Microsoft makes Windows 10 a ‘recommended update’ in early 2016

Microsoft will begin offering Windows 10 as an “optional update” shortly, and the OS will be rated “recommended update” in early 2016. The latter means that many systems with Windows 7 and 8.1 will automatically download the software.

More than 110 million devices have updated to Windows 10 through the current two-step plan, Microsoft reports, where users reserve their copy of the operating system and at some point receive a notification that they can update. Those who have not signed up for Windows 10 will see the software as an ‘optional update’ in Windows Update in the short term. “By adding Windows 10 to this, we’re making it easier to find your upgrade,” writes Terry Myerson, vice president of the Windows group at Microsoft.

At the beginning of 2016, Microsoft will distribute the software as a ‘recommended update’ so that users with Windows 7 and 8.1 who have set it up this way, download the operating system as an upgrade by default and are presented with the installation. If you have configured recommended updates not to be installed automatically, you will be able to do this manually. Microsoft emphasizes that users can roll back the upgrade within a month and new notifications should clarify the benefits of updating.

In addition, there will be a new version of the Media Creation Tool, with which users will soon be able to create a single image for upgrading to the 32bit or 64bit version and the Home or Pro variant of Windows 10, for example USB sticks. Microsoft will continue to provide easy access to the Windows Store through non-genuine Windows versions, or piracy copies. This should make it easy to purchase an official copy of the software.

The announcement coincides with the release of a new test build of Windows 10, build 10576, which ZDnet says will bring cast functionality to Edge in addition to some fixes. The browser can then send video, audio and images via DLNA and Miracast to displays that support them.