It’ll be a free upgrade, too, making the prospect of Windows 10’s 20H2 update far less exciting. Aside from bug fixes, there were just three minor changes introduced in May’s 21H1 update. A few more are rumoured for later this year, but nothing like what you’ll see in Windows 11.

Windows 11 still feels like a Windows 10 feature update in its current state, but the actual new features coming to Microsoft’s soon-to-be-replaced operating system will not be particularly significant. Here’s everything you need to know.

When will the Windows 10 21H2 update come out?

We don’t have any concrete release information at this stage, although the timing of previous Windows 10 feature updates gives a good idea of when we can expect it. The late 2019 update arrived on 12 November, while a year later it was brought forward to 20 October.

A similar release window looks likely this time around, although its release will likely be overshadowed by the rollout of Windows 11. Both are likely to arrive in October 2021, although neither have been confirmed.

Whenever it does arrive, it could be the last feature update Windows 10 gets. Microsoft has committed to supporting the OS via security updates until 14 October 2025, just over a decade since it first launched. However, the vast majority of resources will now be going into the development of Windows 10 moving forward.

Will my Windows PC get the 21H2 update?

Almost certainly, yes. If your PC is able to download the 21H1 update, there’s no reason it won’t get version 21H2. Microsoft may have updated the hardware requirements for Windows 11, but there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to Windows 10.

However, as with previous updates, you’ll probably have to be patient. Microsoft is known to throttle up availability of feature update in order to manage demand, so it might be weeks or even months after the official release date that your PC is eligible.

Windows 10 21H2 update new features

Since October 2020, we’ve had an idea that a big Windows update was on its way. For much of 2021, this was expected to take the form of Windows 10’s 21H2 update. However, in the space of just few weeks, Microsoft teased, announced and released the beta for Windows 11.

It’s the culmination of the ‘Sun Valley’ project Microsoft has been working on for much of the last year, so almost all the exciting features will be arriving in this brand-new version of Windows.

That’s not to say that Windows 10 won’t get any more attention, and it looks like Microsoft is going ahead with the 21H2 update. It may end up being Windows 10’s last feature update, even if the OS will continue to be officially supported until 2025.

Given how recently Windows 11 launched, news is thin on the ground. The only concrete rumour discussing non-Windows 11 features comes from, although their article is based on an Insider build from February 2021. It suggests the following will be coming to Windows 10 in late 2021:

• System-wide DNS over HTTPS – DNS generally improves privacy and provides greater security by encrypting DNS lookups, which happen each and every time you launch a website. Currently, this is only available in browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox
• DNS options moved from Control Panel to Settings – The continued phasing out of Control Panel will see these options moved to the regular Settings menu
• Startup app notifications – Each time you start up your PC (from off), you’ll receive a notification telling you which apps are set to launch each time you boot. You can disable this by heading to Settings > Apps > Startup, while there will still be options here to turn off any apps you don’t want to automatically launch
• New emoji picker – Now with updated emoji design, searchable GIF library and integration with clipboard history (this will still also be available via the Windows Key + V shortcut)
• Windows Dictation rebranded to Windows Voice Typing – This is said to be “optimised for use with touch keyboards”, and will offer automatic punctuation and a more reliable typing experience
• New icons – The Settings app, Windows Security, Snip & Sketch and Sticky Notes are all set for updated icons
• Storage health notifications – If your device has an NVMe SSD, Windows 10 will now be able to notify you when it thinks they “may be at risk of failure”
• Disk Management options in Settings – Previously only accessible via a separate utility, Disk Management will now also be available under System > Storage > Manage Disks and Volumes
• Linux improvements – Developers will be pleased to hear that Linux software on Windows 10 will now have full GPU support. The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) will also be easier to install and update, while Linux files will now be accessible from within File Explorer
• Improved graphics settings for multiple GPUs – If you have more than one graphics card on your PC, Windows 10 will allow you to set a default high-performance GPU. You’ll also be able to set which graphics card will be used for specific applications

In an article confirming the existence of the 21H2 update, XDA Developers revealed two other new features. Universal Print and Windows Autopilot both provide cloud-based services for businesses. Aside from people who don’t have compatible hardware, business customers are likely to be Microsoft’s primary focus for the future of Windows 10.