News

Windows 10 'Anniversary Update' Now Available

• By Jeffrey Schwartz
• 08/02/2016

Microsoft's largest Windows 10 update to date is now available.

It's the first major upgrade to Windows 10 since its release a year ago and the equivalent of a first service pack, though with a notable number of new features.

In a post announcing the release, corporate VP for the Windows and devices group Michael Fortin noted users don't need to do anything in order to get it as the company is pushing the update out automatically through the Windows Update process. Those that want to get it right away can go into the settings and manually request the update, presuming they have administrative rights to do so.

In short to perform the upgrade, simply go to Settings > Updates & Security > Windows Update and then click "Check for Updates." Make sure you're downloading Version 1607.

MSDN subscribers can access the update as well.

Now that Microsoft has rolled out the anniversary update, it's next priority is ot get more apps on ints

Now that Microsoft has rolled out the anniversary update, its next priority is to get more apps on its Universal Windows Platform, which is critical to the long-term success of the OS. To that end, Microsoft today also released the Windows 10 anniversary update SDK which the company said includes more than 2,700 improvements to its Universal Windows Platform, allowing developers to build capabilities. The SDK aims to enable developers to build functionality into their apps around some of the core improvements in the Windows 10 anniversary update including Ink, Cortana and Windows Hello.

Microsoft said it is also opening Dev Center and the Windows Store, allowing developers to submit apps built for PCs, phones and HoloLens that target the Windows 10 anniversary update SDK. The company will begin the process of accepting apps via its Desktop Bridge, the company's tool known as Project Centennial, designed to let developers convert existing Windows apps to the new Universal Windows Platform.

"While we build the pipeline into the Windows Store to publish these apps, our team will work directly with developers to get their converted apps and games into the Windows Store," said Microsoft's Kevin Gallo, general manager for Microsoft's developer division. Developers can contact Microsoft here to submit an app using the Desktop Bridge to the Windows Store, he said.

Microsoft will also outline how developers submit Xbox apps targeting the Windows 10 Anniversary Update SDK into the Windows Store via the Dev Center, he added. "The Store is open for business and new innovations with Inking, Cortana and Edge will enable new experiences that simply aren't possible on other platforms," Gallo said.