The next major version of Windows 10 is Windows 10 version 1903 (the April 2019 Update or 19H1); if things go as planned, it will be released in March/April of 2019.

The new version of Windows 10 will be offered as a direct download and via Windows Update. Users need to actively seek for the update using Windows Update in the beginning, and it is only offered to certain computer configurations at first that Microsoft considers optimal.

Insider Preview builds give us a clear picture of the changes and feature additions in the new Windows 10 feature update release.

It will also be interesting to see if Microsoft manages to release a build that is more stable and less bug-ridden than the last feature update release Windows 10 version 1809. Microsoft had to pull the release shortly after release.

Windows 10 version 1903: new features

Reserved Storage

The new version of Windows introduces a new storage concept called Reserved Storage. It reserves a certain amount of storage for the operating system for use by Windows updates, applications, temporary files and system caches.

Reserved storage used about 7 Gigabytes of space on a test system with a 128 Gigabyte hard drive. Windows users may notice a drop in free storage space thanks to reserved storage.

Microsoft plans to turn on the feature only for new installations and for pre-installed systems. It is possible to enable Reserved Storage on systems that get upgraded to Windows 10 version 1903, however.

Storage Sense

Windows 10 version 1903 features Storage improvements. When you open the Storage settings in Settings > System > Storage, you will immediately see how optimization options.

Windows may display how much storage you may free up by cleaning temporary files or by removing applications or features.

There is also a new "Optimize Drives" option which launches a defragmentation management window.

Windows Sandbox

Windows Sandbox is a new security feature that Microsoft plans to introduce in Windows 10 version 1903. It works similarly to third-party sandboxing solutions and uses Microsoft Hypervisor and hardware virtualization at its core. The sandbox requires Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise.

You may use it to run any executable file to block it from interacting with the underlying operating system. In other words: what happens in Windows Sandbox stays in Windows Sandbox.

Sandbox was launched with a basic set of features but has been improved in recent Insider builds. One new feature that Microsoft added was support for configuration files to control certain Sandbox features.

Windows Sandbox is ideal for testing applications and for privacy / security purposes.

Download and Install Now Windows Update option

Microsoft revealed in 2019 that it would change the updating system used by the company's Windows 10 operating system fundamentally. The company changes when and how feature updates are downloaded and installed on compatible devices with the release of the May 2019 Update.

Previously, when you selected "check for updates" on the Windows Updates Settings page, you'd get any available update including beta updates or feature updates.

Feature updates are listed separately according to Microsoft going forward, and the installation of those is no longer enforced.

Other update related improvements include dynamic Active Hours that changes the time period without forced restarts based on usage, and options to pause updates even on Windows 10 Home systems.

Smaller changes

Now You: What is your take on these improvements and changes?

Summary Article Name The major features of Windows 10 version 1903 Description The next major version of Windows 10 is Windows 10 version 1903 (the April 2019 Update or 19H1); if things go as planned, it will be released in March/April of 2019. Author Martin Brinkmann Publisher Ghacks Technology News Logo

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