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Windows IT Pro Blog
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What’s new for IT pros in Windows 10, version 1803

Caitlin Fitzgerald's avatar
Apr 30, 2018

Windows 10, version 1803 (also known as the Windows 10 April 2018 Update) is now available for download from Visual Studio Subscriptions (formerly MSDN Subscriptions) and the Software Download Center (via Update Assistant or the Media Creation Tool). It is also available through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Windows Update for Business—and will begin rolling out globally through Windows Update on May 8th.

What's new for IT?

Windows 10, version 1803 is the fifth feature update for Windows 10, offering IT pros built-in intelligent security and advanced capabilities that help simplify device management and drive IT cost savings. Here's a quick rundown of what's new and what's changed since the last update:

Security

  • Windows Hello for Business – Supports FIDO 2.0 authentication for Azure AD-joined devices and offers strong portable credentials for shared devices using FIDO 2.0 security keys. Enhanced security by enabling users to set up Windows Hello from the lock screen and enabling PIN on reboot. Easier setup for Dynamic Lock, and actionable alerts in Windows Defender Security Center when Dynamic Lock stops working (for instance, if Bluetooth is turned off). Support for S/MIME for third-party lifecycle management solutions.
  • Windows Defender System Guard – Detects unauthorized code injection and exploits, elevation of privilege, and tampering with system firmware.
  • Windows Information Protection – Supports Files on Demand and allows file encryption while a file is open in another app.
  • Windows 10 in S Mode – Allows customers to disable passwords completely and go password-less with Windows Hello asymmetric credentials.

Deployment and management

  • Windows Analytics – Provides greater visibility into Delivery Optimization for updates, including how many devices are enabled and the bandwidth savings you've achieved. Offers new Device Health scenarios for logon health and app reliability. Provides insight into device protection against Meltdown and Spectre[i].
  • Windows as a service – Language packs, features on demand, and other components are automatically managed via the Unified Update Platform (UUP). Using express update delivery for feature updates and quality updates reduces the download size.
  • Windows Autopilot – New enrollment status page enables you to ensure your configurations are complete prior to users having access to the desktop. Windows Autopilot is now supported by Surface, Lenovo, and Dell with support from other OEM partners (such as HP, Toshiba, Panasonic, and Fujitsu) coming soon.
  • Subscription activation – Windows 10 virtual machines can be configured to inherit activation from their Windows 10 host.
  • Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) – New DISM command-line options have been added to help you manage feature updates, including the length of the OS uninstall period.
  • Windows Update for Business – Provides greater control over updates, with the ability to pause and uninstall problematic updates using Microsoft Intune.
  • Shared devices (kiosk mode) – Simplified deployment and management of locked-down, single and multi-app devices so that users can focus on the task at hand, with only the apps you need. New Kiosk Browser app offers a tailored browsing experience for interactive web apps or digital signage.
  • Windows 10 in S Mode – Windows 10 S has been replaced with Windows 10 in S Mode. Anyone can now purchase a new Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro PC with S Mode enabled and you can deploy Windows 10 Enterprise in S Mode by assigning a Windows 10 Enterprise license to the device.
  • Co-management – New policies in Microsoft Intune and System Center Configuration Manager to enable hybrid Azure AD-joined authentication. New MDMWinsOverGP policy enable an easier transition to modern, cloud-based management.
  • Mobile device management – Over 150 new policies and settings.
  • Windows SetupRun your own custom actions or scripts in parallel with Windows Setup. Windows Setup will migrate your scripts to the next feature update so you only need to add them once. New command-line options enable you to run a script if a user rolls back to a previous version of Windows and control BitLocker during the upgrade process.
  • Microsoft Store for Business – Admins can now create custom collections of apps (app groups/categories) in the private store. The time needed to make changes to the private store to occur is dramatically shortened. Desktop Bridge apps no longer require Microsoft approval when submitted as a line of business (LOB) app.
  • Privacy, trust, and control – Data delete allows a user to trigger the deletion of their Windows diagnostic data from any Windows device. Use the diagnostic viewer to see your own diagnostic data in real-time.

Productivity

  • Timeline – Easily jump back in time up to 30 days to continue where you left off.
  • Enterprise search in Windows – Quickly search documents shared by people, or in e-mails, and preview attachments.
  • Microsoft EdgeMicrosoft Edge for iOS and Android creates one continuous browsing experience for Windows 10 users across their devices.
  • Files On-Demand – Users can be productive after first logon by using Files On-Demand. See the status of a document by looking at the new status icons in Windows Explorer.
  • Windows Ink – Improved gestures, shape recognition, and integration with Microsoft Teams.
  • 3D in Windows 10 – Add dimension to Office with fully-rotatable 360-degree models, morphing transitions, and animations.

What action should I take today?

As announced by John Cable this morning, today marks the start of the 18-month servicing timeline for this Semi-Annual Channel release. We recommend that you test the newest features and functionality now—with a targeted deployment—in preparation for broad deployment to the devices in your organization in the weeks to come.

If you have not yet deployed Windows 10 and are looking to test this latest release for your organization, you can download the Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation from the Microsoft Evaluation Center.

To help you better plan for and deploy this release, we have also updated the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 10 and published a draft of the Security baseline for Windows 10, version 1803.

When will Windows 10, version 1803 be available on the Volume Licensing Service Center?

Volume License customers will be able to download Windows 10, version 1803 from the Volume Licensing Service Center on May 7, 2018.

Where can I learn more about what's new in this update?

Register today for a one-hour “What's new in Windows 10, version 1803 for IT pros” webcast hosted by Pieter Wigleven and Nathan Mercer, Senior Product Marketing Managers with the Windows Commercial team.

On Tuesday, May 22nd, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT), Pieter and Nathan will walk you through the latest features for configuring, deploying, and managing Windows 10 devices, as well as the security capabilities that can help you protect your data and devices end-to-end. There's a lot to cover in just one hour so, instead of our usual live Q&A at the end, we'll be hosting a 24-hour Windows 10 IT Pro Ask Microsoft Anything (AMA) event on Tech Community that will start immediately following the conclusion of the live webcast and end at 11:00 a.m. PT the following day, May 23rd.

Since the 24-hour Windows 10 IT Pro AMA is a departure from our typical one-hour AMA format, here's an explanation of how it will work:

  • The Windows 10 AMA space on Tech Community will open for a 24-hour window beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT on May 22nd.
  • You can post your questions anytime during the 24-hour window. To submit a question, simply click Start a new conversation—and do this for each new question.
  • Engineering and members of the product teams will be answering your questions live from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT on May 22nd, and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PT on May 23rd. (They may also answer questions during other hours.)
  • At the end of the AMA, the Windows 10 AMA space will close and become a read-only resource. We will post a final recap within 72 hours.

To participate in the AMA, you must be a member of the Microsoft Tech Community. If you're not already a member, it only takes a minute to sign up:

  1. Visit https://techcommunity.microsoft.com.
  2. Click Sign In in the top right corner and sign up using your Microsoft account.
  3. Join the Windows 10 community, and any others you like. (Click See all for the full list.)
  4. Accept the terms and click Register.

You can also watch a quick recap of what's new in this video:

 

What is the Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation?

The Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation is a free, 90-day evaluation of Windows 10 Enterprise designed for IT professionals interested in testing Windows 10 Enterprise on behalf of their organization. We do not recommend that you install this evaluation if you are not an IT professional or are not professionally managing corporate networks or devices.

If you haven't yet migrated to Windows 10, you can also take advantage of Upgrade Readiness, a free Windows Analytics service that helps you streamline and accelerate the Windows upgrade process by identifying compatibility issues that can block an upgrade and proactively suggesting fixes. You can use Upgrade Readiness standalone or integrate it with System Center Configuration Manager.

Additional resources

For more information on configuring and deploying updates, please see the following resources:

For more information on the latest features for end users, see What's new in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update.

To see a summary of the latest documentation updates, see What's new in Windows 10, version 1803 IT pro content on Docs.

For information on what's new for developers, see What's New in Windows 10 for developers, build 17134. For a full list of new namespaces added to the Windows SDK, see New APIs in Windows 10, build 17134. And, for a list of features and functionality that have been removed from Windows 10, or might be removed in future releases, see Features removed or planned for replacement starting with Windows 10, version 1803.

  


Continue the conversation. Find best practices. Bookmark the Windows 10 Tech Community.

Looking for support? Visit the Windows 10 IT pro forums.


[i] On Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10

Updated May 21, 2018
Version 8.0