Author: Raymond

The latest version of Windows 10 is the October 2020 Update, version “20H2,” which was released on October 20, 2020. Microsoft releases new major updates about every six months.

This is for devices running Windows 10

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These major updates can take some time to reach your PC since Microsoft and PC manufacturers do extensive testing before fully rolling them out. Let’s find out what version you are running, and how you can skip the wait and get the most recent version if you do not already have it.

This update was codenamed “20H2” during its development process, as it was released in the second half of 2020. Its final build number is 19042.

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How to Understand Windows 10 Names and Numbers

How to Check for the Latest Version

First, open your Start menu, and then click the gear-shaped Settings icon or press the Windows+I to open the Settings app. Refer to below image:

In the Settings window, head to

System > About

and then scroll down toward the bottom to the Windows Specifications section.

A version number of “20H2” indicates you are using the October 2020 Update. This is the latest version. If you see a lower version number, you are using an older version.

In my example below, I am using “2004”, the May 2020 Update. See below image:

To find out information on Microsoft Windows releases, head to Microsoft’s Windows 10 release information web page. Just look at the most recent version under “Semi-Annual Channel” section.

How to Get the Latest Version

The best way to do this is by typing in Windows Update in the Cortana search bar in lower left-hand corner of your screen. Next, click on the Windows Update settings in upper left-hand corner of your screen. Now, click the Check for updates link for any updates and install per instructions. See following image where it says I am up to date, but there is an update available, the October 2020 update with an Download and Install link:

An alternate method is to visit Microsoft.com and hit the Update now button visible on the page. A small exe file, the Update Assistant tool, will be downloaded to your computer. Refer to below image:

When you run this file, you will see the main screen of the Update Assistant tool. It will let you know if you are running the latest version of the Windows and whether your PC is capable of running it.

Click on Update now to start the upgrade process.

The tool will run a few compatibility checks for your PC and disk space required for installing the update.

If all appears well, the Update Assistant will access the Microsoft servers.

It will offer you two options:

1. Upgrade this PC now
2. Create installation media

Now, chose the first option.

The main highlight of the whole upgrade process is that all your files will be safe and right where you left them. Also, if the method does not work, you can go back to a prior version of Windows 10 anytime.

The install will take some time and your PC will restart several times. The best you can do is wait till the upgrade is finished..

In the end, when the process is complete you could either choose to restart the PC right way or after some time to allow the changes to take effect.

Note: By running the Upgrade Assistant, you are forcing Windows 10 to upgrade itself. Even if there is a known problem with the update on your computer, Windows will ignore the problem and install the update anyway. Microsoft recommends you check for any known problems impacting your system first.

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Windows 10 has a lot of overlapping version numbers and names. For example, the October 2020 Update is also called 20H2, version 2009, and build 19042. It often seems like different teams at Microsoft are speaking different languages. Here’s how to understand Microsoft’s jargon.

This is for the Windows 10 operating system

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The Development Codename

Each Windows 10 Update starts with a development codename. In recent years, Microsoft has simplified these.

For example, Windows 10 20H2 became the October 2020 Update. It was named “20H2” because it was planned for release in the second half of 2020.

In theory, these development codenames are just that; for the Windows development process. In practice. Microsoft has a lot of documentation that uses them, referring to “20H2” and “20H1.” These modern development codenames are easy to understand.

These development codenames appear to be replacing the version numbers in Windows 10’s interface. To view your codename, go to:

Settings > System > About

Here you willl see the development codename presented as the “version” under Windows Specifications. Refer to below image:

Here is a list of Windows 10’s development codenames for 2020 and 2019 updates:

• 20H2 became the October 2020 update
• 20H1 became the May 2020 update
• 19H2 became the November 2019 update
• 19H1 became th May 2019 update

Prior to this, Microsoft named these updates “Redstone” and “Threshold”. Threshold 1″ was the original codename for Windows 10.

The Marketing Name

To make things “simpler” for us, Microsoft created official names for each update, designed to make them human-readable. When an update is near release, it gets one of these names.

In recent years, these names have been pretty self-explanatory. “October 2020 Update” and “May 2019 Update” are easy terms to understand. That’s the month and year the update was released. It’s more precise than “20H2” and “19H1.”

We call them “marketing names” because that’s what they originally were. Despite Microsoft presenting names like “October 2020 Update” as the official ones, many Microsoft documents use terms like “20H2” or “version 2009” instead. Even Windows 10 itself doesn’t use this name; perhaps because it’s created by the engineers and not the marketing department.

The Version Number

Windows 10 has version numbers which are different from the development codename. The Windows 10 October 2020 Update is technically Windows 10 version 2009. The first two digits represent the year and the last two digits represent the month.

Microsoft is confusing us. The version number seems to refer to the month the update was “finalized” (and perhaps released to Insiders), while the marketing name refers to the update the month was released.

Here’s a list of 2020 and 2019 version numbers for Windows 10 updates:

• The October 2020 Update is version 2009, which refers to September 2020
• The May 2020 Update is version 2004, which refers to April 2020
• The November 2019 Update is version 1909, which refers to September 2019
• The May 2019 Update is version 1903, which refers to March 2019

Microsoft is getting away from these numbers, with development names like “20H2” now shown in the System panel. Another way to view your version number is to launch the winver dialog:

• Press Windows+R
• Enter winver in the dialog box
• Press Enter or OK

See below image:

In older versions of Windows 10, these screens showed the version number instead.

The OS Build Number

Windows 10 also has operating system (OS) build numbers. During the Windows development process, each “build” of Windows 10 released has its own build number.

After much testing and bug-fixing, Microsoft settles on a final build that will be the stable version of the update. When the stable update is released, it still has this OS build number.

The October 2020 Update has the OS build number “19042.” Technically, the full build number is “10.0.19042,” to indicate that it’s a Windows 10 build. Only the last five digits change.

Also, there are minor build numbers; the stable version of 20H2 is initially “19042.572”, but the “572” number will increase as Microsoft issues minor patches for the update. Here is a list of 2020 and 2019 OS build numbers:

• 20H2 is build number 19042.
• 20H1 is build number 19041.
• 19H2 is build number 18363.
• 19H1 is build number 18362.

What Does All This Mean?

At times, it seems like different teams at Microsoft are speaking different languages. One document talks about 20H2, another talks about version 2009, a technical document refers to build 19042, and the marketing team talks up the October 2020 Update. They’re all talking about the same thing.

Now that you understand this, it’s easier to make sense of the mess of version numbers you see across Microsoft’s websites and within Windows 10 itself.

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Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Virtual Desktops, or Windows, are a handy way to juggle multiple workspaces in Windows 10. There are several ways to switch between virtual Desktops. Let us explore how to do this.

This is for Windows 10 operating system

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Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Press Windows+Tab to see the virtual Desktops you have available. You will see a screen called “Task View,” which shows thumbnails of each.

Now, release the Windows key and press the Tab or Arrow keys to highlight a Desktop, then press Enter to view that Desktop. You may also switch Desktops by using the Alt+Tab keys.

Also, you can press Windows+Ctrl+Left Arrow to display a lower number Desktop or Right Arrow to a higher number Desktop.

While in “Task View”, click the Plus “+” Tile or press Windows+Ctrl+D to add a new Desktop. Click the “X” in the upper corner to remove a Desktop.

If you want to exit the “Task View”, just hit Escape to return to your Desktop.

Use the Taskbar

Right-click on an empty area of the Taskbar, then click Show Task View Button. Ensure the option is checkmarked. Refer to below image:

Now, locate and click the Task View button in the Taskbar to view your Desktops. Next, click or tap the Desktop to which you want to switch. See below image:

You can click Task View at any time to manage your virtual Desktops.

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter, as mentioned below.

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I Would Like to Hear From From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the device, app and version that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.