Windows 10: Microsoft to reveal what was in secret operating system updates

The relatively new operating system updates itself, so users might not even know that they have the update — let alone what’s in it

Terry Myerson silhouetted against the backdrop at the Windows 10 launch event (Microsoft)

Microsoft is to finally break its silence on what is contained in secret Windows 10 updates.

The company released the new operating system last year and has been regularly, and automatically, updating it ever since. But it has never said what exactly each of those updates contained.

Now the company will list — and also give a list of all of the historical updates that have already been applied.

Microsoft has launched a special “Windows 10 update history” page that collects information on all of the changes. The company has committed refreshing that page regularly, as new updates are released.

Some of the release notes reveal little about what has actually changed. Often they list simple that issue has been “fixed” in a particular application or service, without detailing what exactly that issue was or what has changed.

But it will mean that Microsoft should now disclose any major changes, meaning that people will be aware of what an update contains — or at least be able to check whether any strange behaviour came as a result of newly-downloaded software.

"After listening to feedback regarding the level of disclosure for Windows 10 updates, we decided to implement a new system for communicating updates to the operating system," a spokesperson said.

“Today we are rolling out the Windows 10 update history site, a hub for the release notes that will accompany each update and serve as a historical record of prior release notes."

Updates have come regularly since Windows 10 was released. Microsoft has moved towards treating “Windows as a service”, meaning in part that the software will be continually tweaked and updated rather than being released in major updates with all of their features listed.