Microsoft is planning to use up a considerable amount of people's storage to ensure timely Windows 10 updates moving forward.
In a new blog post, Microsoft program manager Jesse Rajwan confirmed that the company is taking measures to make sure that Windows 10 devices will always be updated automatically. Problem is, that method is sure to displease some users.
Windows 10 Updates
Microsoft is introducing a feature called "Reserved Storage" with Windows 10 Build 1903. This will take up a lot of storage space from users' hard drive that "cannot be removed from the OS." This way, Microsoft can always deliver the latest updates without running into storage-related problems. The typical amount taken from hard drives will be 7 GB, according to Rajwan.
"This will enable most PCs to download and install an update without having to free up any of your disk space, even when you have minimal free disk space," he said.
Why You Should Worry
On paper, Reserved Storage sounds like a brilliant solution. However, 7 GB is no joke, and Microsoft hasn't exactly been excellent with its more recent updates. Back in October 2018, for instance, users were in for quite a shock when they found out that a Windows 10 update had deleted their personal data. Then a month later, users Windows 10 Pro users reported being downgraded to Windows 10 Home after updating.
There's also the question of whether Reserved Storage is really necessary. Fast computers always almost have enough storage to never need that feature at all. On the other hand, those with older PCs with limited storage most likely won't want to give up precious 7 GB of storage. Lastly, the idea of Windows 10 being able to update automatically sounds a bit sketchy, especially given the aforementioned instances of updates causing more harm than good.
Fear not, however. Microsoft says it'll only — at least initially — apply Reserved Storage to new computers with Windows 10 1903 or later installed. However, it appears Microsoft has plans to roll out the feature more widely moving forward.
If so, hopefully by then Microsoft will have figured out how to make its updates more stable and less buggy. After all, an update should make things better, not worse.
Thoughts about this new Reserved Storage feature? Do you think it'll be useful or is it unnecessary? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
