One of the most criticized aspects of Microsoft's new operating system is that updates have become mandatory. Windows 10 Enterprise editions offer some flexibility, but standard consumer versions must receive hotfixes no matter what. After many complaints, Microsoft appears ready to address this with a new update pause system in Windows 10 Creators Update, which will delay installations for up to 35 days.
The first news about Windows 10 build 14997 that major tech portals caught was the Game Mode, which aims for higher performance in demanding situations like a cutting-edge title. However, that's not all that was seen in this build. Obviously, all changes in preliminary versions are subject to a final approval process. In other words, the presence of some features might change from one Insider cycle to the next, but that doesn't take away from the fact that someone on the other side is experimenting with new features, and a lot.
What's next on the list? A pause button for updates. Microsoft basically gave all the security explanations it had in its script, but multiple quality-control problems plus constant demands from the enterprise environment made the concept of a mandatory update blow up in the faces of Redmond and its users. A pause button that delays hotfix installation is a logical and inevitable response. Available information suggests the feature will be available with the Creators Update, which in turn implies installing another major update on top of the operating system.
Not a return to flexibility
Now, the new pause button does not mean a return to the flexibility found in other systems. First, Microsoft specifies that some critical updates, like Windows Defender definitions, will install anyway. Second, the pause has a maximum limit of 35 days. In theory, that should be enough for Microsoft to detect any errors in its hotfixes and prevent them from being pushed to the operating system. Personally, it's about time. The feature should have been available in Windows 10 since its launch.
