Windows 10 version 21H1 could turn into a minor update

There are plenty of rumors around the upcoming release of Windows 10. Version 21H1, which will be a successor to the current October 2020 Update release (20H2), has a bit of an unclear future.

Currently, Microsoft is releasing one big major update in the first half of the year, and a minor one in the second half of the year. The latter is actually an enablement package, which just turns on a few new features that have already landed into the OS with cumulative updates prior to the release dates. This was used for Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909, and version 2004 and 20H2.

We previously that Microsoft might skip 21H1 completely, and shift their focus to Windows 10X instead. Deskmodder reports that these rumors may be only partially true.

Instead of cancelling 21H1, Microsoft may invert the release queue, and make a minor update releases prior to the bigger one.

If the above is true, then Microsoft will issue two minor releases in a row, delivering an enablement package to Beta channel Insiders in a couple of months. Then in Autumn 2021, it will release Windows 10 version 21H2 from the Cobalt branch with a new user interface.

The Dev channel now hosts builds from the FE_RELEASE branch, so the above scenario can be something that reflects Microsoft's current activity.