Windows 10’s new trick will make OS updates less disruptive

Microsoft is changing the way Windows 10 installs updates with the upcoming Fall Creators Update. The software giant is revamping how Windows 10 downloads, processes, and actually installs the update in order to provide a seamless experience for users.

The improved upgrade process will be less disruptive for users, as it will require less time in the “Installing Updates…” and more time on the Windows Update section in Windows 10. These two sections are known as the “Offline Phase” and the “Online Phase.” In order to make the update process less disruptive for users and give them more time to actually use their PC, Microsoft is moving parts of the Offline Phase to the Online Phase. Notably, Windows 10 now handles the backup process and the WIM process in the Online Phase instead of the Offline Phase — which will speed up the “Installing Updates…” process.

What this effectively means is that now when you’re downloading a new update, it will take more time in Windows Update. But the benefit of this is that it will now take less time on the “Installing Updates…” section, giving you more time to actually use your PC.

Updates will still take around the same time to download and install, even though it might feel like it’s taking longer to download and install when you’re closely watching the progress bars in Windows Update. For regular and most power users, this will certainly be a welcome addition as they will no longer get annoyed by the time it takes to install updates on their Windows 10 PCs.

In case you are wondering, here’s more of a technical breakdown of the old and new processes:

Old New
Online Phase:

  • PC checks for upgrades (manually or automatically)
  • Upgrade payload downloads
  • PC waits for the required reboot to begin install
Online Phase:

  • PC checks for updates (manually or automatically) Update downloads
  • User content (apps/settings/configurations) is backed up
  • New OS files are laid down (WIM process)
  • PC waits for the required reboot to begin install
Offline Phase:

  • PC reboots to begin install process (manually or automatically)
  • User content (apps/settings/configurations) is backed up
  • New OS files are laid down (WIM process)
  • Drivers and other required OS files are migrated
  • User content is restored
  • PC reboots and the update finalizes
Offline Phase:

  • PC reboots to begin install process (manually or automatically)
  • Drivers and other required OS files are migrated
  • User content is restored
  • PC reboots and the update finalizes

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