Microsoft Windows 10 offers two types of updates: "feature updates" and "quality updates.

Microsoft  Windows 10 offers two types of updates: "feature updates" and "quality updates.

In this guide, we explain the differences between the two.

Starting with Microsoft Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new services in model known as "Windows as a Service" (WaaS), which means that instead of getting a new version around every three years, you now receive incremental updates that speed up the integration of new features and simplify the process of keeping devices secure and supported.

You now have two types of updates: "feature updates" and "quality updates." Both are equally important, but each one delivers a different set of improvements at different times.

In this pro computer solution, we look at the most important difference between a feature and quality update to get a better understanding of the updates you install on your device.

What are Windows 10 feature updates?

On Microsoft Windows 10, features updates are technically new versions of the OS, which are available twice a year, during spring and fall time frame. They are also known as "semi-annual" releases, and they're supported for 18 months. After the support cycle ends, you must upgrade to a supported version to continue getting security and non-security patches.

As part of the development process, Microsoft uses telemetry data and feedback from internal testing and participants of the Windows Insider Program to prepare the new version. Once the update passes the testing phases and proves to be reliable, the roll out begins to consumers and then to business customers through Windows Update as an optional update, which users have to install manually. However, devices with an installation nearing the end of service will receive the feature update automatically to maintain the system secure and supported.

feature updates are bigger in size than quality updates. The download size can be close to 3.1 GB for the 64-bit or 2.4 GB for the 32-bit version when using Windows Update. Or close to 4.7 GB for the 64-bit version, or 3.2 GB for the 32-bit version when using an installation media like the Media Creation Tool or Update Assistant.

If you use Windows Update, the system can download only the file necessary for the upgrade depending on your current configurations , making the download package up to 38 percent smaller.

When installing a feature updates, you are actually installing a new version. Therefore a complete re-installation of Windows 10 is required. This also means it'll take longer time to apply, and you're more likely to run into problems than when installing  a quality updates.

Feature updates for Microsoft Windows 10 are optional, and they shouldn't install automatically as long as the version on your device is still supported. your device  However, if you are running the windows professional version of Windows 10, you can defer feature updates up to 18 months after their original release date.

What are Windows 10 quality updates?

Quality updates (also are referred to as "cumulative updates" or "cumulative quality updates") are the mandatory updates that your computer downloads and installs automatically every month through Windows Update. Usually, every second Tuesday of every month ("Patch Tuesday").

Unlike feature updates, these types of updates do not include new features, visual changes, or significant improvements. Instead, they are maintenance updates means to fix bugs, errors, patch security vulnerabilities, and improve reliability with the current version of Windows 10.

On Windows 10, there are four types of quality updates, including "B," "C," "D," and "out-of-band."

The "B" rollout happens on schedule every Patch Tuesday, and it contains the most important patches that devices need during a specific month. Also, this is the only regular release that Microsoft uses to ship fixes to patch security vulnerabilities.

The "C" release happens the third week of the month, and the "D" release outs during the fourth week of the month. Unlike the "B" rollout, the "C" and "D" updates contain a preview of the maintenance bits that the company plans to ship the following month during Patch Tuesday, and they don't include security updates.

Then there are the "out-of-band" updates, which can include one or multiple vulnerability fixes that can't wait until the next officially monthly release schedule.

Typically, quality updates increase in size each month, as their nature of being cumulative means that each update includes the changes available in the previous updates. As a result, this cumulative approach reduces the number of problems and updates that you need to download on your device.

Quality updates download and install faster than feature updates because they're smaller packages, and they don't require a complete reinstallation, which also means that it's not necessary to create a backup before installing them. However, it's always a good idea to have a current backup of your data as errors and hardware failure can happen at any time.

Whether you're running Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home, you can delay quality updates up to 32 days. The only caveat is that you can only pause these updates once, and when updates resume, your computer must install the latest quality update before you can use the option again.

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