Falling Behind on the Latest Updates Most Likely Just Temporary
Recently a number of Windows 10 users have expressed concern to me or in other forums about not having the most current version the operating system. If your computer is a Windows 10 machine, chances are that your operating system is not the most current (version 1809), but the second most current (1803).
My suggestion is - don't worry about it, don't rush the process. If you're tempted to go into "Check for Updates", you stand a greater risk of getting updates that can create complications compared to if you just wait for Windows to download and install the updates in its own good time.
Almost 85 percent of Windows 10 computers currently are running on version 1803, the April 2018 update. Fewer than 7 percent are running 1809, the October 2018 update. The remainder are running earlier versions. Most computers are not running the most current version because Microsoft yanked 1809 from distribution after widespread problems including the deletion of some computer users' documents.
Microsoft claims that those problems have been resolved but they have been slow in pushing 1809 since then for unstated reasons.
It's worth noting that when you "Check for Updates" you are getting updates which have not been through every stage of Microsoft's vetting process. In certain respects, Microsoft treats computer users who use the "Check for Updates" option as beta users.
If your computer is turned on for lengthy enough periods of time with sufficient frequency, then the downloads your system is equipped to install will download and install by and by.
Due to the lateness or non-occurrence of 1809 installations to date for most machines, there is some speculation that Microsoft may end up bundling that installation with the next major update scheduled for April 2019, codenamed 19H1, but there has been no such announcement to my knowledge so we all remain in a holding pattern.
Most of the problems I've noticed coinciding recently with Windows 10 updates have taken the form of certain built-in Windows features not working, or certain software not working, or various user settings getting changed. All of these issues case by case have proven fixable. I have not encountered anybody local experiencing a loss of data or files due to upgrades.
So in summary I'm suggesting, for most people, to make sure your computer is on long enough and frequently enough, and that you perform restarts or full shutdowns often enough, to allow Windows 10 to download and install upgrades that may be pending at whatever pace Microsoft makes them available for your machine.
But I don't suggest trying to hasten the process with the "Check for Updates" features during this particular interlude if things are working normally.
Rather than pushing for an overdue upgrade, it may be better to do a general clean-up during this hiatus so that your computer will be in pristine shape when Microsoft delivers the next major update to your particular machine, whether it's in one stage or multiple.
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