Windows 10 May 2019 Update Gains 'Download and Install Now' Option For Updates
As we saw with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, forced updates can turn disastrous if critical bugs go undetected (or underreported) during the testing phase. With the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, that all changes with more granular controls over updates.
Those users who decided to download the Windows 10 May 2019 Update early using the Release Preview ring have reported – via reddit -- that they are now seeing new options within Windows Update. Under the usual "Check for updates" button is a new section labeled "Additional updates available". In the particular instance, you can see that there is a new Cumulative Update available for the May 2019 Update.
You can choose to ignore any updates that appears in this new section as long as your current version of Windows 10 isn't nearing its end-of-support date. In that case, the update will be installed automatically to ensure that your system is kept in a "supported" state. However, if you do agree to click the "Download and install now" link, you will be given up to 35 days to prolong the installation before it auto-installs. After all, if you click the link, you must want the update -- so we can't fault Microsoft for at least providing a grace period of over a month in this instance.
It should be noted that while the Windows 10 May 2019 Update is the first to receive these new user controls for updates, Microsoft will also retroactively add the feature to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update and the Windows 10 October 2018 Update later this month.
"We believe the steps we’ve taken provide Windows customers more choice and control on updates while continuing to enhance our focus on quality," said Microsoft back in April. "With a more robust and longer Release Preview and further investments in machine learning for both high-severity issue detection and our next generation of intelligent rollout, our goal is to provide the best, transparent Windows update experience."