What is the meaning of Defer Upgrades in Windows 10?
The latest Windows 10 comes up with an option named Defer Upgrades. By enabling this option in Windows Update, you can delay Feature Upgrades while permitting Security Updates. Microsoft introduced this feature mainly for business class users of Windows 10 as they always want to wait for quite a longer period of time before trying new features in their systems.
Microsoft’s version
The officials at Microsoft have the explanation regarding the Defer Upgrades. They says that certain versions of Windows 10 allows the user to have the option of defer upgrades in which certain new features introduced by windows from to from will not be downloaded and installed to the OS. But at the same time security features will be downloaded and installed without any problem. In short deferring the upgrades doesn’t prevent the security updates but at the same time prevents feature updates.
Versions of Windows 10 that have the option of Defer Upgrades
The option of deferring upgrades is available with higher options of Windows 10. They are available with versions of Windows 10 such as The Professional, Enterprise and the Education. Unfortunately it is not available with the basic version of Windows 10 that is the Home. But you don’t have to worry at all. You can have this option in your Windows 10 Home version by paying $99 and upgrade it to Professional version. One this has to be noted is that the option is not functioned as default, but you have to enable it.
Upgrades that can be Deferred
Unlike previous versions of Windows, the latest Windows 10 upgrades in a distinct way. Windows 10 Home as well as Windows 10 Professional will directly download and install the new security updates and there is no option in Windows to stop this. Likewise Microsoft also introduces certain Feature Updates from to time. When they are out, they will be first downloaded and tested by those users who have voluntarily signed to test them. These people are known as Windows Insiders. After having tested by them, they will be made available on Windows Update. The Windows OS in your system automatically downloads them and install in your system, just like security updates of Windows 10. But certain firms won’t like to have this updated feature in their system and want to block them. Therefore by enabling Defer Upgrades, those users will be able to delay the feature upgrades for a time frame that they fix.
Time Frame Allowed Delaying the Upgrades
By enabling defer upgrades the user will be allowed to delay the feature upgrades. But the time frame upto which it is delayed is not confirmed by Microsoft. But one thing is sure that these upgrades cannot be delayed permanently. After a few months, Windows OS will automatically download and install those feature upgrades.
How Defer Upgrades actually helps you?
Defer upgrades will prevent the feature upgrades from getting installed to your OS for a few months. By this time the testers have finished testing of the upgrade and have fixed its bugs. This will prevent further complications in your system, which could have occurred due to the bugs in the current update. Sometimes this will come in handy where some upgrades hamper the important business software of yours in the system. On other hand if you would like to try Windows 10 features at the same time of its launch then you have to disable Defer Upgrades.
Types of Windows 10 Branches
Windows 10 is introduced with different types of Update Branches, each one is distinct from another. They are classified on the basis of their frequencies of update. The different types of branches are explained as under:
Current Branch: This is the basic version of Windows 10. Every user in this branch will receive the feature updates at the same time when they are launched. By default all Windows 10 PCs initially belong to this branch. But by altering the settings this can be changed. Home version of Windows 10 can only be in this branch.
Current Branch for Business: This branch is almost similar to that of Current Branch. But in this branch the Feature Upgrades are belated for few months to have elaborated testing of the upgrades. By enabling the option of Defer Upgrades, all Windows 10 PCs can be locked down under this branch. This option is available with versions of Windows 10 such as Professional, Enterprise and Education systems.
Long Term Servicing Branch: This branch is designed for those PCs which want stable software without any latest upgrades or changes. This branch is for those PCs which don’t actually care for latest changes. Microsoft came up with the opinion that this branch is designed for those Windows 10 systems, which are being used in hospital ICUs, air traffic control towers, share trading companies, large factories and so on. This branch has an extensively longer mainstream support which lasts for 5 years and is again extended with a support of another 5 years, which in total becomes the support of 10 years for Security updates. This option is enabled only on Windows 10 versions of Enterprise and Education.
