Beginning today at 10 a.m. P.T., the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will start rolling out to Windows 10 PCs across the world in phases, starting with newer machines first.
Microsoft has been testing its latest Windows 10 Fall Creators Update over the past six months, and it's now ready to roll out to existing machines today. While Microsoft’s “Creators Update” naming extends to this latest Windows 10 update, a lot of the features are new additions that will be used by all Windows users. Microsoft is officially launching its Windows Mixed Reality (VR) headsets with the Fall Creators Update, and it’s finally bringing its contact integration to the Windows 10 task bar.
Here’s what’s new in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update:
Windows Mixed Reality
With Windows Mixed Reality, you can escape to the most immersive experiences – touring top travel destinations, getting inside the most exciting games, attending the most popular events, even travelling across time and space – right in your own home, with you at the center of everything.
Amazing experiences don’t need to be expensive or complicated. All you need is a headset and a compatible Windows PC. And, to enhance your experience, try out the extras like headphones and advanced motion controllers. A variety of headsets and motion controllers are available from leading makers like Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. Headset-motion controller bundles start as low as $399. Check here to see if your existing PC is compatible, or shop the exciting new models available this holiday season.
Photos
The reimagined Photos app now gives you the ability to add filters, text, 3D effects – and soon full 3D objects – and even digital ink to your photos and video clips for great storytelling complete with soundtracks, themes, and transitions. To help you get started, select the create button and two or more photos or videos and the Photos app will automatically bring together your memories into a video. Keep this cut to enjoy and share, remix it with just the click of a button, or edit it yourself to get it just right. To start creating your own personal story, go to the Photos app – free with Windows 10.
Mixed Reality Viewer
Mixed Reality Viewer
With Mixed Reality Viewer, you can see 3D objects – either from the Remix3D.com community or your own creation from Paint 3D – mixed into your actual surroundings through your PC’s camera for powerful ways to bring your story to life. Start creating in Paint 3D and select Mixed Reality to view your creation in your real world or go straight to the Mixed Reality Viewer app, free with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, to get started.
My People
Quick access to your top people. Now you can pin your top people to the taskbar for one-click access to those who matter most. Communication apps, starting with Mail and Skype, come up together custom-filtered by individual. Tap on your pinned contact to send an email or chat using Skype without having to open the apps.
People-first Sharing. Sharing is as easy as dragging a file directly onto the pinned contacts in your taskbar. Or share directly via the ‘Share’ picker by choosing from the recommended list of your top people.
See emoji from pinned contacts. Emoji from your pinned contacts are able to appear and animate right from the taskbar – an extra level of emotional connection and expression between you and the key people in your life.
Cortana
Voice-activated Power Commands. In addition to exciting voice-activated features like reaching Cortana above the lock screen, you can now ask Cortana to shut down, restart, or sleep your PC.
Microsoft Edge
Annotate your books. When you select text, you have a whole lot of new options to personalize your books. You can add highlights in four colors, underline, add comments or copy text. You also have the ability Ask Cortana to find more information about the content you are reading without leaving the reading experience. Visit the Windows Store to get a book to personalize.
Security
Ransomware protections. To better protect against ransomware attacks, we’re introducing Windows Defender Exploit Guard that helps protect files from unauthorized changes by nefarious applications and your applications from unknown exploits. Additionally, Windows Defender Antivirus now has specific safeguards in place, along with default enhanced coverage that is delivered instantly via the cloud protection service. These and other security technologies protect against persistent ransomware campaigns like Cerber, Locky, and Spora, as well as global outbreaks like WannaCry, and Petya.
Microsoft Launcher. With just a quick swipe-to-the-right, Microsoft Launcher for Android offers a tailored feed of your important events, top news, recent activities, favorite people and most frequently used apps. And, Microsoft Launcher has been designed to make it easy for you to seamlessly continue what you’re working on – whether it’s photos, documents and more—on your PC.
OneDrive Files On-Demand. When you save your files in OneDrive, now you can access them just like any other file on your PC without filling up your disk space. Easily tell which files are available online only or offline. Online-only files download on demand with a double-click, and you can make them online only again to free up space. Or you can select files to always be available offline. Click here to learn more about OneDrive Files On-Demand and how to enable it.
Find My Pen. Windows can now tell you where you were when you last inked on your computer, which makes finding a lost digital pen a lot easier.
PC Gaming
Enjoy the new Fall creators update!