Microsoft installs KB5001716 on PCs, automatically updating them to the latest Windows version, without users' consent

After releasing the October 2024 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft quietly installed KB5001716 on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. This update includes a new user interface (UI) for Windows Updates in Windows.

With KB5001716, however, Windows may attempt to download and install feature updates to your device if it is approaching or has reached the end of its support for your currently installed Windows version. Feature updates offer new functionality and help keep your device secure.

The update was available for manual download starting October 10, 2024, but KB5001716 is being force-installed on many Windows 10 and 11 systems without users’ consent.

The update is being installed on systems with the following OS versions:

• Windows 11: 21H2
• Windows 10: 22H2, 21H2, 21H1, 20H2, 2004

Microsoft explains why this happened in a post on the KB5001716 support page:

When this update is installed, Windows may attempt to download and install feature updates to your device if it is approaching or has reached the end of support for your currently installed Windows version. After this update is installed, Windows may periodically display a notification informing you of problems that may prevent Windows Update from keeping your device up to date and protected against current threats. For example, you may see a notification informing you that your device is currently running a version of Windows that has reached the end of its support lifecycle, or that your device does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for the currently installed version of Windows.

As per the report, Microsoft wants to give the impression that the update is being installed to improve the Windows Update experience. However, it is mostly about pushing users to Windows 11, or at least that’s the perception Microsoft is pushing.

The company has been heavily criticized for this move, and rightly so. Users should have the right to choose which OS they want to run on their PCs, and if they want to upgrade, they can do so via the Windows Update settings.

As per Microsoft, the KB5001716 update is not available on Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update for Business, or Windows Update.

However, the company did the same with the Windows 10 KB4023057 update and later made it available on WSUS and other update channels, so it’s possible that Microsoft will do the same with KB5001716.