The next version of Windows 10 is under development as Microsoft continues to test new features and improvements. As reported earlier, the Windows maker is finally paying attention to how Windows updates work. From allowing users to temporarily pause Windows 10 updates to reserving some storage for better management, it seems Microsoft is trying to make the update process more seamless (and possible).

The company has posted a new blog post this week sharing the upcoming feature of "reserved storage." Microsoft wrote that Windows 10 19H1 (aka April 2019 Update) will set aside some disk space to be used exclusively by updates, apps, temporary files, and system caches.

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"Our goal is to improve the day-to-day function of your PC by ensuring critical OS functions always have access to disk space," the company wrote. "Without reserved storage, if a user almost fills up her or his storage, several Windows and application scenarios become unreliable."

Windows and application scenarios may not work as expected if they need free space to function. With reserved storage, updates, apps, temporary files, and caches are less likely to take away from valuable free space and should continue to operate as expected.

While this may seem like Microsoft taking over a machine's precious storage space, the company said the system is being designed in a way that makes sure that unneeded temporary files are removed automatically to give space to Windows updates and apps. This system would also help reduce the chances of a Windows update affecting user data, as was experienced with the latest Windows 10 October 2018 Update.

Since every update will be restricted to reserved storage, it won't interact (replace, remove, rename) user files unless the reserved storage that has been set aside is temporarily full. Even in this scenario, Windows 10 will first remove unneeded files to make space, enabling the PC to download and install the latest update even if a system has minimal free disk space and without affecting user data.

If for some reason Windows update needs more space than is reserved, it will automatically use other available free space. If that’s not enough, Windows will guide you through steps to temporarily extend your hard disk with external storage, such as with a USB stick, or how to free up disk space.

Microsoft said that reserved storage will be introduced automatically on devices that clean install version 1903 or that have been bought with 1903 pre-installed.

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Windows 10 19H1 users will be able to slightly increase/reduce reserved storage

Now to the specifics. Microsoft said that reserved storage will start at around 7GB. "However the amount of reserved space will vary over time based on how you use your device," the company added. While you can't completely remove the reserved storage, you will be able to reduce the amount of space that has been reserved by removing "optional features" that come with Windows.

Once Windows 10 19H1 is out to the public, you will be able to see these features from Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Manage optional features. Over here, you can uninstall optional features that are of no use to you to reduce the amount of space set aside as reserved storage. Microsoft added that users can also remove/increase reserved space by removing/adding additional languages as every new language will require more space. To check this, you can head over Settings > Time & Language > Language and uninstall languages you aren’t using.

Considering most of the Windows machines aren't deficient of storage space like MacBooks, this new system could help the company reduce Windows updates-related data issues without hurting many end users. There might be some edge cases, but we will see how this goes once this feature is released with Windows 10 19H1 in April.

via: MSPU