Microsoft today made Windows 10 version 21H1 available for commercial pre-release validation. This means that interested customers can now upgrade devices currently running Windows 10, version 2004 or version 20H2 using an enablement package.
Microsoft says that this will allow them to see how quickly devices update from version 2004 or 20H2 to version 21H1, and how little downtime is involved. In fact, all three versions share the same set of system files, receive the same cumulative updates, so the only difference is the number of unblocked features with the enablement package.
Windows 10, version 21H1 is now available through all standard redistribution channels, include Windows Update, WSUS, Azure Marketplace, etc. You can also download an ISO file to install Windows 10 build 21H1 from scratch.
Devices that are configured to receive updates from the Release Preview channel can use the "Check for updates" option in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to directly install version 21H1.
As for new features to test, the list is really small:
What's new in Windows 10 version 21H1
There is an option to select the default external camera for Windows Hello, Windows Defender Application Guard and Windows Management Instrumentation improvements. Everything else are just general fixes that are already available for older releases with cumulative updates.
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