Optional cumulative updates for Windows will now be released on the fourth week of the month

Microsoft announcedthat, starting in April 2023, optional non-security cumulative updates will be released during the fourth week of the month. As a reminder, these updates are intended to test fixes and innovations for next month’s mandatory cumulative updates, which users will receive on the second Tuesday.

In a corporate environment, optional cumulative updates help to proactively identify issues that could affect the deployment of updates as part of Patch Tuesday. They also reduce the time it takes to check for released updates.

“Starting in April 2023, we plan to release non-mandatory non-security previews during the fourth week of the month,” said Chris Morrissey, Senior Director of Communications, Windows and Devices. “We have concluded that this is the optimal time to publish and use these updates. It will be two weeks after the last monthly security update and approximately two weeks remain before these features become part of the next mandatory cumulative update.”