Windows 10 has actually been Windows 15 or even an even higher version number. That Windows keeps calling it 10? Well. All different versions do not improve clarity. Which ‘build’ do you have and which updates are actually installed …?
“Windows as a service.” Microsoft was and is only a little proud of it. For users of the operating system, it is often a headache file. Because there are now many versions of Windows 10 in circulation. A part is still supported, a part no more. Windows ’10’ therefore no longer exists, that is simply a marketing name. It is not unwise to occasionally check which version of Windows you are actually running, especially if you actively skip certain upgrade rounds in a year. Are you still sitting on the ‘1803’, which is no longer provided with security updates, or already safe on ‘1903’ or even the most recent ‘1909’ at the time of writing? And are you provided with the latest patches for the version you use? The latter can be seen by the build number, another number added to the Windows 10 naming; see it as a combination of first and last names.
To find out which version of Windows is currently running for you, launch the Settings app via the Start menu. Click on it System and then Info. At the bottom of the now opened panel you will find the de Edition of your Windows 10 version (for example Pro, Education and so on), with it below Version the ‘actual’ version number, for example 1903. The Build of the operating system – think of something like 18362.592 – is another refinement of that. That build number changes with every update.
To check what the most current build is, you pay a visit to this page from Microsoft, with the update history for each version of Windows 10. Click in the column on the left on your version number and scroll down. On the left you will see the most recent update for that version, including the build number. For example, if you are behind one ‘build’, that is no drama. Usually you have opted for an update schedule where you do get the first round of safety patches, but not the second round of ‘qualitative’ updates (in that case they are included in that one update, together with the safety patches). Something many business users do. If you are lagging behind several builds, that is not really useful.
Check the update history
If you are considerably behind in terms of build, it is time to check whether all the ever released updates have been installed on your system. To do this, first go back to the category panel in the Settings app (top left arrow) and then click Update and security. Click on the bottom right Windows update on History of updates. You should actually see a list of only completed installations there. Except perhaps if you have just upgraded to a new version, then there may not be anything. But if that upgrade was arranged more than a month ago and there is no completed update yet, or if one or more updates have failed, then something is wrong. In that case you have to figure out why the update mechanism no longer works. This can be a cross-virus virus scanner, a damaged system component or something else. A first step towards a solution is – after clicking on the back arrow in the top left corner – in the left column (still in the category Update and security) on Resolving problems to click. Then click on the right under the header To work on Windows update and then on Run troubleshooter. Hopefully this wizard helps get Windows update working again!
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