with toast notification

• Column name changed for Power Throttling in Task Manager
• Added support for UWP apps in Volume Mixer

• New features in My People and Settings app
• Updates to Narrator
• Added cross-device incoming call notifications with Cortana

^[397]

• Fluent Design in Start and Action Center
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Cortana, hardware keyboard, Shell, Settings app, developer tools, Ease of Access, Japanese font, Japanese and Chinese Input Method Editor
• New XAML-based handwriting panel and touch keyboard

• New features and improvements in Microsoft Edge
• New currency converter in Calculator app
• Emoji 5.0 support and updates to emoji panel
• Improvements to touch keyboard, handwriting panel, Windows Sonic, gaming, Settings app, Shell, Ease of Access, IT Pros and Japanese Input Method Editor

Slow ring:
July 7, 2017

• Improvements to Windows Defender Application Guard
• New exploit protection and controlled folder access in Windows Defender Security Center

• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Windows Shell, Input, PC Gaming, Task Manager and Hyper-V

• Improvements to Windows Shell, PC Gaming, Task Manager, Mixed Reality and Delivery Optimization

Slow ring:
August 2, 2017

• New phone linking features
• Improvements to Cortana, boot up experience, input, Microsoft Edge and PC Gaming

• New eye control features
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Console, input and Windows Defender Application Guard

• New Bahnschrift font
• Improvements to Windows Shell, Microsoft Edge and input

Slow ring:
September 1, 2017

Slow ring:
September 15, 2017

Slow ring:
September 22, 2017

• New resume feature in Cortana

Slow ring:
September 26, 2017

Slow ring:
September 28, 2017

Slow ring:
October 4, 2017

Release preview:
October 10, 2017

Public release:
October 17, 2017

• Introduces two-finger swipe gesture to dismiss all Action Center notifications

• Improvements to boot experience, narrator, Windows Shell, Microsoft Edge, gaming and input

• Fluent Design elements in Start
• Removal of IPv6 transition technologies (6in4, 6to4, Teredo, ISATAP, etc.)
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge and input

• New Cortana Collections feature
• Improved experience between Cortana and Action Center
• New startup settings in Settings app

Slow ring:
November 1, 2017

• New Ease of Access settings
• Updated options for startup tasks
• Updated Microsoft Yahei Font

• New Near Share feature
• Text suggestions for hardware keyboard
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Settings app, touch keyboard, handwriting panel and Japanese Input Method Editor

• Improvements to Settings app, touch keyboard and handwriting panel

• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Windows Shell and input

• New Timeline feature
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Cortana, Windows Shell, My People, Settings app, Windows Defender, Windows Subsystem for Linux, camera privacy settings and input
• New developer tools
• New features for IT Pros in delivery optimization
• New snipping tool features
• Windows HomeGroup support removed

• Redesigned Windows localization
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Windows Shell, Settings app, input, XAML and Cortana
• Handwriting recognition updates

Slow ring:
January 19, 2018

• New font settings
• Improvements to diagnostic data, Timeline, Windows Shell, Settings app, Hypervisor platform, ease of access and apps permissions settings

• Improvements to Game Bar, graphics, eye control, Windows security, Bluetooth, Microsoft Edge, input, apps permissions settings, Windows Subsystem for Linux and ease of access

• Improvements to input and apps permissions
• New features for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
  • New Ultimate Performance power scheme
  • Improvements to out-of-box experience for applications

• Improvements to Windows Update

• Improvements for enterprise users

Slow ring:
March 9, 2018

• New privacy settings layout during set up

Slow ring:
March 16, 2018

• Improvements to Windows Defender Application Guard

• Added support for High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF)

Slow ring:
March 23, 2018

• Improvements to Cortana

• New Cortana Show Me app

Slow ring:
March 30, 2018

Release preview:
April 5, 2018

Slow ring and release preview:
April 20, 2018

Public release:
April 30, 2018

• Improvements to input and apps permissions
• New features for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
  • New Ultimate Performance power scheme
  • Improvements to out-of-box experience for applications

• Preview of new Sets feature

• Added support for High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF)
• New safe remove experience for external GPUs
• New privacy settings layout during set up
• Improvements to Windows Defender Application Guard

• New search feature in the Calendar app
• Added support for voice queries in Cortana Show Me

• Improvements to Sets
• Bluetooth battery percentage in Settings app
• Improvements to Windows Calculator

• Microsoft Office support for Sets
• Improvements to Sets, Microsoft Edge, Data Sense and Magnifier

• Fluent Design element in Windows Defender Security Center
• Added support for Windows Subsystem for Linux processes in Windows Defender Firewall

• Improvements to Mobile Broadband connectivity on Windows

• New snipping experience
• Added acrylic element in Task View
• Integrated device properties into Settings app
• Updated Microsoft Pinyin IME
• Improvements to Windows Security, focus assist and HEIC support

• Improvements to Sets and Settings app
• New clipboard experience
• Added dark theme for File Explorer
• Added support for extended line endings and Bing search in Notepad
• New Search Preview feature
• Added ability to name tile folders in Start

• Improvements to Windows Security

• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Narrator and Task Manager
• Added support for IPv6 to KDNET
• New Mobile Broadband USB driver as default option

• Improvements to wireless projection, Microsoft Edge for web developers and RSAT management
• New post-upgrade setup window

• New privacy notification feature
• Improvements to localization settings and Windows Mixed Reality

Slow ring:
July 2, 2018

• Integration of SwiftKey into touch keyboard
• Added acrylic material in more system elements
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Ease of Access, Narrator, Game Bar, Game Mode and Windows Mixed Reality

• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, inbox text controls, Windows Security, Task Manager, Ease of Access, Narrator, Windows Container and Windows Mixed Reality
• New Diagnostic Data Viewer features
• New video viewing mode
• Added ability to install fonts for non-admin users and view typing insights
• New post-update experience
• Removed Sets feature for maintenance

• Improvements to Microsoft Edge and Registry Editor
• Fluent Design elements in pop-up menu
• New Windows HD Color page in Settings app

Slow ring:
July 26, 2018

• Removed option to join Skip Ahead in the Settings app in compliance with a complete reset
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Notepad and Windows Defender Application Guard
• Added ability to use biometrics for authenticating to a remote desktop session
• New Web Sign-in and Fast Sign-in features
• Embedded writing panel as default text entry method with a pen in modern applications

• New Mixed Reality Flashlight feature
• Added support for Emoji 11
• Added leap second support and accuracy improvements (Precision Time Protocol, software time-stamping) for network time
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Kiosk Setup, update experience and Game bar

• New Your Phone app
• Improvements to Narrator

• Your Phone app is now live
• Improvements related to HTTP/2 and CUBIC support
• Aligned Insider Feature Update experience with retail
• Removed Block Suspicious Behaviors feature in Windows Security

• Finalized dark theme for File Explorer
• Removed XAML shadows for maintenance

Slow ring:
August 23, 2018

• Your Phone app is now pinned to the desktop for quicker access
• Updated Emoji Panel to support for search and tooltips for Emoji 11
• Increased image size for clipboard history of up to 4MB

Slow ring:
August 30, 2018

• Removed performance visualizations in Game Bar for maintenance

Slow ring:
September 11, 2018

• Improvements to moving forward in Microsoft Edge with Narrator Selection

• Added support for viewing, sending and receiving SMS messages from Android (Nougat or newer) smartphone in Your Phone app

Slow ring:
September 14, 2018

• Improvements to Storage Sense (automatically free up disk space by making older and unused local files available online-only)

• Improved compatibility for Tencent games

Slow ring:
September 20, 2018

• New Mixed Reality Flashlight feature
• Added support for Emoji 11
• Added leap second support and accuracy improvements (Precision Time Protocol, software time-stamping) for network time
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge, Kiosk Setup, update experience and Game bar

• New Your Phone app
• Improvements related to HTTP/2 and CUBIC support

• Improvements to Narrator

• Added ink support for Microsoft To-Do
• Updated Sticky Notes to version 3.0
• New delay snip feature for Snip & Sketch (previously Screen Sketch)
• Finalized dark theme for File Explorer
• Updated Emoji Panel to support for search and tooltips for Emoji 11
• Your Phone app is now pinned to the desktop for quicker access
• Increased image size for clipboard history of up to 4MB
• Removed XAML shadows and performance visualizations in Game Bar for maintenance

• Added acrylic element to Windows sign-in screen background
• Rebranded Microsoft Apps on Android as Your Phone Companion app
• New group policy for preventing the use of security questions on local accounts

• Added advanced Ethernet IP settings in Settings app
• New icon for disconnected internet
• New Windows Ebrima font with Adlam, N'Ko, Osmanya, Tifinagh and Vai writing system support
• New microphone icon in the system tray which appears when microphone is in use
• Improvements to Registry Editor for expanding the autocomplete dropdown by pressing F4 to move the caret to the end of the address bar
• Added ability to show the corresponding Ethernet adapter name in the sidebar
• Introduced extra pages in the Emoji Panel to more languages

This is the first public Windows 10 mobile pre-release build. It includes various changes from the operating system's predecessor, Windows Phone 8.1. The changes include an updated Start Screen where the wallpaper is displayed behind translucent tiles rather than within them and Live Tiles that can has a new tall size option for apps that support it. This feature would be removed in subsequent builds.^[541] Further changes to the Start screen includes app list redesigned with wallpaper as background, recent installed apps being shown at top, and the ability to search for apps though a prominent search box rather than a search button.^[542][543]

Other changes include changes to the general user experience, including the ability to expand notifications, actionable notifications,^[544] Action Center with additional settings toggles and same design across Windows 10 devices. The keyboard has been updated to contains virtual pointing stick for text selection and a voice input button.^[542] With this build, notifications can be synchronized between other Windows 10 devices. Furthermore, pressing and holding on any toggle in Action Center takes the user to respective settings of that option^[545] When shutting down the device the OS displays a reminder of coming calendar events on screen^{[541][543][546]}

Security features for this build include device encryption option.

New apps included in this build include a new file explorer app,^[547] an Alarms app, adding world clock, timer, and stopwatch modes,^[548] and a calculator app with a built in unit converter,^[549] The web browser rendering engine of Microsoft Edge is hosted in Internet Explorer, with the intention of Internet Explorer bing replaced by Microsoft Edge in later builds.^[550] The system's default camera app is now an updated version of the Lumia Camera app. Other apps include the photos app with OneDrive synchronization, collections and automatic photo enhancements, and the universal Sound recording app. The operating system also introduces the universal Settings app ported from the PC version.^[541][543]

Microsoft introduces the Reachability feature for 5" devices and above, allowing users to press and hold the Windows button for entire screen to slide down fore easier reach topmost UI elements. Battery Saver now displays detailed information on an application's battery usage concerning lighting up the screen, running the processor or transferring data^[556]

The settings app offers Split-view when in landscape mode on higher-res displays, offering a UI almost identical to that on the PC^[557]

"Project Spartan" web browser adds the following features: InPrivate mode, secure sites – marked with a badge, full-screen videos, a "Save as" option for web images to convert files into .png or .jpg images ^[558] (in later betas, and released Windows 10, this app is branded as Microsoft Edge)

Other changes include 3G only setting for highest connection speed, more improvements to Cortana, the ability enable and disable OneDrive backups for individual applications, Digital video stabilization, and VPN Point to Point Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP) and Secure Socket Tunnelling Protocol (SSTP).

This build also has several minor UI changes, including the All Apps letter 'jump' buttons are ALL CAPS instead of lower case, search box replacing the search button at the top of the all apps list

Internet Explorer Mobile is removed from this build.

"Project Spartan" is now branded as Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge gained option to view a website as "desktop" or "mobile". The browser's address bar moved to bottom of the screen

This build brings updated icons and visuals (including visual controls). Flashlight toggle is added as a quick action in the Action Center.^[561] Quiet hours now has to be enabled from Cortana's notebook. Option for hiding notification panes on the lockscreen has been added. Finally, download limit on 3G networks removed.

The Photos app now shows albums (Camera roll, screenshots, saved photos);it also gained support for opening .gif files. Automatic camera roll back up is now enabled from the OneDrive application. The built-in camera application now supports Face detection^[562]

This build also adds support for HTTP Live Streaming.

^[67][68][69]

Slow ring:
July 22, 2015

This build finally removes the legacy Windows Phone 8.1 app store leaving only the Windows 10 version of the store app. Consequently, the Windows 10 store app loses the beta label.

Slow ring:
November 9, 2015

Public release:
November 12, 2015

This is the first Released to Manufacturing (RTM) build of Windows 10. It was released to device manufacturers to be preloaded on their devices.

In this build BitLocker adds support for XTS-AES encryption algorithm.^[563] Other security related features include Enhanced Credential Guard.^[162] In the Settings app, under Privacy, Call History and Email are now included.^[163] Starting with this build, Windows Spotlight is available on the Windows 10 Pro edition.

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This cumulative update brings improved UI for tracking data under Networking and Wireless > Data Usage in the Settings app.

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This update enables UWP games and apps to unlock framerate. This will allow UWP games to disable V-Sync and enable the use of third party features such as G-Sync and Freesync.^[198][199]

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• New music search icon in Cortana
• Improvements to Microsoft Edge and Messaging + Skype
• Reliability improvements for keyboards with large dictionaries

• New Visual Voicemail feature for dual-SIM devices
• Re-enabled history feature in People app

• Improvements to the Phone, Outlook Mail and Calendar apps

• Improvements to Microsoft Edge
• New Japanese one-handed kana touch keyboard
• New Feedback Hub app
• Improvements to Word Flow recognition of longer words

Slow ring:
March 30, 2016

• Improvements to the Action Center, Notifications, Cortana, Microsoft Edge and Lock screen experience
• Updated the Settings app
  • New icons for individual settings pages
  • New Navigation bar settings page and vibration setting
  • Updated Battery Settings and Battery Saving Experience
  • Glance screen settings have moved
  • Updated Windows Update Settings
• New emoji
• Added USB Ethernet Support with Continuum
• New comment feature in the Feedback Hub

• New Messaging Everywhere feature
• Enabled Cortana for more languages

• Improvements to Start experience

• Improvements to the share UI for Cortana Reminders
• Reliability improvements to the Chinese IME

Slow ring:
May 31, 2016

• New swipe navigation feature in Microsoft Edge
• New Apps for websites feature
• Improvements to Feedback Hub
• Increased font size and improved spacing of the data migration page
• Polished media controls interface on the Lock screen
• Improved performance when retrieving updated GPS coordinates while driving

• Improvements to Cortana and Glance screen
• Updated the UI for rearranging Quick Actions in the Settings app
• Updated thumbnail generation logic
• Updated the Mobile Hotspot settings page
• Reliability improvement to Cortana

• Improvements to Settings
• Polished the notification dismissal model
• Reliability improvement to Cortana
• Introduced one-handed keyboard for 5-inch devices

• Minor visual enhancements to the Settings app

Slow ring:
June 21, 2016

• New Microsoft Wallet app

Slow ring:
June 28, 2016

• Updated the Gadgets app
• Messaging Everywhere has been removed from the Messaging app

• Improved battery performance for turning the screen on and off to look at the lock screen

• Improved battery performance on older devices

Slow ring:
July 15, 2016

Slow ring:
July 20, 2016 Release preview:
July 28, 2016

Slow ring and release preview:
July 28, 2016

Public release:
August 16, 2016