Windows 10 October 2018 Update is the official name of Microsoft's next big OS release

Windows 10 Cloud Wallpaper
Windows 10 Cloud Wallpaper (Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft today announced that the name of its next Windows 10 feature update will be the "October 2018 Update," following the format set earlier this year with the April 2018 Update. It appears Microsoft isn't trying to name updates after themes anymore, which is great news as the theme-based names for updates used in the past never really made much sense.

From Microsoft Corporate Vice President Roanne Sones:

I'm pleased to announce that our next feature update to Windows will be called the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. With this update, we'll be bringing new features and enhancements to the nearly 700 million devices running Windows 10 that help people make the most of their time. We'll share more details about the update over the coming weeks.

The Windows 10 October 2018 Update will launch as version 1809, and I'm hearing from my sources that Microsoft is planning to internally sign-off on this release on September 25, with plans to begin rolling it out to the public in the first half of October. Assuming all goes according to plan, Microsoft will compile the build it intends to rollout to the public on September 14, and will test that with Insiders before signing off on the 25.

I'm also expecting there will be a day-one patch, as is often the case with all Windows 10 feature update releases, that will include a number of smaller fixes and enhancements that weren't fixed in time for sign-off. So, we're at the final stretch of development for Redstone 5, which means the focus is fast turning to the next feature update, codenamed 19H1 and expected in the spring of next year.

Are there any features you're hoping to see added to Windows 10 over the next year or so? Let us know in the comments.

Zac Bowden
Senior Editor

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter and Threads