.Windows 10 is a series of produced by as part of its family of operating systems. It is the successor to, and was on July 15, 2015, and broadly released for retail sale on July 29, 2015. Windows 10 receives new on an ongoing basis, which are available at no additional cost to users, in addition to additional test builds of Windows 10 which are available to. Devices in enterprise environments can receive these updates at a slower pace, or use long-term support milestones that only receive critical updates, such as security patches, over their ten-year lifespan of extended support.One of Windows 10's most notable features is support for, an expansion of the first introduced in. Universal apps can be designed to run across multiple Microsoft product families with nearly identical code‍—‌including,. The Windows user interface was revised to handle transitions between a mouse-oriented interface and a -optimized interface based on available input devices‍—‌particularly on, both interfaces include an updated which incorporates elements of 's traditional Start menu with the tiles of. Windows 10 also introduced the, a system, a window and desktop management feature called, support for and login, new security features for enterprise environments, and.Windows 10 received mostly positive reviews upon its original release in July 2015.

1. Fifa 19 Windows 10

Windows Sandbox may fail to start with 'ERRORFILENOTFOUND (0x80070002)' on devices in which the operating system language is changed during the update process when installing Windows 10, version 1903. Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. A library of over 200,000 free and free-to-try applications and updates for Windows ( Page 19).

Critics praised Microsoft's decision to provide a desktop-oriented interface in line with previous versions of Windows, contrasting the tablet-oriented approach of 8, although Windows 10's touch-oriented user interface mode was criticized for containing regressions upon the touch-oriented interface of Windows 8. Critics also praised the improvements to Windows 10's bundled software over Windows 8.1, integration, as well as the functionality and capabilities of the personal assistant and the replacement of with Edge. However, media outlets have been critical of changes to operating system behaviors, including mandatory installation, concerns over data collection performed by the OS for Microsoft and its partners and the -like tactics used to promote the operating system on its release.Microsoft aimed to have Windows 10 installed on at least one billion devices in the two to three years following its release (which hasn't happened four years later). It became more popular than Windows 7 (though in 2019 Windows 7 is still widely used in Africa and countries elsewhere, e.g in Asia).

As of April 2019, the operating system has an estimated usage share of 56% of all the Windows versions on traditional PCs, and thus 45% of traditional PCs run Windows 10. Across all platforms (PC, mobile, tablet and console), 40% of devices run some kind of Windows, Windows 10 or older. Contents.Development At the in 2011, Andrew Lees, the chief of Microsoft's mobile technologies, said that the company intended to have a single for PCs, phones, tablets, and other devices. 'We won't have an ecosystem for PCs, and one for phones, and one for tablets‍—‌they'll all come together.' In December 2013, technology writer reported that Microsoft was working on an update to Windows 8 codenamed 'Threshold', after a planet in Microsoft's video game franchise. Similarly to 'Blue' (which became Windows 8.1), Foley called Threshold a 'wave of operating systems' across multiple Microsoft platforms and services, scheduled for the second quarter of 2015.

Foley reported that among the goals for Threshold was to create a unified application platform and development toolkit for Windows, and Xbox One (which all use a similar ).In April 2014, at the, Microsoft's unveiled an updated version of Windows 8.1 (build 9697) that added the ability to run inside desktop windows and in place of the seen in Windows 8. The new Start menu takes after 's design by using only a portion of the screen and including a Windows 7-style application listing in the first column. The second column displays Windows 8-style app tiles.

Myerson said that these changes would occur in a future update, but did not elaborate. Microsoft also unveiled the concept of a 'universal Windows app', allowing Windows Store apps created for Windows 8.1 to be to and Xbox One while sharing a common codebase, with an interface designed for different device form factors, and allowing user data and for an app to be shared between multiple platforms. Windows Phone 8.1 would share nearly 90% of the common APIs with Windows 8.1 on PCs.Screenshots of a Windows build which purported to be Threshold were leaked in July 2014, showing the previously presented Start menu and windowed Windows Store apps followed by a further screenshot in September 2014 of a build identifying itself as 'Windows Technical Preview', numbered 9834, showing a new virtual desktop system, a notification center, and a new File Explorer icon. Announcement Threshold was officially unveiled during a media event on September 30, 2014, under the name Windows 10; Myerson said that Windows 10 would be Microsoft's 'most comprehensive platform ever', providing a single, unified platform for, smartphones, and devices.

He emphasized that Windows 10 would take steps towards restoring user interface mechanics from to improve the experience for users on non-touch devices, noting criticism of Windows 8's touch-oriented interface by keyboard and mouse users. Despite these concessions, Myerson noted that the touch-oriented interface would evolve as well on 10.In regards to Microsoft naming the new operating system Windows 10 instead of Windows 9, Terry Myerson said that 'based on the product that's coming, and just how different our approach will be overall, it wouldn't be right to call it Windows 9.' He also joked that they could not call it 'Windows One' (alluding to several recent Microsoft products with a similar brand, such as, and Xbox One) because already existed. Tony Prophet, Microsoft Vice President of Windows Marketing, said at a San Francisco conference in October 2014 that Windows 9 'came and went', and that Windows 10 is not 'an incremental step from Windows 8.1,' but 'a material step. We're trying to create one platform, one eco-system that unites as many of the devices from the small embedded Internet of Things, through tablets, through phones, through PCs and, ultimately, into the Xbox.' Further details surrounding Windows 10's consumer-oriented features were presented during another media event held on January 21, 2015, entitled 'Windows 10: The Next Chapter'.

The keynote featured the unveiling of Cortana integration within the operating system, new -oriented features, Windows 10 Mobile, an updated suite, ‍—‌a large-screened Windows 10 device for enterprise collaboration based upon technology, along with ‑ eyewear and an associated platform for building apps that can render through HoloLens.Additional developer-oriented details surrounding the ' concept were revealed and discussed during Microsoft's developers' conference. Among them were the unveiling of 'Islandwood', which provides a for compiling based software (particularly software) to run as universal apps on Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile. A port of Candy Crush Saga made using the toolkit, which shared much of its code with the iOS version, was demonstrated, alongside the announcement that the -developed game would be bundled with Windows 10 at launch. Release On June 1, 2015, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be released on July 29, 2015. Microsoft began an centering on Windows 10, 'Upgrade Your World', on July 20, 2015 with the premiere of television commercials in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The commercials focused on the tagline 'A more human way to do', emphasizing new features and technologies supported by Windows 10 that sought to provide a more 'personal' experience to users.

The campaign culminated with launch events in thirteen cities on July 29, which celebrated 'the unprecedented role our biggest fans played in the development of Windows 10'. Features. Main article:Windows 10 makes more consistent the user experience and functionality between different classes of device, and addresses shortcomings in the user interface that were introduced in Windows 8., the successor to Windows Phone 8.1, shares some user interface elements and apps with its PC counterpart.The Windows Runtime app ecosystem was revised into the (UWP). These universal apps are made to run across multiple platforms and device classes, including smartphones, tablets, Xbox One consoles, and other compatible Windows 10 devices. Windows apps share code across platforms, have that adapt to the needs of the device and available inputs, can synchronize data between Windows 10 devices (including notifications, credentials, and allowing cross-platform multiplayer for games), and are distributed through (rebranded from Windows Store since September 2017). Developers can allow 'cross-buys', where purchased licenses for an app apply to all of the user's compatible devices, rather than only the one they purchased on (e.g., a user purchasing an app on PC is also entitled to use the smartphone version at no extra cost).On Windows 10, Microsoft Store serves as a unified storefront for apps, video content, and ebooks.

Windows 10 also allows and desktop software (using either or ) to be packaged for distribution on Microsoft Store. Desktop software distributed through Windows Store is packaged using the system to allow. User interface and desktop. The ' display is a new feature to Windows 10, allowing the use of multiple workspaces.A new iteration of the is used on the Windows 10 desktop, with a list of places and other options on the left side, and tiles representing applications on the right. The menu can be resized, and expanded into a full-screen display, which is the default option in Tablet mode.

A new virtual desktop system was added. A feature known as Task View displays all open windows and allows users to switch between them, or switch between multiple workspaces. Universal apps, which previously could be used only in full screen mode, can now be used in self-contained windows similarly to other programs. Program windows can now be snapped to quadrants of the screen by dragging them to the corner. When a window is snapped to one side of the screen, Task View appears and the user is prompted to choose a second window to fill the unused side of the screen (called 'Snap Assist'). Windows' system icons were also changed.have been removed; their functionality in universal apps is accessed from an App commands menu on their title bar. In its place is Action Center, which displays notifications and settings toggles.

It is accessed by clicking an icon in the notification area, or dragging from the right of the screen. Notifications can be synced between multiple devices.

The Settings app (formerly PC Settings) was refreshed and now includes more options that were previously exclusive to the desktop.Windows 10 is designed to adapt its user interface based on the type of device being used and available input methods. It offers two separate user interface modes: a user interface optimized for mouse and keyboard, and a 'Tablet mode' designed for touchscreens.

Users can toggle between these two modes at any time, and Windows can prompt or automatically switch when certain events occur, such as disabling Tablet mode on a tablet if a keyboard or mouse is plugged in, or when a is switched to its laptop state. In Tablet mode, programs default to a maximized view, and the taskbar contains a back button and hides buttons for opened or pinned programs; Task View is used instead to switch between programs. The full screen Start menu is used in this mode, similarly to Windows 8, but scrolls vertically instead of horizontally.

System security. Windows Hello unlock prompt on a while using (a )Windows 10 incorporates technology based upon standards developed by the. The operating system includes improved support for through the Windows Hello platform. Devices with supported cameras (requiring illumination, such as ) allow users to log in with iris or, similarly to. Devices with supported readers allow users to log in through. Support was also added for palm-vein scanning through a partnership with in February 2018.

Credentials are stored locally and protected using.When Windows 10 was first introduced, multi-factor authentication was provided by two components: Windows Hello and Passport (not to be confused with ). Later, Passport was merged into Windows Hello.The enterprise version of Windows 10 offers additional security features; administrators can set up policies for the automatic of sensitive data, selectively block applications from accessing encrypted data, and enable Device Guard‍—‌a system which allows administrators to enforce a high-security environment by blocking the execution of software that is not digitally signed by a trusted vendor or Microsoft. Device Guard is designed to protect against, and runs inside a so that its operation remains separated from the operating system itself. Command line windows can now be resized without any restrictions, can be made to cover the full screen by pressing Alt+ ↵ Enter, and can use standard keyboard shortcuts, such as those for. Other features such as word wrap and transparency were also added. These functions can be disabled to revert to the legacy console if needed.The Anniversary Update adds, which allows the installation of a environment from a supported that runs natively on Windows.

The subsystem translates Linux that the Linux system uses to those of the Windows NT kernel. The environment can execute the shell and 64-bit command line programs. Windows applications cannot be executed from the Linux environment, and vice versa. Linux distributions for Windows Subsystem for Linux are obtained through Microsoft Store. The feature initially supported an -based environment; Microsoft announced in May 2017 that it would add and environment options as well.

Storage requirements To reduce the storage footprint of the operating system, Windows 10 automatically system files. The system can reduce the storage footprint of Windows by approximately 1.5 GB for systems and 2.6 GB for systems. The level of compression used is dependent on a performance assessment performed during installations or by, which tests how much compression can be used without harming operating system performance. Furthermore, the Refresh and Reset functions use runtime system files instead, making a separate recovery partition redundant, allowing patches and updates to remain installed following the operation, and further reducing the amount of space required for Windows 10 by up to 12 GB.

These functions replace the introduced on Windows 8.1 Update, which allowed OEMs to configure low-capacity devices with flash-based storage to use Windows system files out of the compressed typically used for installation and recovery. Windows 10 also includes a function in its Settings app that allows users to view a breakdown of how their device's storage capacity is being used by different types of files, and determine whether certain types of files are saved to internal storage or an by default. Online services and functionality Windows 10 introduces a new default,. It features a new -compliant rendering engine forked from, annotation tools, and offers integration with other Microsoft platforms present within Windows 10. Internet Explorer 11 is maintained on Windows 10 for compatibility purposes, but is deprecated in favor of Edge and will no longer be actively developed.Windows 10 incorporates Microsoft's, Cortana, which was first introduced with Windows Phone 8.1 in 2014. Cortana replaced Windows' embedded search feature, supporting both text and voice input.

Many of its features are a direct carryover from Windows Phone, including integration with, setting reminders, a Notebook feature for managing personal information, as well as searching for files, playing music, launching applications and setting reminders or sending emails. Cortana is implemented as a universal search box located alongside the Start and Task View buttons, which can be hidden or condensed to a single button.is replaced by Microsoft Family, a system that applies across Windows platforms and Microsoft online services. Users can create a designated family, and monitor and restrict the actions of users designated as children, such as access to websites, enforcing age ratings on Microsoft Store purchases, and other restrictions. The service can also send weekly e-mail reports to parents detailing a child's computer usage. Unlike previous versions of Windows, child accounts in a family must be associated with a Microsoft account‍—‌which allows these settings to apply across all Windows 10 devices that a particular child is using.Windows 10 also offers the Wi-Fi Sense feature originating from Windows Phone 8.1; users can optionally have their device automatically connect to suggested open hotspots, and share their home network's password with contacts (either via, or ) so they may automatically connect to the network on a Windows 10 device without needing to manually enter its password. Credentials are stored in an encrypted form on Microsoft servers and sent to the devices of the selected contacts.

Passwords are not viewable by the guest user, and the guest user is not allowed to access other computers or devices on the network. Wi-Fi Sense is not usable on -encrypted networks. Adding 'optout' at the end of the will also block the corresponding network from being used for this feature.Universal calling and messaging apps for Windows 10 are built in as of the November 2015 update: Messaging, Skype Video, and Phone. These offer built-in alternatives to the Skype download and sync with Windows 10 Mobile. Multimedia and gaming.

See also:Windows 10 provides heavier integration with the Xbox ecosystem. Xbox SmartGlass is succeeded by the (formerly the Xbox app), which allows users to browse their game library (including both PC and Xbox console games), and Game DVR is also available using a, allowing users to save the last 30 seconds of gameplay as a video that can be shared to Xbox Live, OneDrive, or elsewhere. Windows 10 also allows users to control and play games from an Xbox One console over a local network. The Xbox Live SDK allows application developers to incorporate Xbox Live functionality into their apps, and future wireless Xbox One accessories, such as controllers, are supported on Windows with an adapter. Microsoft also intends to allow cross-buys and save synchronization between Xbox One and Windows 10 versions of games; games such as and are intended as being exclusive to Windows 10 and Xbox One.and are also automatically installed upon installation of Windows 10.Windows 10 adds native game recording and screenshot capture ability using the newly introduced game bar. Users can also have the OS continuously record gameplay in the background, which then allows the user to save the last few moments of gameplay to the hard disk.Windows 10 adds and codecs and support for the media container, allowing these formats to be opened in and other applications. DirectX 12 Windows 10 includes, alongside.

Unveiled March 2014 at, DirectX 12 aims to provide '-level efficiency' with 'closer to the metal' access to hardware resources, and reduced and graphics driver. Most of the performance improvements are achieved through, which allow developers to use resources more efficiently and reduce single- CPU bottlenecking caused by abstraction through higher level APIs. DirectX 12 will also feature support for vendor agnostic multi-GPU setups. WDDM 2.0 introduces a new virtual memory management and allocation system to reduce workload on the kernel-mode driver. Removed features was discontinued, and is uninstalled when upgrading from a previous version of Windows.

Upgraded Windows installations with Media Center will receive the paid app free of charge for a limited, but unspecified, time. Microsoft had previously relegated Media Center and integrated DVD playback support to a paid add-on beginning on Windows 8 due to the cost of licensing the required DVD playback related patents, and the increasing number of PC devices that have no optical drives.The OneDrive built-in sync client, which was, no longer supports offline placeholders for online-only files in Windows 10. This functionality was re-added in Windows 10 version 1709, under the name 'OneDrive Files On-Demand'.Users are no longer able to synchronize Start menu layouts across all devices associated with a. A Microsoft developer justified the change by explaining that a user may have different applications they want to emphasize on each device that they use, rather than use the same configuration across each device. The ability to automatically install a universal app across all devices associated with an account was also removed.Web browsers can no longer set themselves as a user's default without further intervention; changing the default web browser must be performed manually by the user from Settings' 'Default apps' page, ostensibly to prevent.Parental controls no longer support browsers other than Internet Explorer and Edge, and the ability to control browsing by a whitelist was removed. Also removed was the ability to control local accounts, and the ability to scan a machine for applications to allow and block.

The Food & Drink, Health & Fitness, and Travel apps have been discontinued.Drivers for external (USB) are no longer integrated and must be downloaded separately.While all Windows 10 editions include fonts that provide broad language support, some fonts for Asian languages (Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, etc.) are no longer included with the standard installation to reduce storage space used, but are available without charge as optional font packages. Main article:Windows 10 is available in five main editions for personal computing devices, of which the Home and Pro versions are sold at retail in most countries, and as pre-loaded software on new computers. Home is aimed at home users, while Pro is aimed at small businesses. Each edition of Windows 10 includes all of the capabilities and features of the edition below it, and add additional features oriented towards their market segments; for example, Pro adds additional networking and security features such as, Device Guard, Windows Update for Business, and the ability to join a.

The remaining editions, Enterprise and Education, contain additional features aimed towards business environments, and are only available through.As part of Microsoft's unification strategies, Windows products that are based on Windows 10's common platform but meant for specialized platforms are marketed as editions of the operating system, rather than as separate product lines. An updated version of Microsoft's Windows Phone operating system for smartphones, and also tablets, was branded as.

Editions of Enterprise and Mobile will also be produced for, along with, which is designed specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and (IoT) scenarios and is similar to.On May 2, 2017, Microsoft unveiled Windows 10 S (referred to in leaks as Windows 10 Cloud), a feature-limited version of Windows 10 which was designed primarily for devices in the education market (competing, in particular, with netbooks), such as the that Microsoft also unveiled at this time. The OS restricts software installation to applications obtained from Microsoft Store; the device may be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for a fee to enable unrestricted software installation. As a time-limited promotion, Microsoft stated that this upgrade would be free on the Surface Laptop until March 31, 2018.

Windows 10 S also contains a faster initial setup and login process, and allows devices to be provisioned using a USB drive with the Windows Intune for Education platform. In March 2018, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 S would be deprecated due to market confusion, and would be replaced by 'S Mode', an OEM option wherein Windows defaults to only allowing applications to be installed from Microsoft Store, but does not require payment in order to disable these restrictions. Preview releases.

See also:A program for Windows 10 known as the Windows Insider Program began with the first publicly available preview release on October 1, 2014. Insider preview builds are aimed towards enthusiasts and enterprise users for the testing and evaluation of updates and new features. Users of the receive occasional updates to newer preview builds of the operating system and will continue to be able to evaluate preview releases after in July 2015‍—‌this is in contrast to previous Windows beta programs, where public preview builds were released less frequently and only during the months preceding GA. Windows Insider builds continued being released after the (RTM) of Windows 10.

Fifa 19 Windows 10

Public release Microsoft promoted that Windows 10 would become on July 29, 2015. In comparison to previous Windows releases, which had a longer turnover between the (RTM) and general release to allow for testing by vendors (and in some cases, the development of 'upgrade kits' to prepare systems for installation of the new version), an executive explained that because it knew Microsoft targeted the operating system for a release in 2015, the company was able to optimize its then-current and upcoming products for Windows 10 in advance of its release, negating the need for such a milestone.

The general availability build of Windows 10, numbered 10240, was first released on July 15, 2015 to Windows Insider channels for pre-launch testing prior to its formal release. Although a Microsoft official said that there would be no specific RTM build of Windows 10, 10240 was described as an RTM build by media outlets because it was released to all Windows Insider members at once (rather than to users on the 'Fast ring' first), it no longer carried pre-release branding and text, and because its build number had to the number 10 in reference to the operating system's naming. The Enterprise edition was released to volume licensing on August 1, 2015.Users are able to in-place upgrade through the 'Get Windows 10' application (GWX) and, or the 'Media Creation Tool', which is functionally identical to the Windows 8 online installer, and can also be used to generate an or USB install media. In-place upgrades are supported from most editions of Windows 7 with and Windows 8.1 with, while users with Windows 8 must first upgrade to Windows 8.1. Changing between (e.g., upgrading from edition to a editions) via in-place upgrades is not supported; a clean install is required. In-place upgrades may be rolled back to the device's previous version of Windows, provided that 30 days have not passed since installation, and backup files were not removed using.Windows 10 was available in 190 countries and 111 languages upon its launch, and as part of efforts to 're-engage' with users in China, Microsoft also announced that it would partner with and to help promote and distribute Windows 10 in China, and that Chinese PC maker would provide assistance at its service centers and retail outlets for helping users upgrade to Windows 10.

At retail, Windows 10 is priced similarly to editions of Windows 8.1, with U.S. Prices set at 119 and $199 for Windows 10 Home and Pro respectively. A Windows 10 Pro Pack license allows upgrades from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro. Retail copies ship on media or media. New devices shipping with Windows 10 were also released during the operating system's launch window.devices cannot be upgraded to Windows 10. Free upgrade offer.

Main article:During its first year of availability (ended on July 29, 2016), upgrade licenses for Windows 10 could be obtained at no charge for devices with a license for an eligible edition of Windows 7 or 8.1.This offer did not apply to Enterprise editions, as customers under an active (SA) contract with upgrade rights are entitled to obtain Windows 10 Enterprise under their existing terms. All users running non-genuine copies of Windows, and those without an existing Windows 7 or 8 license, were ineligible for this promotion; although upgrades from a non-genuine version were possible, they result in a non-genuine copy of 10.On the general availability build of Windows 10 Version 1507, to activate and generate the 'digital entitlement' for Windows 10, the operating system must have first been installed as an in-place upgrade.

During the free upgrade, a genuineticket.xml file is created in the background and the system's motherboard details are registered with a Microsoft Product Activation server. Once installed, the operating system can be reinstalled on that particular system via normal means without a product key, and the system's license will automatically be detected via online activation - in essence, the Microsoft Product Activation Server will remember the system's motherboard and give it the green light for product re-activation. Due to installation issues with Upgrade Only installs, in November 2015, Windows 10 Version 1511 was released with additional activation mechanisms. This build treated Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 product keys as Windows 10 Product Keys, meaning they could be entered during installation to activate the free license, without the need to upgrade first to 'activate' the hardware with Microsoft's activation servers.

For major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 OEM Product Keys are embedded in the firmware of the motherboard and if the correct edition of Windows 10 is present on the installation media, they are automatically inputted during installation. Since the release of Windows 10 version 1709, Microsoft decided to release multi-edition installation media, to alleviate installation and product activation issues users experienced due to accidentally installing the wrong Edition of Windows 10. Despite the 1-year free upgrade offer having long expired, all activation mechanisms involving Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys still work with all subsequent builds of Windows 10, even Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 product keys that have never been used for a previous Windows 10 installation.The Windows Insider Preview version of Windows 10 automatically updated itself to the generally released version as part of the version progression and continues to be updated to new beta builds, as it had throughout the testing process. Explicitly stated that was not a valid upgrade path for those running a version of that is ineligible for the upgrade offer; although, if it was not installed with a license carried over from an in-place upgrade to 10 Insider Preview from Windows 7 or 8, the Insider Preview does remain activated as long as the user does not exit the Windows Insider program.The offer was promoted and delivered via the 'Get Windows 10' application ('GWX'), which was automatically installed via ahead of Windows 10's release, and activated on systems deemed eligible for the upgrade offer.

Via a icon, users could access an application that advertised Windows 10 and the free upgrade offer, check device compatibility, and 'reserve' an automatic download of the operating system upon its release. On July 28, a pre-download process began in which Windows 10 installation files were downloaded to some computers that had reserved it. Microsoft said that those who reserved Windows 10 would be able to install it through GWX in a phased rollout process. The operating system could alternatively be downloaded at any time using a separate 'Media Creation Tool' setup program (similar to Windows 8's setup program), that allows for the creation of or installation media.Microsoft announced in May 2016 that the free upgrade offer would be extended to users of; however, Microsoft did not implement any means of certifying eligibility for this offer, which some outlets thereby promoted as being a loophole to fraudulently obtain a free Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft said that the loophole is not intended to be used in this manner. In November 2017, Microsoft stated that this program would end December 31, 2017. Licensing During upgrades, Windows 10 licenses are not tied directly to a product key.

Instead, the license status of the system's current installation of Windows is migrated, and a 'Digital license' (also known as 'Digital entitlement' in version 1511 or earlier) is generated during the process, which is bound to the hardware information collected during the process. If Windows 10 is reinstalled cleanly and there have not been any significant hardware changes since installation (such as a motherboard change), the online activation process will automatically recognize the system's digital entitlement if no product key is entered during installations. However, unique product keys are still distributed within retail copies of Windows 10.

As with previous non-volume-licensed versions of Windows, significant hardware changes will invalidate the digital entitlement, and require Windows to be re-activated. Updates and support. Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows Update does not allow the selective installation of updates, and all updates (including patches, feature updates, and ) are downloaded and installed automatically. Users can only choose whether their system will reboot automatically to install updates when the system is inactive, or be notified to schedule a reboot. If a wireless network is designated as 'Metered'—a function which automatically reduces the operating system's background network activity to conserve, most updates are not downloaded until the device is connected to a non-metered network. Redstone 2 allows wired networks to be designated as metered, but Windows may still download certain updates while connected to a metered network.

Updates can cause compatibility or other problems; a Microsoft troubleshooter program allows bad updates to be uninstalled.Windows Update can also use a system for distributing updates; by default, users' is used to distribute previously downloaded updates to other users, in combination with Microsoft servers. Users can instead choose to only use peer-to-peer updates within their.The original RTM release of Windows 10 ('Windows 10, released in July 2015') receives mainstream support for five years after its original release, followed by five years of extended support, but this is subject to conditions. Microsoft's support lifecycle policy for the operating system notes that 'Updates are cumulative, with each update built upon all of the updates that preceded it', that 'a device needs to install the latest update to remain supported', and that a device's ability to receive future updates will depend on hardware compatibility, driver availability, and whether the device is within the OEM's 'support period'‍—‌a new aspect not accounted for in lifecycle policies for previous versions. This policy was first invoked in 2017 to block devices from receiving the Creators Update, as Microsoft asserts that future updates 'require additional hardware support to provide the best possible experience', and that Intel no longer provided support or drivers for the platform. Microsoft stated that these devices would no longer receive feature updates, but would still receive security updates through January 2023. Feature updates.

Main article:Windows 10 is often described by Microsoft as being a 'service', as it receives regular feature updates that contain new features and other updates and fixes. In April 2017, Microsoft stated that in the future, these updates would be released twice a year every March and September.The pace at which feature updates are received by devices is dependent on which release channel is used. The default branch for all users of Windows 10 Home and Pro is 'Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)' (formerly 'Current Branch', or 'CB'), which receives stable builds after they are publicly released by Microsoft. Each build of Windows 10 is supported for 18 months after its original release.

In enterprise environments, Microsoft officially intends that this branch is used for 'targeted' deployments of newly-released stable versions so that they can be evaluated and tested on a limited number of devices before a wider deployment. Once a stable build is certified by Microsoft and its partners as being suitable for broad deployment, the build is then released on the 'Semi-Annual Channel' (formerly 'Current Branch for Business', or 'CBB'), which is supported by the Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 10. Version 1511 (November Update) The second stable build of Windows 10 is called version 1511. Its build number is 10586.

It was codenamed ' Threshold 2' ( TH2) during development. This version is installed by the November Update, which began to be distributed via Windows Update on November 12, 2015. It contains various improvements to the operating system, its user interface, bundled services, as well as the introduction of Skype-based universal messaging apps, and the Windows Store for Business and Windows Update for Business features.On November 21, 2015, the November Update was temporarily pulled from public distribution. The upgrade was re-instated on November 24, 2015, with Microsoft stating that the removal was due to a bug that caused privacy and data collection settings to be reset to defaults when installing the upgrade.

Version 1607 (Anniversary Update) The third stable build of Windows 10 is called version 1607. It was codenamed ' Redstone 1' ( RS1) during development. This version is installed by the Anniversary Update, which was released on August 2, 2016, a little over one year after the first stable release of Windows 10. Codename 'Redstone' was originally thought to have been set aside for two feature updates. Main article:Critics characterized the initial release of Windows 10 in July 2015 as being rushed, citing the incomplete state of some of the operating system's bundled software (such as the Edge web browser), as well as the stability of the operating system itself on launch. However, felt that Windows 10 would be 'the new Windows 7', citing the operating system's more familiar user interface, improvements to bundled apps, performance improvements, a 'rock solid' search system, and the Settings app being more full-featured than its equivalents on 8 and 8.1.

The Microsoft Edge web browser was praised for its performance, although it was not in a feature-complete state at launch. While considering them a 'great idea in principle', concerns were shown for Microsoft's focus on the universal app ecosystem, noting thatIt's by no means certain that developers are going to flock to Windows 10 from and simply because they can convert their apps easily. It may well become a no-brainer for them, but at the moment a conscious decision is still required.was similarly positive, noting that the upgrade process was painless and that Windows 10's user interface had balanced aspects of Windows 8 with those of previous versions with a more mature aesthetic.

Cortana's always-on voice detection was considered to be its 'true strength', also citing its query capabilities and personalization features, but noting that it was not as pre-emptive as. Windows 10's stock applications were praised for being improved over their Windows 8 counterparts, and for supporting windowed modes. The Xbox app was also praised for its Xbox One streaming functionality, although recommending its use over a wired network due to inconsistent quality over Wi-Fi. In conclusion, it was argued that 'Windows 10 delivers the most refined desktop experience ever from Microsoft, and yet it's so much more than that. It's also a decent tablet OS, and it's ready for a world filled with hybrid devices. And, barring another baffling screwup, it looks like a significant step forward for mobile. Heck, it makes the Xbox One a more useful machine.'

Panned the new Tablet mode interface for removing the charms and app switching, making the Start button harder to use by requiring users to reach for the button on the bottom-left rather than at the center of the screen when swiping with a thumb, and for making application switching less instantaneous through the use of Task View. Microsoft Edge was praised for being 'tremendously promising', and 'a much better browser than Internet Explorer ever was', but criticized it for its lack of functionality on-launch. In conclusion, contrasting Windows 8 as being a 'reliable' platform albeit consisting of unfinished concepts, Windows 10 was considered 'the best Windows yet' and was praised for having a better overall concept in its ability to be 'comfortable and effective' across a wide array of form factors, but that it was buggier than previous versions of Windows were on-launch. Felt that Windows 10 restricted the choices of users, citing its more opaque setting menus, forcing users to give up bandwidth for the peer-to-peer distribution of updates, and for taking away user control of specific functions, such as updates, explaining that 'it feels, once again, as if Microsoft has taken the seed of a good idea, like providing users with security updates automatically, and shoved the throttle to maximum.' Critics have noted that Windows 10 heavily emphasizes services, and contains various advertising facilities. Some outlets have considered these to be a hidden 'cost' of the free upgrade offer.

Examples of these have included in bundled games such as Microsoft Solitaire Collection, default settings that display promotions of 'suggested' apps in Start menu and 'tips' on the lock screen that may contain advertising, ads displayed in File Explorer for Office 365 subscriptions on Creators' Update, and various advertising notifications displayed by default which promote Microsoft Edge when it is not set as default web browser (including in a September 2018 build, nag pop-ups displayed to interrupt the installation process of competitors). Market share and sales. 0.05%'Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide' according to for April 2019.

Note, StatCounter tracks Windows vs. MacOS, Linux etc.

Separately, and this statistic is only thereof Windows share.Up to August 2016, Windows 10 usage was increasing, with it then, while eventually in 2018, it became more popular than Windows 7 (though in 2019 Windows 7 is still more used in Africa and countries elsewhere, e.g in Asia). As of March 2019, the operating system is running on more than 800 million devicesTwenty-four hours after it was released, Microsoft announced that more than 14 million devices were running Windows 10. On August 26, Microsoft said more than 75 million devices were running Windows 10, in 192 countries, and on more than 90,000 unique PC or tablet models. According to Terry Myerson, there were more than 110 million devices running Windows 10 as of October 6, 2015. On January 4, 2016, Microsoft reported that Windows 10 had been activated on more than 200 million devices since the operating system's launch in July 2015.According to StatCounter, Windows 10 overtook Windows 8.1 in December 2015. Was the first country where Windows 10 was ranked first (not only on the desktop, but across all platforms), with several larger European countries following. For one week, late in November 2016, Windows 10 overtook first rank from Windows 7 in the United States, before losing it again.

By February 2017, Windows 10 was losing market share to Windows 7.In middle of January 2018, Windows 10 had a slightly higher global market share than Windows 7, with it noticeably more popular on weekends, while popularity varies widely by region, e.g. Windows 10 is still behind in Africa and far ahead in some other regions e.g.

Update system changes Windows 10 Home is permanently set to download all updates automatically, including cumulative updates, security patches, and drivers, and users cannot individually select updates to install or not. Microsoft offers a diagnostic tool that can be used to hide updates and prevent them from being reinstalled, but only after they had been already installed, then uninstalled without rebooting the system.

Tom Warren of felt that, given web browsers such as had already adopted such an automatic update system, such a requirement would help to keep all Windows 10 devices secure, and felt that 'if you're used to family members calling you for technical support because they've failed to upgrade to the latest Windows service pack or some malware disabled Windows Update then those days will hopefully be over.' Concerns were raised that due to these changes, users would be unable to skip the automatic installation of updates that are faulty or cause issues with certain system configurations—although build upgrades will also be subject to public beta testing via Windows Insider program. There were also concerns that the forced installation of driver updates through Windows Update, where they were previously designated as 'optional', could cause conflicts with drivers that were installed independently of Windows Update. An example of such a situation occurred just prior to the general release of the operating system, when an driver that was automatically pushed to Windows 10 users via Windows Update caused issues that prevented the use of certain functions, or prevented their system from booting at all.Criticism was also directed towards Microsoft's decision to no longer provide specific details on the contents of cumulative updates for Windows 10.