GUIDE: Where to find information about Windows Updates and release information (any version)
WINDOWS RELEASE HEALTH DASHBOARD Contains all links below, except for old OSes, Azure Stack HCI, Microcode Updates, Flight hub, Servicing Stack Updates https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/ RESOLVED AND KNOWN ISSUES All OS, except Azure Stack HCI OS Expand categories on the drop-down menu left hand side https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/windows-message-center RELEASE INFORMATION + SUPPORT LIFECYCLE Gives an overview about Windows 10 release dates and end of support / supported OS versions and recommended versions. Azure Stack HCI OS https://docs.microsoft.com/azure-stack/hci/release-information Windows Server 2016 - 2022 LTSC, Windows Version version xxxx SAC https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/windows-server-release-info Windows 11 GAC (+ former SAC) https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information Windows 10 GAC (+ former SAC) https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/release-information Windows 10 2015 - 2021 LTSC https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/whats-new/ltsc/ INSIDER FLIGHT HUB Announces changes for Windows 10 / 11 Insider builds Dev, Beta and release preview builds and patches as well as Windows Feature Pack Updates descriptions (excluding Windows Server Insider and ADK) https://docs.microsoft.com/windows-insider/flight-hub/ INTEL MICROCODE UPDATES Tables top to bottom contains the higher level of security / number of mitigations. Means the bottom table has the highest level of protection / mitigation. These are partly part of the OS depending on the version; therefore, some Windows versions are not listed. If you use WSUS consider importing these updates. Unfortunately they are not part of any product category, even though they are security releated. https://support.microsoft.com/topic/summary-of-intel-microcode-updates-08c99af2-075a-4e16-1ef1-5f6e4d8637c4 Microsoft is making available Intel-validated microcode updates that are related to Spectre Variant 2 (CVE 2017-5715 [“Branch Target Injection”]). Spectre Variant 3a (CVE-2018-3640: "Rogue System Register Read (RSRE)") Spectre Variant 4 (CVE-2018-3639: "Speculative Store Bypass (SSB)"), and L1TF (CVE-2018-3620, CVE-2018-3646: "L1 Terminal Fault"). The following table lists specific Microsoft Knowledge Base articles by Windows version. The article contains links to the available Intel microcode updates by CPU. KB number and description Windows version Source KB4589212: Intel microcode updates Windows 10, version 2004 and 20H2, and Windows Server, version 2004 and 20H2 Microsoft Update Catalog KB4497165 Intel microcode updates Windows 10, version 1903 and 1909, Windows Server, version 1903 and 1909 Microsoft Update Catalog KB4494174 Intel microcode updates Windows 10, version 1809, Windows Server 2019 Microsoft Update Catalog KB4494451 Intel microcode updates Windows 10, version 1803, and Windows Server, version 1803 Microsoft Update Catalog KB4494452 Intel microcode updates Windows 10, version 1709, and Windows Server 2016, version 1709 Microsoft Update Catalog KB4494453 Intel microcode updates Windows 10, version 1703 Microsoft Update Catalog KB4494175 Intel microcode updates Windows 10, version 1607, and Windows Server 2016 Microsoft Update Catalog KB4494454 Intel microcode updates Windows 10 (RTM) Microsoft Update Catalog SERVICING STACK UPDATES These special updates for maintain the servicing stack of Windows (which is responsible for updates, dism, adding and removing features etc) have to be installed before any regular update. Currently Windows 10 1909, Windows Server 2019 and Azure Stack HCI OS have combined CUs, means the SSU is already integrated and will care for the correct installation order. Windows Client OS, Windows Server, Azure Stack HCI OS 21H2 and later version have integrated SSU into the CU. Possibly this will be backported to earlier versions. For https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/ADV990001 WINDOWS UPDATE HISTORY aka Release Notes Check the KBs, release date, changes, known issues and remediations of Windows Updates per Windows Version AZURE STACK HCI OS Azure Stack HCI OS 21H2 (release + public preview) Build 20348 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/release-notes-for-azure-stack-hci-version-21h2-5c5e6adf-e006-4a29-be22-f6faeff90173 Azure Stack HCI OS 20H2 Build 17784 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/release-notes-for-azure-stack-hci-64c79b7f-d536-015d-b8dd-575f01090efd WINDOWS SERVER LTSC Windows Server 2022 LTSC build 20348, internal 21H2 http://support.microsoft.com/help/5005454 Windows Server 2019 LTSC build 17763, internal 1809 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-and-windows-server-2019-update-history-725fc2e1-4443-6831-a5ca-51ff5cbcb059 Windows Server 2016 LTSC build 14393, internal 1607 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-and-windows-server-2016-update-history-4acfbc84-a290-1b54-536a-1c0430e9f3fd Windows Server 2012 R2 / 2012 R2 Update 1 KB2919355 / ESU (soon) build 6.3.9200 / build 6.3.9600 Mind that you cannot install updates after KB2919355 if this update and prerequisites are not installed https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-8-1-and-windows-server-2012-r2-update-history-47d81dd2-6804-b6ae-4112-20089467c7a6 Windows Server 2012 + ESU (soon) build 6.2.9200 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-server-2012-update-history-abfb9afd-2ebf-1c19-4224-ad86f8741edd Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) + ESU build 6.1.7601 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-7-sp1-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-update-history-720c2590-fd58-26ba-16cc-6d8f3b547599 Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) build 6.0.6002 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/updateverlauf-f%C3%BCr-windows-server-2008-sp2-9197740a-7430-f69f-19ff-4998a4e8b25b WINDOWS SERVER VERSION, GAC (+ former SAC) This special core version of Windows Server, eligble to use with active Software Assurance for Windows Server started with 1709 ends with 20H2. For Update history check the Windows 10 release notes. I have not listed them specifically due to their very specific usecase and probably low installation count. WINDOWS OS LTSC (Long-Term Support Channel) Windows 10 21H2 LTSC https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-857b8ccb-71e4-49e5-b3f6-7073197d98fb (link unconfirmed to apply for LTSC as of 13.01.2022) Windows 10 1809 LTSC Build 17763 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-and-windows-server-2019-update-history-725fc2e1-4443-6831-a5ca-51ff5cbcb059 Windows 10 1607 LTSC Build 14393 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-and-windows-server-2016-update-history-4acfbc84-a290-1b54-536a-1c0430e9f3fd Windows 10 1507 LTSC Build 10240 Note that this build has no sub build numbers yet so you cannot recognize in the version which update / CU is installed https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-93345c32-4ae1-6d1c-f885-6c0b718adf3b WINDOWS OS, SAC (naming till 21H1), GAC (General Availability Channel, naming for 21H2 and later) Windows 11 version 21H2 Build 22000 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-11-update-history-a19cd327-b57f-44b9-84e0-26ced7109ba9 Windows 10 version 21H2 Build 19044 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-857b8ccb-71e4-49e5-b3f6-7073197d98fb Windows 10 version 21H1 Build 19043 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-1b6aac92-bf01-42b5-b158-f80c6d93eb11 Windows 10 version 20H2 Build 19042 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-7dd3071a-3906-fa2c-c342-f7f86728a6e3 Windows 10 version 2004 Build 19041 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-24ea91f4-36e7-d8fd-0ddb-d79d9d0cdbda Windows 10 version 1909 Build 18363 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-53c270dc-954f-41f7-7ced-488578904dfe Windows 10 version 1903 Build 18362 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-e6058e7c-4116-38f1-b984-4fcacfba5e5d Windows 10 version 1809 Build 17763 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-and-windows-server-2019-update-history-725fc2e1-4443-6831-a5ca-51ff5cbcb059 Windows 10 version 1803 Build 17134 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-0d8c2da6-3dba-66e4-2ef2-059192bf7869 Windows 10 version 1709 Build 16299 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-and-windows-server-update-history-8e779ac1-e840-d3b8-524e-91037bf7645a Windows 10 version 1703 Build 15063 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-83aa43c0-82e0-92d8-1580-10642c9ed612 Windows 10 version 1607 Build 14393 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-and-windows-server-2016-update-history-4acfbc84-a290-1b54-536a-1c0430e9f3fd Windows 10 version 1511 Build 10586 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-2ad7900f-882c-1dfc-f9d7-82b7ca162010 Windows 10 version 1507 Build 10240 Note that this build has no sub build numbers yet so you cannot recognize in the version which update / CU is installed https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-10-update-history-93345c32-4ae1-6d1c-f885-6c0b718adf3b Windows 8.1 + 8.1 Update 1 KB2919355 build 6.3.9200 / 6.3.9600 Mind that you cannot install updates after KB2919355 if this update and prerequisites are not installed https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-8-1-and-windows-server-2012-r2-update-history-47d81dd2-6804-b6ae-4112-20089467c7a6 Windows 8.0 build 6.2 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-server-2012-update-history-abfb9afd-2ebf-1c19-4224-ad86f8741edd Windows 7.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1) build 6.1.7601 https://support.microsoft.com/topic/windows-7-sp1-and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-update-history-720c2590-fd58-26ba-16cc-6d8f3b547599 Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) build 6.0.6002 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/windows-server-2008-sp2-update-history-9197740a-7430-f69f-19ff-4998a4e8b25b HISTORY: 13.01.2022 - added release information for Azure Stack HCI, Windows 10 LTSC, corrections on naming conventions of SAC, GAC, LTSC 13.12.2021 - corrected some links that directly linked to en-us instead of the generic page which would redirect to localized pages, - added Windows 10 21H2 SAC link. - honoured naming convention branch > channel. - added General availability channel which is the successor of the SAC (Semi Annual Channel starting with 21H2 releases. 03.11.2021 - Added information for Windows 11 21H1 13.10.2021 - Added information to Azure Stack HCI 21H2 release, other docs still not mention it except update history 07.10.2021 - Added Intel Microcode updates for all available threats and versions 07.10.2021 - Updated one available link for Windows 11. Update histories for 21H2 version W10/W11 are still missing 17.09.2021 - fixed some links pointing to a specific language 17.09.2021 - formatting, seperating LTSC from SAC for Windows 10, added SSUs 17.09.2021 - initial version
