News

Microsoft Releases May Patch Tuesday Windows 10 Updates

By Brian Burgess

Published May 11, 2021

It’s Patch Tuesday and Microsoft today is rolling out cumulative updates for Windows 10 1909, 2004, and 20H2. Note that support for version 1909 ends today.

It’s that time of the month again with Patch Tuesday And Microsoft today is releasing the fifth round of cumulative updates for the year with KB5003173 for Windows 10 version 2004 aka “May 2020 Update” and version 20H2 aka “October 2020 Update.” Here is a look at what’s included with this round of updates.

Note: Support for Windows 10 version 1909 ends today. This is the last cumulative update this version will receive unless you’re on the LTSC or running the Enterprise or Education SKU.

KB5003173 for Windows 10 20H2 and 2004

If you are running Windows 10 version 20H2 or version 2004 your update will come in the form of KB5003173 and will bump your build to 19042.985 and 19041.985 respectively.

The update includes the following highlights:

• Updates to improve security when Windows performs basic operations.
• Updates to improve Windows OLE (compound documents) security.
• Updates security for Bluetooth drivers.

And here is the servicing stack update info and key changes included with todays’ cumulative update:

• This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

• Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Windows Kernel, Windows Media, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform.

Get Your Windows Updates

If automatic updates enabled on your system, you should see the new updates in the next couple of days. Or you can stay on top of things by manually heading to Settings > Update & Security > Microsoft Update to check and download the updates.

Older versions of Windows 10 may receive updates today, too. Make sure to read the documentation on the Windows 10 Update History page for your version’s full release notes.

If something breaks after you install today’s updates and cannot be resolved by Microsoft’s documented workarounds you can roll them back.

For more on how to do that, makes sure to read our article: How to Uninstall a Windows 10 Cumulative Update.