Microsoft has announced new policies to manage Windows 11 updates. They are intended for companies and organizations and are intended to provide them with a Greater control of cumulative updates and gradual rollout of features in the operating system.
Windows 11 updates are a frequent source of controversy. They are necessary to keep the operating system up to date, and Microsoft constantly fixes known bugs in each of them. The problem is that -without intending to- cause others randomly in a snowball from which it seems difficult to get out. And it is that Windows is today a gigantic ecosystem of software and hardware that must be supported, with many legacy components that have been in the system for two decades.
Microsoft routinely ships non-security updates for Windows 10 and 11 every fourth week of the month. These versions contain bug fixes, new features, enhancements, and other changes. Optional updates also include gradual feature rollouts, a method Microsoft uses to provide “the best experiences throughout the year through proven and controllable mechanisms”. But it is not always possible and it is convenient to adopt specific policies.
New policy for Windows 11 updates
Microsoft has added the new policy “Enable optional updates“, with the goal that IT administrators can ensure that their organizations get the new features correctly with the right level of control. Its application will allow companies to choose one of the next three options To manage optional updates and rolling feature rollouts:
- Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs), Select this option for devices to get the latest optional non-security updates, including rolling feature rollouts. There are no changes to the feature upgrade offer.
- Automatically receive optional updates. Select this option to have devices get only the latest optional non-security updates. They will not automatically receive gradual feature rollouts.
- Users can select which optional updates to receive. Select this option to allow users to set their own preferences regarding optional non-security updates.
Microsoft says the change won’t affect customers until administrators configure or disable the policy. Since the rest of them can be managed in Windows Group Policies, an essential tool for IT administrators They provide a centralized way to manage and enforce all types of operating system, application, and user settings in an Active Directory environment. These settings are maintained by a domain controller and cannot be overridden by individual client computers.
