Windows Client Servicing Plans

Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft will offer four different servicing processes for receiving OS updates and product support.

For consumers and organizations that want to deploy and test new features and updates quickly, there will be two approaches to servicing the OS. These approaches will allow Microsoft to compete with other rapidly evolving mobile device platforms by allowing the continual evolution of Windows throughout its life cycle, rather than needing to wait years between major releases. The two approaches are the Windows Insider Program (WIP) and the Current branch for Consumers.

The WIP will permit expert consumers and organizations that want to evaluate the OS’s new features and user interface redesign to do so before formal release to consumers. Because such preview builds are released while under development, they are provided without support and are not intended for production use.

WIP members receive security updates and critical updates on the second Tuesday of every month (the same time as regular updates to currently supported Windows OSs and other software) and malware definition updates as they are released. WIP members will also periodically receive pre-production versions of new features as they are being developed and tested by the Windows development team. This is similar to the way updates have been delivered in Windows early adopter programs in the past, but membership in WIP is open to a wider audience than previous programs and will offer more granular delivery of new features. WIP releases will likely continue after Windows 10 is released.