Windows 10 Anniversary UpdateBy now you probably have heard that there’s another “big” update to Windows 10 being released, called the Windows 10 Creators Update.

It will be officially released on April 11th, 2017, which means that it will start rolling out as an automatic update on that day.

But honestly, there’s a good chance you won’t see it on YOUR computer for another few weeks, or even few months.

But again, there’s nothing you need to do… the update will happen automatically.

[NOTE 1: You can get the update NOW by downloading and installing it manually. CLICK HERE To visit the How-To-Geek site which has a good article on how to do that]

[NOTE 2: As of April 11th, if you go to the Start Menu and choose SETTINGS > UPDATE & SECURITY, under Update Status on the right you should see a message that says “Good news! The Windows 10 Creators Update is on its way…” and then a link that says “Yes, show me how”. Click this link and you’ll be taken to a Microsoft page where you can download and install the free Update Assistant which will help you “force” the update to happen ]

What is going to change?

The good news is… you won’t see any BIG changes to the Windows 10 interface (i.e. screen), which means you won’t have to relearn how to do something!

Most of the changes are behind the scenes or improvements to existing features.

Here’s a quick summary of what I think are the most important changes…

  • Improved Privacy Settings – Microsoft is making it easier to see and choose your privacy settings in the Settings App.
  • Cortana is even more integrated into Windows 10 – Cortana is now accessible even from the Lock Screen, and is more integrated with the various Microsoft apps.
  • Improved Edge Browser – There are now more extensions (addons that expand how Edge works), including a new e-book store and reader feature, and improved features relating to how you can use tab browsing.
  • Better Gaming – There’s a new Game Mode feature that optimizes how Windows 10 works for gaming.
  • Improved Windows Defender – If you use it, there’s now an improved Windows Defender Security Center that gives you more information about your security.
  • Improved Start Menu – Don’t let this scare you! It just means you can now group App tiles into a tile folder to organize them. Clicking a tile folder displays a drop-down menu with the apps in that tile folder.
  • Action Center Expanded – The Action Center (which you display by clicking the Notification Button on the right side of the taskbar) now includes volume and brightness sliders.
  • General App Improvements – The Mail, Calendar, Maps, and Paint apps all have tweeks and improvements. In particular, the Paint program now includes 3D features.

There are other smaller changes throughout the Creators Update, but nothing that’s going to knock your socks off.

In fact, to be honest, I don’t think you’ll notice as big a difference in the new Windows 10 version as you did when the Anniversary Update was released.

Maybe that’s good news?

One more note… Once you do get the Windows 10 Creators Update, you’ll officially have “Windows 10 version 1703“.

Windows 10 Creators UpdateYou can always check to see which Windows 10 version you have by (1) Click on the Ask Me Anything (search) box and type WINVER. (2) From the search results panel, click the Winver icon/Run Command. (3) In the pop-up window that appears, you’ll see your Windows version and OS Build numbers.

Here’s what that looks like for the newly installed Windows 10 Creators Update.

 

I would love to hear your comments!  Please leave them below….

 

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