Microsoft released security updates for all supported client versions of Windows yesterday. Only three non-Enterprise versions are supported right now: Windows 10 version 22H2, Windows 11 version 22H2 and the new Windows 11 version 23H2.
A quick check of KB5032190, the update for both Windows 11 versions, reveals, that it includes the Moment 4 features. Microsoft lists Copilot, Windows Spotlight, security and graphics changes on the support page.
If you follow releases of Microsoft updates, you may wonder why Microsoft highlights the update again here. Did not Microsoft release the Moment 4 update already in October 2023?
The chronology of the Moment 4 update for Windows 11
Microsoft announced in September 2023 that it would launch the Moment 4 update for Windows 11 on September 26, 2023. This was the first release of the update for the operating system.
At the time, it was part of the September 2023 preview update for Windows 11. Only users who installed the update manually or configured their devices to install optional updates automatically received it at the time.
Then came the October 2023 Patch Day update. Microsoft used the cumulative update for Windows 11 to deliver the Moment 4 update to Windows 11 devices.
The release of the preview update of the November 2023 security update included the Moment 4 update again.
Yesterday’s release of the November 2023 update for Windows 11 listed the features of the Moment 4 update again on the release notes page.
One has to wonder why the update is highlighted this often by Microsoft.
An explanation attempt
Microsoft did not post a news article or comment on this specifically. Clearly, most would have expected two announcements about the Moment 4 update integration in Windows 11.
First about the integration of the update in the preview update for the operating system, and second about the full integration for all users.
The repeat performance is puzzling. Martin Geuß over at the German site Dr. Windows suggests that it has something to do with Microsoft’s staged rollout approach to updates.
Many features are not enabled for all users at the same time. Microsoft controls features on the server side. It is an explanation that makes sense. Microsoft did not enable Moment 4 on all devices when it released the update in October 2023.
We don’t even know if the November 2023 announcement is the final one for the update.
This topic may not be of interest to average users of Windows. They don’t follow Microsoft announcements or have an interest in updates most of the time, unless they go wrong.
Users and admins interested in new features and when these features are introduced on their devices are, however. Many want to play around with features early or know exactly when something becomes available.
Microsoft’s recent approach to staged rollouts of features makes this nearly impossible.
Now You: what is your take on this development?