How to download Windows 10 version 21H1

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Microsoft released a new version of its Windows 10 operating system earlier this month. Windows 10 version 21H1 is a small update, similar in scope and size as Windows 10 version 1909 and Windows 10 version 20H2.

While it installs like a regular cumulative update for Windows 10 if installed on devices running Windows 10 versions 2004 or 20H2, it is not offered to all customers and their devices at the same time. Like other updates before it, it is being rolled out to a selection of devices first that are the most likely to experience no issues while installing the update.  Microsoft reserved the update on Windows Update to devices running versions 2004 or 20H2 of Windows 10 as well.

Some devices that have these versions installed may not see the update being offered via Windows Update; this can be caused by known issues affecting the device or other factors. The fact that the update is not offered via Windows Update does not mean that it cannot be applied using other methods, as you will see in the following paragraphs.

Tip: To find out which Windows 10 version is installed on a device, open the Start menu, type winver, and hit the Enter-key. You can compare the output to the list of Windows 10 versions that we maintain here.

Windows 10 version 21H1 Download

The easiest option is to go to Start > Settings > Update & Security and select the "check for updates" button to see if the update is offered via Windows Update. The text "Feature update to Windows 10, version 21H1, is displayed in this case. All it takes then, after making sure that you have a backup of your important data, is to select "download and install" to begin the installation process.

If the update is not offered yet, you may try the following options to download and install Windows 10 version 21H1.

Option 1: The Update Assistant

Open your favorite web browser and load the linked address. The page displays the latest Windows 10 update and an "update now" button. Activate the button to download a file that will initiate the update to Windows 10 version 21H1 when you execute it on the system.

Select "update now" on the first screen to start the process. The Windows 10 Update Assistant checks hardware parameters, e.g. storage, to make sure the upgrade can be downloaded and installed, before the download is started automatically.

Just follow the instructions on screen to complete the process to download Windows 10 version 21H1 and install it on the device.

Create Windows 10 21H1 installation media, or a Windows 10 21H1 ISO

The second official option that you have is to use the Media Creation Tool, which you find listed on this Microsoft site, to download an ISO image of the new version of Windows 10, or to create bootable media directly using the tool.

Just download the latest version and execute it after the download completes. Accept the terms and make your selection on the next page:

• Upgrade this PC now -- This downloads and installs the upgrade on the PC the Media Creation Tool is run on.
  
• Create installation media -- To either download an ISO file or to save the installation files to a USB Flash drive or DVD).
  

Select create installation media to get the ISO image or create a bootable drive or disc. You may customize the language, edition and architecture on the next page; the default values are based on the PC the program is run on.

Select ISO file to download the update and store it on the device, or pick a connected USB Flash drive with at least 8 Gigabytes of storage space to create installation media right away.

Both processes take a while, as Gigabytes of data need to be downloaded first from Microsoft.

Now You: do you install feature updates right away?
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