Windows Version Numbers

A list of Windows version numbers & major Windows builds

Each Microsoft Windows operating system has a familiar name, like Windows 10 or Windows Vista, but behind each common name is an actual Windows version number 1 .

You can determine your Windows version a number of ways if you want to check which build number you’re currently running.

Windows Version Numbers

Below is a list of major Windows versions and their associated version numbers:

Reference Table for Windows Version Numbers
Operating System	Version Details	Version Number
Windows 10	Windows 10 (20H2)	10.0.19042
Windows 10 (2004)	10.0.19041
Windows 10 (1909)	10.0.18363
Windows 10 (1903)	10.0.18362
Windows 10 (1809)	10.0.17763
Windows 10 (1803)	10.0.17134
Windows 10 (1709)	10.0.16299
Windows 10 (1703)	10.0.15063
Windows 10 (1607)	10.0.14393
Windows 10 (1511)	10.0.10586
Windows 10	10.0.10240
Windows 8	Windows 8.1 (Update 1)	6.3.9600
Windows 8.1	6.3.9200
Windows 8	6.2.9200
Windows 7	Windows 7 SP1	6.1.7601
Windows 7	6.1.7600
Windows Vista	Windows Vista SP2	6.0.6002
Windows Vista SP1	6.0.6001
Windows Vista	6.0.6000
Windows XP	Windows XP 2	5.1.2600 3

_{[1] More specific than a version number, at least in Windows, is a build number, often indicating exactly what major update or service pack has been applied to that Windows version. This is the last number shown in the version number column, like 7600 for Windows 7. Some sources note the build number in parenthesis, like 6.1 (7600).}

_{[2] Windows XP Professional 64-bit had its own version number of 5.2. As far as we know, that’s the only time Microsoft has designated a special version number for a specific edition and architecture-type of a Windows operating system.}

_{[3] Service pack updates to Windows XP did update the build number but in a very minor and long-winded way. For example, Windows XP with SP3 and other small updates is listed as having a version number of 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_qfe.130704-0421 : Service Pack 3).}

How to Update Windows

To update Windows to the newest build number, use Windows Update. Using the built-in Windows Update utility is the easiest way to check for and install Windows updates.

If your version of Windows isn’t currently set up to install updates automatically, you can change the Windows Update settings so that new updates are downloaded and applied automatically. This is the simplest way to keep Windows updated to the latest version number.

Major Changes in Windows 10

Microsoft introduced several changes to the Windows operating system with the release of Windows 10. These are some of the biggest differences between Windows 10 and Windows 8 (and older versions of Windows):

Windows 10 update history

Windows 10, version 1909 and Windows Server, version 1909

Updates for Windows 10, version 1909 and Windows Server, version 1909

Windows 10 is a service, which means it gets better through periodic software updates.

The great news is you usually don’t have to do anything! If you have enabled automatic updates, new updates will automatically download and install whenever they’re available, so you don’t have to think about it.

On the left side of this page, you’ll find a list of all the updates released for this version of Windows. You can also find more information about releases and any known issues. Installing the most recent update ensures that you also get any previous updates you might have missed, including any important security fixes.

For more information about the update and how to get it, see:

What’s new for Windows 10, version 1909 and Windows 10, version 1903 release notes

Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 share a common core operating system and an identical set of system files. As a result, the new features in Windows 10, version 1909 were included in the recent monthly quality update for Windows 10, version 1903 (released October 8, 2019), but are currently in a dormant state. These new features will remain dormant until they are turned on using an enablement package, which is a small, quick-to-install “master switch” that simply activates the Windows 10, version 1909 features.

To reflect this change, the release notes for Windows 10, version 1903 and Windows 10, version 1909 will share an update history page. Each release page will contain a list of addressed issues for both 1903 and 1909 versions. Note that the 1909 version will always contain the fixes for 1903; however, 1903 will not contain the fixes for 1909. This page will provide you with the build numbers for both 1909 and 1903 versions so that it will be easier for support to assist you if you encounter issues.

For more details about the enablement package and how to get the feature update, see the Windows 10, version 1909 delivery options blog.

Current status of Windows 10, version 1909 and Windows Server, version 1909

For the most up-to-date information about Known Issues for Windows and Windows Server, please go to the Windows release health dashboard.

Notes and messages

General

IMPORTANT Release notes are changing! To learn about the new URL, metadata updates, and more, see What’s next for Windows release notes.

IMPORTANT Starting in July 2020, we will resume non-security releases for Windows 10 and Windows Server, version 1809 and later. There is no change to the cumulative monthly security updates (also referred to as the «B» release or Update Tuesday release). For more information, see the blog post Resuming optional Windows 10 and Windows Server non-security monthly updates.

IMPORTANT Starting in July 2020, all Windows Updates will disable the RemoteFX vGPU feature because of a security vulnerability. For more information about the vulnerability, seeCVE-2020-1036 and KB4570006. After you install this update, attempts to start virtual machines (VM) that have RemoteFX vGPU enabled will fail, and messages such as the following will appear:

If you re-enable RemoteFX vGPU, a message similar to the following will appear:

“The virtual machine cannot be started because all the RemoteFX-capable GPUs are disabled in Hyper-V Manager.”

“The virtual machine cannot be started because the server has insufficient GPU resources.”

«We no longer support the RemoteFX 3D video adapter. If you are still using this adapter, you may become vulnerable to security risk. Learn more (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2131976)”

What’s new for Windows 10, version 1909 and Windows 10, version 1903 release notes

Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 share a common core operating system and an identical set of system files. As a result, the new features in Windows 10, version 1909 were included in the recent monthly quality update for Windows 10, version 1903 (released October 8, 2019), but are currently in a dormant state. These new features will remain dormant until they are turned on using an enablement package, which is a small, quick-to-install “master switch” that simply activates the Windows 10, version 1909 features.

To reflect this change, the release notes for Windows 10, version 1903 and Windows 10, version 1909 will share an update history page. Each release page will contain a list of addressed issues for both 1903 and 1909 versions. Note that the 1909 version will always contain the fixes for 1903; however, 1903 will not contain the fixes for 1909. This page will provide you with the build numbers for both 1909 and 1903 versions so that it will be easier for support to assist you if you encounter issues.

For more details about the enablement package and how to get the feature update, see the Windows 10, version 1909 delivery options blog.

Troubleshooting

If you have questions or need help activating or troubleshooting Windows, see our help topics below:

For information about how to update, see Update Windows 10.

If you have questions about manually installing or removing an update, see Windows Update: FAQ.

Getting an error message when updating? See Troubleshoot problems updating Windows 10.

If you need to activate Windows, see Activation in Windows 10. If you’re having trouble with activation, see Get help with Windows activation errors.

To get the latest major update to Windows 10, see Get the Windows 10 November 2019 Update.

How to download older ISO versions of Windows 10

Do you need to rollback to a previous version of Windows 10? Here are the steps to download the ISO file for any version of the OS.

Although you can download the ISO file to install Windows 10 from the Microsoft support website, you can only download the latest version, as the website does not include an option to select older versions.

However, if you upgraded your computer by mistake, you are experiencing compatibility problems with a new version, or you do not like the new release, you can download older versions of Windows 10 using the Rufus tool to rollback to a previous version.

Rufus is a free third-party tool designed to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 10. However, unlike the Media Creation Tool, Rufus can also download the ISO file and prepare the bootable media using an older version of Windows 10.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to use Rufus to download the ISO file and create a media to install older versions of Windows 10, even if they are no longer supported.

Download older versions of Windows 10 using Rufus

To create a USB media with an older version of Windows 10, use these steps:

Under the “Download” section, click the link to download the latest version.

Double-click the executable to launch the tool.

Click the Settings button (third button from the left) a the bottom of the page.

Rufus settings button

Under the “Settings” section, use the “Check for updates” drop-down menu and select the Daily option.

Rufus enable updates

Click the Close button.

Click the Close button again to close the app.

Open Rufus again.

Under the “Device” section, use the drop-down menu, and select the USB drive to create the installation media.

Under the “Boot selection” section, use the drop-down menu and select the Disk or ISO image option.

Click the down arrow button on the right side, and select the Download option.

Rufus ISO download option

Click the Download button.

Select the Windows 10 option. (You can also select the Windows 8.1 option.)

Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 ISO selection

Click the Continue button.

Under the “Release” section, select the older version of Windows 10 to download:

• Version 20H2, October 2020 Update (Build number 19042).
• Version 2004, May 2020 Update (Build number 19041).
• Version 1909, November 2019 Update (Build number 18363).
• Version 1903, May 2019 Update (Build number 18362).
• Version 1809, October 2018 Update (Build number 17763).
• Version 1803, April 2018 Update (Build number 17134).
• Version 1709, Fall Creators Update (Build number 16299).
• Version 1703, Creators Update (Build number 15063).
• Version 1607, Anniversary Update (Build number 14393).
• Version 1511, November Update (Build number 10586).
• Version 1507, Initial Release (Build number 10240).

Select older Windows 10 ISO (1909, 1903, 1809, etc.)

Click the Continue button.

Select the edition, including Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, or Windows 10 Education.

Click the Continue button.

Select the language of Windows 10.

Click the Continue button.

Select the operating system architecture (x64 or x86). (If it’s a newer device, you’ll need to select the x64 option.)

Click the Download button.

Rufus download an old Windows 10 ISO file

Select the location to save the Windows 10 ISO automatically.

Continue with the default settings after the download.

Click the Start button.

Create bootable USB of Windows 10 using Rufus

Click the OK button to confirm the deletion of the USB drive data.

Once you complete the steps, you can use the bootable USB flash drive to install an older version of Windows 10 using a clean or in-place upgrade installation.

Update March 10, 2020: This guide was originally published in October 2019 and revised in March 2021 with new changes.

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