Windows 10 version 21H1 has been released

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Microsoft released Windows 10 version 21H1, a new feature update for its Windows 10 operating system, on May 18, 2021.

John Cable, Vice President, Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery, published the news on the Windows Experience Blog.

The phased rollout of Windows 10 version 21H1 has started. The update won't be offered to all devices running Windows 10 right away as Microsoft is throttling the availability.

Check if Windows 10 version 21H1 is available

Windows 10 version 21H1 is only offered to devices running 2004 or 20H2 at the time via Windows Update. You can check the installed Windows version using our guide. Note that the upgrade is not installed automatically, even when you select the "check for updates" button.

Home users may do the following to check if the upgrade is offered on their devices:

1. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security.
   
2. Activate the "check for updates" button.
   

If the update is offered, it is listed under "Feature update to Windows 10, version 21H1.

You may select "download and install" to start the upgrade to the new version immediately, or click on the "see what's in the update" to find out more about it first.

The upgrade may not be offered if upgrade safeguards are in place that affect the machine, or if the machine has not been selected yet by Microsoft for the upgrade due to the phased rollout.

Microsoft lists two known issues at the time of writing:

• Certain 5.1 audio devices may emit a high-pitched noise with certain settings.
  
• Automatic input of Furigana might not work as expected.
  

The May 2021 update is available through Windows Server Update Services, Windows Update for business, and the Volume Licensing Service Center.

Tip: it is usually a good idea to wait several weeks or even months before installing a feature upgrade for Windows 10 on a device; this reduces the chance of running into upgrade related issues on the device.

Windows 10 version 21H1: what to expect

Microsoft revealed the upgrade in February 2021 officially, confirming that Windows 10 21H1 would be a smaller update just like Windows 10 version 20H2.
The upgrade is a smaller one for devices running Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2. It installs quickly and users will notice only a few new features and changes.

Users who upgrade from earlier versions of Windows 10 will see more changes, mostly those introduced in major feature update releases such as version 2004, but the update won't be offered via Windows Update to machines running earlier versions at this point according to Microsoft.

It is still possible to upgrade, for example by using the Windows Update Assistant, e.g. to run an upgrade right away or create an ISO image or bootable USB image.

Note: we recommend that you create a backup of important data before you run the update. You may want a third-party option to restore data, as updates may break things.

All editions of Windows 10 21H1 -- Home and Enterprise -- receive 18 months of servicing from the day of release.

First Experience

Windows 10 version 21H1 was offered on a Microsoft Surface Go device (first version) that was running Windows 10 version 20H2, right away. A click on the check for updates button displayed the option to install the update. It took several minutes for the download to start on the device, but the actual download was quick and so was the installation of the update on the device.

Now You: have you upgraded to Windows 10 version 21H1 already?
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