Windows 10 version 2004, May 2020 Update, release date is on May 27, 2020, after being in the Release Preview ring for a few weeks, and with this first semi-annual update, you can expect a lot of incremental improvements as well as some small new features.
Windows 10 version 2004 release date
Similar to previous rollouts, version 2004 is available as a free optional update starting on May 27, 2020, for compatible devices already running Windows 10 version 1909 and 1903. The original plan was to launch the new version on May 12, but because of a zero-day exploit, the company decided to fix the problem before shipping the update. As a result, Microsoft first made the new code available on May 5 for computer manufacturers and developers on May 12 (via ZDNet).
Once the feature update becomes available for your system configuration, you’ll receive a notification, and only when you initiate the process manually, Windows Update will download and install the new version. However, if your device is running a release that is nearing the end of service, then Windows 10 will try to install the feature update automatically.
This automatic upgrade for older releases doesn’t happen immediately. Usually, devices nearing the end of service will upgrade a few weeks or months after the new version becomes available.
Of course, you can upgrade manually using the Media Creation Tool and Update Assistant. Alternatively, you can even download the Windows 10 May 2020 Update ISO file directly as soon as it’s officially available using the Media Creation Tool.
The first semi-annual update is expected to take months to reach every device. The company will start the rollout with devices known to be compatible, and then it’ll expand the deployment more broadly.
If you never receive the notification to upgrade automatically, then there’s a good chance that the update is currently not compatible for you. If you want to avoid problems, it’s not recommended to force a new version of Windows 10, unless you know exactly what you’re doing, and you understand the risks.
Windows 10 version 2004 new features
Although Windows 10 version 2004 is a small update, you’re getting a slew of incremental changes and some new features. For example, there’s a new option in the Sign-in settings to switch to a modern form authentication using Windows Hello, ditching your password across the entire operating system.
The “Reset this PC” feature has been updated with a new Cloud Download feature that allows you to download a fresh copy of Windows 10 directly from the Microsoft servers, instead of using the file locally available on the computer, and much more.
There are some improvements for optional features, including the ability to select and install more than one feature at a time. Also, WordPad, Paint, Notepad become features on-demand, which means that you can remove and add them back again from the Optional Features settings page.
Another new feature with the first feature update of 2020 is the Text cursor indicator, in the “Ease of Access” settings, which is a feature that will help you see and find the text cursor anywhere it might be on the screen.
After installing version 2004, you’ll be able to pair a Bluetooth device directly from the notification popup as soon as the device is detected, without the need to open the Settings app.
The Windows 10 May 2020 Update introduces Windows Subsystem for Linux 2, which is a latest version of the feature that runs ELF64 Linux binaries. Also, the operating system is getting native support for network cameras to make it easier for developers to build security and machine learning video analytics solutions.
Windows Defender Antivirus becomes Microsoft Defender Antivirus to reflect that the solution is now a cross-platform approach for endpoint security.
Finally, starting with version 2004, Cortana is no longer part of Windows 10. Instead, it becomes an app that updates through the Microsoft Store and provides a new chat-based interface with the ability to input text or voice to interact with the assistant.
You can learn more about all the changes that will release on May 27 in this comprehensive guide. Also, you can check the best features and changes coming to Windows 10 in this guide.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, 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.