It has been almost two weeks since Microsoft started the gradual rollout of its recent Windows 10 update. This will mark the second Windows 10 update for the year.
Unlike the previous update, October 2020 Windows 10 update serves more like a Service Pack with a few improvements and extra features.
However, there are a few exciting tweaks in this update that might convince you to check it out. The most significant overhaul from the recent update is the Start Menu.
What Rests in October 2020 Windows 10 ‘Start Menu’
The icons are no longer bound in mismatched colored tiles that make the menu look cluttered. Instead of following the chosen accent color, the tiles are now partially translucent and try to match the system theme selected.
This will result in a cleaner and minimalist looking Start Menu. This also makes the recently introduced new icons more colorful and eye-catching. There might not be any noticeable changes in functionality, but it makes searching for apps more accessible.
Customized Feature of Alt-Tab
Another significant change is the option to customize the Alt-Tab interface. Before the update, the user can only use the Alt-Tab function for cycling through Windows’s running desktop apps.
This can now be customized using the Settings app, which allows the user to include the open tabs in the web browser, Microsoft Edge. The user will also have the option to include all the open tabs or just a selected number of tabs.
Better Web Browsing with Windows 10
Speaking of Microsoft Edge, users who have not manually downloaded it will find out after the update that it will come preinstalled.
For those who already have Microsoft Edge installed, this recent Windows 10 update will include a new Edge to replace the old one. With better web browsing performance, new user interface, and icon, this proves to be an improvement compared to the older version.
How October 2020 Windows 10 Update Affected Gamers
The recent update also includes changes that will appeal to PC gamers. In October 2020 Windows 10, Microsoft has finally provided users the option to change the display’s refresh rate directly within the Windows 10 settings app.
This is better than figuring out how to access legacy Control Panel settings or install third-party AMD or NVIDIA apps. The refresh rate is a way to measure the number of times an image refreshes per second on-screen, measured in Hertz (Hz).
Generally speaking, faster refresh rates make gaming smoother and provide a better viewing experience. 144Hz Monitors, which have become a staple in PC gaming, will be much easier to set up after the update.
Notable Updates for Windows 10 Users
There are other minor improvements after the updates. One of them can be found added on the Settings App. Where Microsoft now allows additional copy buttons in System Properties.
This will enable the user to copy all the device information in one click, providing device details to customer support representatives more convenient. The next improvement is not minor, but it only affects a select few Windows 10 users.
These are the users who can switch from desktop mode to tablet mode. Before the update, Windows will need to detect that the user is detaching or flipping the keyboard to switch the laptop to tablet mode.
In this recent update, that no longer applies. Switching to tablet mode, Microsoft has also configured the desktop interface to be more touch-friendly.
This includes making the search bar more compact on the taskbar, having the apps on the taskbar more evenly spaced, and providing larger hitboxes in File Explorer. Tablet mode will also no longer notify the user if the device used is a 2-in-1 laptop.
Notification Easy Management
Another minor update involves the notifications popup. Microsoft decided to align the design with the upcoming Windows 10X operating system. With a cleaner design and new app logos, the user can easily manage and read through the notifications.
While the rollout for the latest October 2020 Windows 10 update might have started a few weeks ago. There is a chance that it might not yet be available to all Windows 10 users.
John Cable, Microsoft’s head of Windows Servicing and Delivery, announced that this 2020 update would help you connect more from your home. “People will rely on their computers more than ever with this latest Windows 10 technological development.We are restricting availability over the coming weeks to guarantee a secure download experience. Additionally, some devices might have a compatibility concern for which a protection hold is in place, so the update will not be provided before getting security assurance.”
Microsoft provides multiple ways to update Windows 10. Users who are already running the most recent May 2020 version of Windows 10 can use the Windows Update settings. Older versions can alternatively update using the Media Creation Tool and Update Assistant. If these options are not yet available, Windows Update should prompt an update in the coming weeks.
