Last week, Microsoft unveiled a new, more simplified naming scheme for Windows updates on Windows 11 which were designed to make it clearer to end users what Windows Update was actually downloading and installing. Now, the company has backtracked on some of the naming changes, saying it will address feedback from customers.
In the original announcement, Microsoft said it was omitting unnecessary details such as date prefixes and platform architecture, instead prioritizing simplified titles such as "Security Update" or "Driver Update" with a the version number instead. Feedback from users online suggested that this actually made it more confusing, as now it wasn't clear how new the update even was.
"We are actively listening to your feedback and planning further improvements. Thank you for helping us create a better user experience" says the Microsoft blog post in an updated published just a couple of days after the original announcement was made. It sounds like the company is going to address these criticisms and ensure things like the date are included in update names still.
The new naming scheme applies to OS security and preview updates, .NET framework updates, driver updates, and Visual Studio updates. Below is the formatting for the new update naming scheme, before additional changes are made.
Update Type |
Simplified Title |
|---|---|
Monthly security updates |
Security Update (KB5034123) (26100.4747) |
Monthly preview non-security updates |
Preview Update (KB5062660) (26100.4770) |
.NET Framework security updates |
.NET Framework Security Update (KB5056579) |
.NET Framework non-security updates |
.NET Framework Preview Update (KB5056579) |
Driver updates |
Logitech Driver Update (123.331.1.0) |
Microsoft began rolling out the new naming scheme automatically last week, without gathering feedback first from Insiders. This is another example of Microsoft rushing to make a change in production that doesn't immediately go down well with the end users that actually use the products.
The good news is Microsoft is going to address the biggest concerns users have with the new naming scheme, ensuring that update titles are as accurate as possible while also being more simplified going forward.
What is Microsoft changing about the Windows update naming scheme?
Microsoft is simplifying the name of updates as they appear in Windows Update, removing unnecessary details like platform architecture and excessive words. Going forward, update titles will consist of the type of update, date, version number, and KB number if applicable.
Is the new Windows update naming scheme optional?
No, the new naming scheme for Windows updates is a server side change and cannot be configured by the end user. You'll automatically see the new naming scheme the next time you check for updates on a Windows 11 PC.
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Thanks for the tip, James!
