You now have data about the version of Windows 10, the edition, compilation and system type. Let’s understand how to translate these data. Continue to read and understand what are the numbers you see and what is the OS compilation.
How to “translate” the version number of Windows 10 into major updates
There will not be Windows 11, Windows 12 and so on, as we had Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 in the past. Microsoft continues to update Windows 10 and, in addition to the traditional security updates, it also launches two major updates each year. They have a specific version number, a marketing name (like the Creators Update), and come with new apps, features, and important changes. These are what were the Windows XP Service Packs back in the past. As a result, Windows 10 has evolved a lot since it was launched for the first time in July 2015. If you know your version number of Windows 10, here’s how it translates into major updates:
• 1507 – the original version of Windows 10, launched in July 2015, with the code name Threshold 1.
• 1511 – the first major update for Windows 10, launched in November 2015, with the code name Threshold 2. The marketing name is November Update.
• 1607 – the second major update, called Anniversary Update for Windows 10. It was launched in July 2016 and the code name is Redstone 1.
• 1703 – the third major upgrade, called Creators Update for Windows 10. It was launched in April 2017 and has the Redstone 2 code name.
• 1709 – the fourth update, called the Fall Creators Update for Windows 10. It was launched in October 2017 and has the Redstone 3 code name.
• 1803 – the fifth major update for Windows 10, called April 2018 Creators Update. It had the Redstone 4 code name and it was launched in April 2018.
• 1809 – The sixth major upgrade for Windows 10, called Creatures 2018 Update. It had the Redstone 5 code name and it was launched in October 2018.
• 1903 – Seventh Major Update for Windows 10. It is called the May 2019 Update for Windows 10 and has the code name 19H1. “19” comes from the year when the update was released, and “H1” comes from the first update of the year.
• A larger number of 1903 – the eighth major update for Windows 10, codenamed 19H2. It is due to be launched in October 2019. No details at this time. It will most likely be named October 2019 Update for Windows 10.
Windows editions 10. What’s different about each other?
You can have one of the following editions of Windows 10 on your computer or device:
• Home – the most common edition of Windows 10. It is designed for home users and many devices sold in stores have this version. Includes only facilities and apps for home users. It does not include business tools such as BitLocker encryption or virtualization. A significant drawback is that Windows 10 Home users can not postpone updates for Windows 10, just like users of other editions.
• Pro – this version adds features for companies and more technical users. It also gives users the ability to postpone the major Windows updates they receive through Windows Update.
• Enterprise – Provides all the features in Windows 10 Pro and extra things that help network administrators and businesses.
You can also have one of these editions: Enterprise LTSC, Education, For Education, Pro for Workstations, S, IoT, Mobile or Mobile Enterprise.
What is the SO Version or the OS Compilation?
The number next to the SO Version or OS Compilation field changes with every update installed for Windows 10. To help you understand, take the following scenario:
When Windows 10 October 2018 Update was released, the operating system version was 1809 and the value for OS compilation was 17763.1. After the first update for Windows 10, the SO Version or Compilation OS field changed to 17763.55, while the version remained the same. After the latest update installed for Windows 10 in March 2019, the SO Version or Compiling OS field is 17763.379.
The value for SO Version or OS Compilation is the same: build version number compiled by Microsoft programmers for Windows 10. This information is useful for troubleshooting. For example, if you have a problem and discuss it with a Microsoft Technical Support Engineer or the company you work for, if you communicate the value of this field, the person who helps you quickly understand which version of Windows 10 you have and which updates are necessary to solve the problem. You can learn more about the evolution of Compiling OS numbers in Windows 10 release information.