Microsoft is once again making waves in the world of Windows updates by fine-tuning how your PC receives them, aiming to make updates quicker and smaller to download. However, if you’ve been eagerly awaiting the Windows 11 24H2 update on your Copilot+ PC, you’ll need to muster a bit more patience. The enhancements Microsoft is rolling out are largely technical, building on previous efforts to streamline the update process.
Starting back in 2021 with the Windows 11 21H2 update, Microsoft managed to trim the file size of Windows updates by about 40 percent. They achieved this by separating Windows applications like Mail into their own standalone apps and downloading only what’s absolutely necessary for the update. This initiative was a game-changer, and now Microsoft is doubling down on this approach for the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update.
Microsoft’s new strategy involves analyzing the code from the previous feature update on your machine and comparing it to the current update. By focusing on this “difference” between the two, they aim to send over just the necessary code, which is likely to be considerably smaller in size. This method will not only make the updates quicker to download but also more efficient in terms of storage.
To further enhance this streamlined experience, Microsoft plans to issue smaller cumulative updates called “Checkpoints” between each major feature update. Again, the focus will be on sending over just the changes rather than the entire update package. This change should benefit users in multiple ways, including faster download times and less storage space taken up by archived older updates. This leaner approach will officially begin with the Windows 11 24H2 update later this year.
For those still using Windows 10 or older machines running previous versions of Windows 11, the update process will continue as usual. You’ll receive updates in a manner similar to previous monthly updates or annual Windows 11 feature updates. So, there’s no need to worry about sudden major changes interrupting your usual update routine.
Interestingly, Microsoft is only rolling out the Windows 11 24H2 update to Copilot+ PCs for now, and even then, some features like Recall have been pulled back. This shift likely signals an end to the era of lengthy updates that can put your PC out of commission for an hour or so. The days of waiting impatiently while your computer chugs through massive feature updates may finally be coming to a close, making for a much more user-friendly experience. So, while you might still have to wait a bit for the latest and greatest features, at least the process will be much smoother once they arrive.
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