Microsoft announces new Windows 'checkpoint' cumulative updates

Microsoft will introduce checkpoint cumulative updates starting in late 2024 for systems running devices running Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11, version 24H2 or later.

This new type of update will deliver security fixes and new features via smaller, incremental differentials that include only changes added since the previous checkpoint cumulative update.

The goal is to save Windows users' bandwidth, hard drive space, and, more importantly, the time spent installing new cumulative updates every month.

"This means that updating your Windows devices will involve smaller update files, resulting in a quicker and more efficient update experience," Redmond explained.

"You will begin to receive checkpoint cumulative updates automatically, with no action required from you."

Once introduced, Microsoft says it plans to periodically release cumulative updates as checkpoints. Subsequent updates will consist of update package files associated with the checkpoints and new update package files with incremental binary differentials against the last checkpoint.

The company will go through this process multiple times for each Windows release, thus generating multiple checkpoints across its lifecycle.

Starting with Windows 11 24H2, the servicing stack will be able to merge all these checkpoints to ensure that only the missing content is downloaded and installed on the device.

Admins who manage updates with Windows Update, Windows Update for Business, Windows Autopatch, or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) will not be required to take any actions following the introduction of checkpoint cumulative updates.

"They will simply appear as a normal monthly update, only improved. You can continue to use the same tools and processes that you currently use for approving and deploying updates," Microsoft added.

Those who want to check out this new feature can join the Insider Dev Channel and install Windows Insider Preview Build 26120.1252.

The announcement comes five years after Microsoft discontinued Windows 10 Delta and Express updates (delivered via the Microsoft Update Catalog) on April 9th, 2019.