If You're Running This Early Windows 10 Version You Should Definitely Upgrade ASAP

by Brandon Hill — Monday, October 09, 2017, 11:59 AM EDT

Many people were dragged kicking and screaming to Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system, but by now, many people have settled into the operating system and its quirks. However, for those that haven't taken a proactive stance with regards to keeping the operating system up-to-date, take heed. Support for Windows 10 version 1511 ends tomorrow, October 10^th.

Windows 10 v1511 was the first major system upgrade for Windows 10, and was released in 2015 when it was simply called the November Update. Given that this build of Windows 10 is nearly two years old, Microsoft says that it can no longer support it, meaning that you won't receive new security updates or "quality updates".

To find out what version of Windows 10 you’re currently running, type “winver” into the search box from the taskbar (without the quotes).

My current build of Windows 10 is up-to-date, but yours might not be so lucky

Of course, this isn't the end of the world, as you can always upgrade to a newer build of Windows 10 like the Anniversary Update (v1607) or the Creators Update (v1703). And on October 17^th, Microsoft will release the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

We should note that while you can continue to use Windows 10 v1511, Microsoft strongly advises against staying on this older build:

Since you won’t continue to receive new security updates or other quality updates, it could become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you update to the latest version of Windows 10, as described above, and that you keep up to date thereafter. Microsoft offers complimentary support to ensure your device has the latest updates installed and requires that your device be up to date before assisting with other technical support issues.

Unless there's some weird software incompatibility that is preventing you to upgrade to a newer build of Windows 10, there's really no reason to stay behind anyway. So, upgrade now!

Looking forward, the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update introduces the Window Mixed Reality experience to customers, and new features like Timeline and OneDrive Files On-Demand. The major Windows 10 update will also bring with it a host of security enhancements, bug fixes and overall system performance tweaks to improve your user experience.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows 10, (nasdaq:msft), windows 10 fall creators update

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

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