Windows 10 May Patch Tuesday [DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINKS]

May is finally here and many users are excited to see what the next big feature update is all about, especially since Windows 10 v21H1 has been announced and teased so much over the past months.

Of course, today is also the day the monthly Patch Tuesday updates hit live, and as always, they bring a host of new features, improvements, and fixes for the most common Microsoft bugs found over the last month.

Since each cumulative update is different for each version of Windows 10, it would be wrong to talk about a singular changelog, and that is why this article exists.

Not only will we be providing you with a detailed changelog of all the modifications brought to each major version of Windows 10, but we will also be providing you with direct download links from the Windows Update catalog.

Changes included in the May Patch Tuesday Updates

Table of content

1. Windows 10, version 20H2
2. Windows 10, version 2004
3. Windows 10, version 1909
4. Windows 10, version 1809
5. Windows 10, version 1803
6. Windows 10, version 1607
7. Windows 10, version 1507

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Windows 10, version 20H2

As of the writing of this article, Windows 10 v20H2 is the latest major version of Windows 10, and as such has the most experimental features on it.

Fortunately, most bugs that were first present when it was first made available have been weeded out, and this version of Windows 10 is far more stable.

That being said, you should upgrade to this version as soon as possible if your hardware allows it (the system requirements are the same as with Windows 10 v2004).

If you haven’t updated to Windows 10 v20H2, know that it is easiest to update if you already have Windows 10 v2004. Check out this in-depth guide on how to get Windows 10 v20H2 as fast as possible.

Cumulative update name:

• KB5003173

Improvements and fixes:

• Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Windows Kernel, Windows Media, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform.

Known Issues:

• System and user certificates might be lost when updating a device from Windows 10, version 1809 or later to a later version of Windows 10. Devices will only be impacted if they have already installed any Latest cumulative update (LCU) released September 16, 2020 or later and then proceed to update to a later version of Windows 10 from media or an installation source that does not have an LCU released October 13, 2020 or later integrated.
  • This primarily happens when managed devices are updated using outdated bundles or media through an update management tool such as Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager. This might also happen when using outdated physical media or ISO images that do not have the latest updates integrated.

Tip

• Devices with Windows installations created from custom offline media or custom ISO image might have Microsoft Edge Legacy removed by this update, but not automatically replaced by the new Microsoft Edge. This issue is only encountered when custom offline media or ISO images are created by slipstreaming this update into the image without having first installed the standalone servicing stack update (SSU) released March 29, 2021 or later.

Tip

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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Windows 10, version 2004

Windows 10 v2004 shares the same core system as Windows 10 v20H2, so all updates, fixes, and improvements applied to one are the same as the other.

Cumulative update name:

• Same as Windows 10 V20H2

Improvements and fixes:

• Same as Windows 10 V20H2

Known Issues:

• Same as Windows 10 V20H2

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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Windows 10, version 1909

Windows 10 v1909 shares a core structure, core operating system, and an identical set of system files with Windows 10 v1903.

Because of this, all cumulative updates that apply to one version are available to the other as well.

Cumulative update name:

• KB5003169

Improvements and fixes:

• Addresses an issue that might cause scroll bar controls to appear blank on the screen and not function. This issue affects 32-bit applications running on 64-bit Windows 10 (WOW64) that create scroll bars using a superclass of the USER32.DLL SCROLLBAR window class. This issue also affects HScrollBar and VScrollBar controls and classes derived from System.Windows.Forms.ScrollBar. A memory usage increase of up to 4 GB might occur in 64-bit applications when you create a scroll bar control.
• Security updates Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Windows Kernel, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform.

Known Issues:

• System and user certificates might be lost when updating a device from Windows 10, version 1809, or later to a later version of Windows 10. Devices will only be impacted if they have already installed any Latest cumulative update (LCU) released September 16, 2020 or later and then proceed to update to a later version of Windows 10 from media or an installation source that does not have an LCU released October 13, 2020 or later integrated.
  • This primarily happens when managed devices are updated using outdated bundles or media through an update management tool such as Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager. This might also happen when using outdated physical media or ISO images that do not have the latest updates integrated.

Tip

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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Windows 10, version 1809

According to Microsoft, users that still have the Home, Pro, Pro for Workstation, and IoT Core editions of Windows 10 V1809 should know that it reached End of Service back in November 2020.

That is why it is advised that you update your OS to a newer, supported version.

Cumulative update name:

• KB5003171

Improvements and fixes:

• Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Windows Kernel, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform.

Known Issues:

• After installing KB4493509, devices with some Asian language packs installed may receive the error, “0x800f0982 – PSFX_E_MATCHING_COMPONENT_NOT_FOUND.”

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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Windows 10, version 1803

Microsoft first announced that Windows 10 v1803 will reach the end of mainstream support, and starting with July there wouldn’t be any more optional, non-security releases for this version of Windows 10.

Because of the current global pandemic, as well as user feedback, Microsoft decided to extend the support for Windows 10 v1803 up until 2021.

Cumulative update name:

• KB5003174

Improvements and fixes:

• Removes the Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application that is out of support and installs the new Microsoft Edge. For more information, see New Microsoft Edge to replace Microsoft Edge Legacy with April’s Windows 10 Update Tuesday release.
• Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Cryptography, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform.

Known Issues:

• Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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Windows 10, version 1607

Note: Windows 10, version 1607 has reached the end of service for all of its available editions. Update to the latest version of Windows 10 in order to keep your system protected.

Cumulative update name:

• KB5003197

Improvements and fixes:

• Addresses an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.
• Provides a DWORD registry key to address a performance issue that might occur when you use the Background Intelligent Transfer service (BITS) to download many files. Set the DWORD registry key as HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BITS\EnableLargeBuffer= 0x1 After you set the registry key, restart the machine, or restart BITS to enable the use of large buffer size and file size incrementing.
• Addresses an issue in Task Scheduler that causes monthly tasks and tasks scheduled for 0 UTC to occur at the wrong time.
• Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform.

Known Issues:

• After installing KB4467684, the cluster service may fail to start with the error “2245 (NERR_PasswordTooShort)” if the group policy “Minimum Password Length” is configured with greater than 14 characters.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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Windows 10, version 1507

Note: Windows 10, version 1507 is the oldest version of Windows 10 still active, and it has reached the end of service for some time now.

If your hardware allows it, update to a much newer version of Windows 10.

Cumulative update name:

• KB5003172

Improvements and fixes:

• Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, the Microsoft Scripting Engine, and the Windows Silicon Platform.

Known Issues:

• Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

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This concludes our list of changes that have come with the arrival of the May Patch Tuesday updates.

keep note that some of you may even get the option to uptae their PC entirely to the new Windows 10 21H1, although we recommend that you postpone that particular update for at least a couple of days to avoid day-1 bugs and errors.

You can do this for even longer periods of time (up to 35 days), although unless you have very serious reasons for doing so, we don’t recommend postponing for such a long time at all.

As for the generic cumulative updates, we recommend that you update your PC as soon as possible if you want to if you value your PC’s security and don’t want to fall victim to things like Exploit Wednesday or Uninstall Thursday.

If you’re not sure how you can get the latest updates installed on your PC, you should know that there are several methods that you can use:

• The Windows Update menu on your OS
• The WSUS (Windows Server Update Service)
• Group Policies set up by your admins if you’re part of a larger network.

What do you think about this month’s Patch Tuesday updates? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.