Windows 10 facts for kids

Windows 10
	Part of the Microsoft Windows family
Developer
	Microsoft
Releases
RTM release	(v10.0.16299.334) (March 22, 2018; 2 years ago)
Kernel type	Hybrid
Update method	Windows Update, Windows Store, Windows Server Update Services
Platform support	IA-32, x64, ARMv7
Preceded by	Windows 8.1 (2013)

This page is about Windows 10 for PCs. For Windows 10 on smartphones, see Windows 10 Mobile.

"Windows 9" redirects here. For the older type of operating system, see Windows 9x.

Windows 10 is a computer operating system by Microsoft as part of its Windows family of operating systems. It was known as Threshold when it was being developed and announced at a press event on 30 September 2014. It came out for PCs on July 29, 2015. Beginning on that day, Windows 10 was available as a free upgrade for users running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 for one year.

Windows 10 is designed to provide a common, "universal" user interface between desktop, laptop, and all-in-one PCs, tablet computers, smartphones, and embedded systems such as its Xbox game console. Many of its features have been added based upon feedback from users, who are testing the software before it is released. It is being designed under the software as a service principle, in which the software will receive updates on a frequent basis throughout its life span.

New or returned features

Feature	Present in Windows 8.1	Present in Windows 7	Remarks/Improvements
Return of the Start Menu	No	Yes	It is a mix of Windows 8's Start Screen with Live Tiles and Windows 7. Basically, combines both into one. This was done due to popular criticism of Windows 8's removal of the Start Menu.
Multiple desktops	No	No	This feature allows user to 'create' multiple desktops in Windows. This feature was present in Ubuntu and OS X before.
Tablet Mode	No	No	On multi mode devices like Microsoft's Surface Pro 3, when a user detaches the keyboard, it changes into a touch-friendly mode and the reverse happens when it is reattached.
Cortana	No	No	A personal digital voice assistance first debuted in Windows Phone 8.1.
DirectX 12	ver 11	ver 11	DirectX updated to version 12. Makes it faster on games.

Milestones

September 30, 2014 – Windows 10 was officially announced.

2015

January 21 – Microsoft announced that most of the devices currently running at least Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update will get a free upgrade to Windows 10 if it is done within the first year.
February 2 – Microsoft announced a free version of Windows 10 for Raspberry Pi 2.
April 2 – New Office 2016 for Touch preview launched for Windows 10.
March 18 – The 5th official update to Windows 10 (Build 10041) since the first was introduced.
March 30 – The 6th official update to Windows 10 (Build 10049) was introduced.
July 15 - Released to manufacturing (Build 10240)
July 29 - General availability (Threshold 1, Version 1507)
November 12 - November 2015 Update (Threshold 2, Version 1511, Build 10586)

2016

August 2 - Anniversary Update (Redstone 1, Version 1607, Build 14393)

2017

April 5 - Creators Update (Redstone 2, Version 1703, Build 15063)
October 17 - Fall Creators Update (Redstone 3, Version 1709, Build 16299)

2018

Early 2018 - Spring Creators Update (Redstone 4, Version 1803)
Late 2018 - TBA (Redstone 5, Version 1809)

Versions

Windows 10 has many versions for different uses, that have different features.

Windows 10 Home is meant for home use. It can be used on desktop, laptop, tablet, and 2-in-1 (mix of tablet and laptop) computers.
Windows 10 Pro is meant more for businesses. It adds features on top of Windows 10 Home.
Windows 10 Enterprise is meant for use in IT. It adds features on top of Windows 10 Pro.
Windows 10 Education is meant for use in schools, colleges and universities. It is the same as Windows 10 Enterprise, but it doesn't include Cortana.
Windows 10 Mobile is meant for mobile devices.

Images for kids

The "Task View" display is a new feature to Windows 10, allowing the use of multiple workspaces.
Abstract version of Windows 10 interface
Windows Hello unlock prompt on a Surface Pro 4 while using Enpass (a password manager)
The dedicated Xbox app on Windows 10, on the "Avatar Store" page