Although the end of support date for Windows 10 is rapidly approaching (Microsoft will release the latest security patches on October 14, 2025), the Redmond company has prepared for the many users who still rely on this operating system, a ‘important news. Starting from April 2024, the Windows 10 updates they can become up to 40% less heavy. Thanks to the significant reduction of dimensions of the installation packages, which is directly inspired by the work already done in the case of Windows 11.
How to reduce the size of Windows updates
Microsoft technicians remind you that Windows 10 and Windows 11 updates are modular. This means that regardless of your current system configuration, you only need thequalitative update latest to update your computer. THE packages of update cumulative they are called this precisely because they integrate not only the patches released during the current month but also those distributed on previous dates.
The downside is that users may have to deal with update packages that are particularly heavy to download. Who uses slow connections, you may have to wait a long time to download and install the various cumulative packages. Have one available bandwidth reduced, it can prove to be a problem in many situations.
With the release of Windows 11Microsoft has significantly improved the routine operating system update. There differential compression allows you to send to client systems only the parts of code that have changed and therefore actually require corrective action.
However, Microsoft has refined this mechanism by generating both forward and backward update information. Appropriate compact packages they are optimized for any source-destination file pair. Difference information is distributed to individual devices that require the update.
Furthermore, when you make changes to the system code, the virtual addresses some functions may change. Microsoft has implemented an algorithm that dynamically maps these changes, so that even small changes don’t result in the need to update thousands of other features. This reduces the complexity and overall size of update packages.
Make Windows 10 updates lighter
With the publication of a support document at the end of April 2024, Microsoft announces that it has brought the same innovations introduced in Windows 11 to Windows 10. The direct consequence is a marked reduction in package sizes updates for Windows 10 that become easier to download and manage.
To benefit from the new features and immediately experience receiving the slimmer update packages, Microsoft suggests installing the KB5028244 update and applying the Servicing Stack Update (SSU) KB5031539 can be downloaded from here.
At this point, you can move on to installing theoptional update KB5036979 which allows you to enable the new functionality. In Windows Update, the update is in the screen that appears as you type Check for updates in the Windows 10 search box then referring to the section Optional quality upgrade available.
On devices Windows 10 22H2, after installing the enabling update KB5036979, the size of the April 9, 2024 cumulative package KB5036892 will go from 830 MB to just 650 MB. A “clean break” that allows you to simplify the update of Windows 10 systems, while waiting for hotpatching which will truly revolutionize the updating of systems throughhot application of patches.
Opening image credit: Copilot Designer.