Microsoft starts developing Windows 20H1 ahead of 19H2

The next Windows build should be 19H2, or the Windows 10 Spring Release 2019. However, in a surprising twist, Microsoft has reportedly started to roll a build of 20H1 out instead. Users in the Skip Ahead program, the most preliminary stage of the Insider Preview process, are now privy to this new OS version. Its current code-name suggests that it is scheduled for release in April 2020; nevertheless, it has made it to PCs before the same build that should arrive at the same time this year.

Therefore, it seems that Microsoft has shifted priority away from the 19xx version of Windows 10. However, Dona Sarkar and Brandon LeBlanc, who often represent Windows Experience for the company, insist that 19H2 will be released on time. 20H1 simply “require[s] a longer lead time”, which is why it is being tested beforehand.

Accordingly, those who are in the Skip Ahead group apparently get an even further insight into the Windows OS of the future than normal. On the other hand, 20H1 may be associated with numerous bugs at present. They include the risk of triggering green screen of death (GSOD, OR the new manifestation of a bugtest on Windows) in response to the launching of anti-cheat software. Night-light may still be unreliable on this build, as may Realtek SD card readers and X-Fi sound cards.

However, 20H1 may also fix the inability to log into WinRE with an admin account left in the last Skip Ahead build. In addition, new apps may have a better chance of showing up in search results properly, PCs may return from Hibernate properly again, and users can now import or export distros using the wsl.exe interface.