Microsoft has announced that optional non-security updates will be released in the fourth week of the month starting in April 2023.

These cumulative updates are intended to test non-security fixes that are due to roll out to Windows systems during security updates scheduled for next month.

In enterprise environments, they help identify any issues that may affect Patch Tuesday deployments early and reduce the time needed to test the impact of updates.

“Starting in April 2023, we are now targeting optional non-security preview releases for the fourth week of the month,” said Chris Morrissey, senior director of Windows and Device Communications at Microsoft.

“We have found this to be the optimal time for us to release and for you to consume these updates.

“That’s two weeks after your last monthly security update and about two weeks before you’ll see these features part of the next mandatory cumulative update.”

Designed to replace C and D versions

The new preview builds replace the previous “C” and “D” builds released during the third and fourth weeks of the month.

“The term ‘optional non-security preview release’ now replaces what we used to call a ‘C’ or ‘D’ release to align with the current process”, Morrissey added.

“To access non-security optional preview builds, go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Optional Updates, select from the available updates, then click Download and Install.”

Monday, Microsoft announcement This Unified Update Platform (UUP) is now also available for all Windows 11, version 22H2 updates delivered through Configuration Manager and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

This announcement came after the company said a month earlier than quality updates would be delivered to on-premises Windows 11 22H2 devices via UUP.

On-premises UUP updates come with up to 30% smaller downloads for monthly quality and feature updates and incorporate cumulative and feature updates to require a single system reboot to update. ‘facility.