Windows 10 May 2019 update: all the news and how to update right now

There are quite a few delays that this Windows 10 May 2019 Update has suffered, but it has finally arrived officially and completely safely in our homes, or rather on the Microsoft website with its update software for version 1903. In this article we will tell you first hand what are its most interesting news and we will also see how to update your system.

Index of contents

The news would be that Windows released an error-free update from the first hour, and as it happened in October 2018, history has repeated itself, and after serious problems with user data loss, this new semi-annual package has been delayed until this May 21.

But finally we have it with us, totally stable and without catastrophic problems when it comes to updating, so we have taken it, we have installed it and we are here to share the news we have. Let's start!

How to easily install Windows 10 May 2019 Update

But first, we will need to install this update, right? Well, that's what we are going to do right now. Surely you already know how to do this procedure, but if you have never updated your system, it is time for you to do it to enjoy the news it brings.

It goes without saying that Windows has the cumulative update system, which means that by installing this version 1903, we will also be accumulating the news of all the other semi-annual updates.

Quick method (Windows Update)

In this method, all we have to do is open the update center and let the system search for this package in the Microsoft repositories. It is simple, we will only have to go to the start menu and fleas on the cogwheel button.

Next, we will click on the last option of " Update and security " and then we will click on " check for updates ". We should get something like " Cumulative update for Windows 10 Version 1903 ".

The process will start as soon as we accept the update. If it doesn't work, we will try repeatedly until it works, one day. Depending on the geographical location, it may take more or less time, so that's why we have the second method, which is infallible.

Foolproof Method (Update Wizard)

The foolproof way to force the system to update immediately is through the " Windows 10 Update Wizard " tool. What this tool does is download the Windows update directly into the repositories and install it on your computer.

Well, we just have to go to this link for Windows 10 May 2019 Update to download it. We will have to click on the Update Now button and a software will be downloaded.

Once we have it on our hard drive, we just have to start it and click on " Update Now ". At this point the system will verify that the amount of RAM, CPU and storage meet the requirements for installation.

We must ensure that you have a minimum of free space on your hard drive, at least 25 GB to be safe. This is due to the fact that during the update Windows will create a folder called Windows.old where it will put backup files in case something goes wrong. And by God, disconnect some flash drive that you have in the USB, because if not, it won't let you install it.

In any case, we just have to click Next to start the process. This may last more or less time, depending on your PC and Internet connection, but 20 minutes is not taken away by anyone.

Well, it would be, after a few restarts and others, we will have the system updated. Verify that everything remains the same as you left it and you have not lost anything. Now it is time to talk about the news that it brings with it.

New in design and appearance

And the first interesting aspect that we should touch on is that of the design of our desktop, windows and start menu, because we have many new features in this regard.

Added clear theme

And what is a user looking for when updating a system? Well, obviously you are looking to find a new look, so after implementing the dark theme in the October 2018 Update, now it's time for the light theme. Of course we will have to go to the customization section of Windows, " colors " tab to see this option. And remember that you can only customize Windows 10 if you have it activated.

On the subject, it changes practically the entire interface of the system. We begin by having a start menu with a transparent or opaque white color, depending on how we have configured the image quality characteristics in the system. Likewise, the drop-down menus, windows and the notification bar will acquire this white color.

The main objective is for the screen to show more information in high ambient lighting conditions, something that cannot be done with the dark subject, for example.

Browsing interface and lock screen

If we go to the download folder is where we will see these improvements more clearly. These will be shown divided by date or categories, just like the main My Team window. in fact, an option to modify the view in details is included and now the modification dates are somewhat more intuitive and shorter.

And be careful, because the lock screen has also been modified. Now when we press to enter credentials the back background is blurred.

The start menu changes its appearance and process

In addition to color, the start menu also brings news in terms of accessibility and performance.

Starting with the look, we can now better manage the tile system, allowing us to unpin and remove entire groups. Likewise, the shutdown options menu is now somewhat more intuitive and quick since it appears automatically without clicking, and comes with identifying icons on the side. For those who like to have a Tablet menu, it is now possible to drag the menu further to the right to hide the list of applications and leave the entire tile panel. To do this we will have to go to the customization options and disable the option to " show list of applications in the start menu"

When it comes to performance, we do have substantial changes, even if we don't see them. And it is that now the start menu has a process independent from that of Explorer.exe. It is called StartMenuExperiencieHost.exe (a little bit long Microsoft), the case is that a browser block will not affect the menu now AND will remain active and usable.

Also the notifications menu can now be customized directly from the taskbar by adding or removing items. It's no big deal, but at least it's more accessible than going to Windows 10's settings app.

Windows SandBox

The truth is that one of the most powerful news that Windows 10 May 2019 Update brings is this application, or rather, this small virtual Windows 10 that is installed directly if we have Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise. Consequently, it is not available in Windows 10 Home. In addition, we must bear in mind that we must have the virtualization option activated in the BIOS for it to work.

Well, what this application does is provide us with a small virtual Windows 10 with its own desktop so that we can do all the tests we want on it without affecting the main system. These tests include installing dangerous applications, experimenting with different system options, etc.

It is something really useful, because in addition, what we install will remain stored there as if it were a virtual Windows, with the advantage that we do not need to install it ourselves.

Search bar vs Cortana

Another update to consider is that the search assistant and Cortana's now work separately. in fact, a separate icon has been assigned to short to search through Windows Search, no need to use the microphone, or Cortada to allow advanced searches.

An option has also been created in the configuration menu -> Search -> Searching in Windows called "Improved search" that allows you to search for whatever you want on the entire computer. In fact, the interface has been integrated with the clear theme of Windows to show a TimeLine of our activity in the system.

We must say that the timeline system is a little slow and sometimes on less powerful computers it is not shown. An optimization of the system in question would not hurt.

Improvements in Windows control in different aspects

In general these are small details that make life easier for us when handling different Windows options from the configuration and its different windows. Among them, we highlight improvements in updates, network configuration panel or the possibility of uninstalling native applications.

Finally improvements in the updates panel

Many of us were already asking for certain improvements in the update panel, because everything was really scattered and the pause options and options were very badly placed.

Finally, this has improved and in the main panel all the most important options for updating control are shown in a simple way.

And finally we can uninstall native applications

Who has not ever looked for how to uninstall Groove or Paint 3D? Well now, these applications that are always installed with Windows 10 natively, we can uninstall them simply by right-clicking on the start menu icon.

This is something quite useful for users who use a version other than Enterprise, which does come fully limited as standard.

Direct network configuration

You will already know that until now, we had to open a thousand and one windows to get to the configuration of the network adapter and be able to modify the IP address and the manual parameters of our connection.

Well now we just have to go to the configuration panel -> Network and Internet -> Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) -> click on the adapter -> IP Configuration. As simple as this, a window will appear where we can choose the protocol by which we navigate, and then put it in manual in order to place the configuration that we want.

Specter Attack Enhancements

Windows Defender has also been updated with new improvements in both threat detection and a new range of options when it comes to keeping Specter attacks under control .

This will be available in the Windows Defender configuration panel -> Application control and browser -> Protection against Vulnerabilities section. These improvements will also translate into better Windows performance, which however light it is, will be welcome. In addition to the visible parts, most of the news will be in the form of code, so for users, it will be completely invisible.

Crop and Annotation now allows capturing windows

It seems silly, but for us who tend to make many captures a day, it comes to us that not even painted. This tool comes to replace the traditional Clippings, and now in this version it has incorporated this small button in the top menu that allows you to directly capture a window just by clicking it, something similar to what Ubuntu does.

Conclusion and experience with Windows 10 May 2019 Update

Well, we come to the end of this list of news that this new biannual update of Windows 10 brings us. It is already clear that they have mainly worked on visual and accessibility improvements that are visible to the user. In fact, we have not commented on some of them, as they are small nonsense such as changing the size of the cursor, a new button for date and time options. Etc.

But improvements have also been implemented in the form of code, surely much more than simply changing the start menu process. Something that I have personally noticed is that after updating Windows to this version I have not noticed that the team does strange things or anything has been deconfigured, as it did in the October update.

This makes me think that Microsoft has certainly improved the stability of the system, so I am satisfied with having updated it. The visual improvements have seemed correct and necessary, under a system that does not allow too many options in this regard. And above all, it has improved the accessibility of such important options as updates, notifications, search and network settings.

Finally, the SandBox mode also seems to me a success for users who, like us, tend to test quite a few applications and make various configurations to the system and we never want to deteriorate our main Windows. Very good work in this regard by Microsoft.

Now we leave you with some tutorials:

As always, we hope that this article has been useful for you to learn more about the new Windows 10 update. Are you going to install it?