Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) Available for Download

Finally the day has come. The much awaited Windows 10 Anniversary Update has been released to public by Microsoft and now available for download or upgrade. As we shared earlier, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be released to public on August 02, 2016 and today the update has become available.

This release is the final and stable version of Windows 10 Anniversary Update for public use. Its not any Insider Preview testing build, so you can install and use it on your primary computers without worries.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update is also referred as RedStone 1 (RS1) build as it comes via RS1 (RedStone1) development branch of Microsoft. Some people also consider it as Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows 10 as they considered previous Windows 10 November Update (TH2) as Service Pack 1 for Windows 10. A few people also referring it as Windows 10.2 or Windows 10 Version 1607.

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The build number of Windows 10 Anniversary Update is 10.0.14393. Its the same build which was recently released to Windows Insiders for testing.

Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14393 Available for Download

What’s New in Windows 10 Anniversary Update Build:

Windows 10 Anniversary Update comes with many new features, UI changes and enhancements such as:

  • Windows Hello biometric security support for apps and Microsoft Edge web browser
  • Lots of new features and improvements to Microsoft Edge web browser
  • Windows Ink integration
  • Cortana improvements
  • New features for Xbox
  • Natively run Bash on Ubuntu in Windows (More info)
  • Improvements and UI changes in Start Menu
  • Improvements and UI changes in Settings app
  • Improvements and UI changes in Action Center and Notifications (Check this)
  • Improvements to Virtual Desktop
  • Improvements to Tablet Mode
  • Improvements to Windows activation process with the addition of a new built-in activation troubleshooter (More info)
  • New dark theme addition (More info)
  • Modern XAML based UI in Credentials and UAC dialog box (How-to disable guide)
  • Improvements to modern (metro) apps
  • Some new updated icons
  • Several other UI changes

Only a few major changes are listed above. If you want to know about full changelog of this build, check out the changes list mentioned in following exclusive topic:

Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) Changelog

Also check out our exclusive review of Windows 10 Anniversary Update:

[Review] What’s New in Windows 10 Anniversary Update

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How to Download and Install Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

1. If you are already using Windows 10 Insider Preview build 14393, you don’t need to do anything. You are already using this anniversary update.

2. If you are using an older Windows 10 build such as RTM build 10240 or previous November Update build 10586, just check for new updates in Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update page and it’ll automatically detect the new update and will start downloading and installing it for you.

Check_For_Updates_Windows_10.png

The update will be labeled as “Feature update to Windows 10, version 1607“. If you can’t see the new update, wait for a few hours or a day and it’ll become available in your region soon. According to Microsoft, the update is being rolled out to Windows 10 PCs in phases starting with the newer machines first.

3. You can also click on “Learn more” link given on Windows Update page which will open a webpage on Microsoft website where you’ll find an online installer labeled as “Get the Anniversary Update now” to download and install Windows 10 Anniversary Update in your computer without waiting.

4. If you still can’t see Anniversary Update on Windows Update, check out following topic to fix this issue:

[Fix] Windows 10 Anniversary Update (RS1) Not Showing on Your Computer

5. If you are using older Windows version such as Windows 7/8/8.1, you can upgrade directly to Windows 10 Anniversary Update build using Windows 10 Media Creation Tool:

Download Windows 10 Offline ISO Files for Clean Install or Upgrade

6. You can also directly download full standalone offline ISO files of Windows 10 Anniversary Update build using following topic:

[Tip] Get Direct Download Links of Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft

The ISO files and Media Creation Tool will also come handy for people who want to perform clean installation of Windows 10 Anniversary Update build on their computers.

PS: This anniversary update will increase the version number of Windows 10 to version 1607. You can check the version number using winver command in RUN dialog box as mentioned here.

Published in: Windows 10

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. I am using Windows 10 Pro Build 10586.420 version 1511. I managed to stop Windows 10 July update, and I just want to upgrade to the newer version (anniversary update) without first updating my Laptop to the previous build. How can I do that?

  2. For once, a major update appears through windows update and not requiring me to do anything! Finally!

  3. Hello VG
    I have a laptop running Windows 7 Home Basic (OA MEA license). Can I upgrade it to the latest Windows 10 for free, that is using the same key?

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