First look: Microsoft’s widows 10 Anniversary update preview

The update’s exact release date hasn’t been set yet. Windows 10 was officially released on July 29, 2015 — but that doesn’t mean that the Anniversary Update will hit on the exact date.

When it is ready, the update will be delivered — as usual — via Windows Update. (For information about how Windows Update works, check out my article explaining how to handle Windows 10 updates.) That means you won’t have to do anything manually — it will install automatically on its own.
But you don’t have to wait until the official release date to install and use the update. Microsoft is releasing preview builds well before then — including one that you can install today.

As of this writing, the latest update is Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14328. What follows includes information about features that Microsoft has announced will be in the final as well as features that are implemented in some way in the most recent build.
Although the update is being called the Windows Anniversary Update, don’t expect many big presents. While there are some very solid and useful additions, this isn’t a big-bang change to the operating system.

But first: How to jump the update queue

To get previews, you have to join Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program, and then put yourself into what’s called the Fast ring for updates. Go to the Windows Insider Page and click “Get Started.”