The RTM build is now available in the Release Preview ring
In other words, not everyone will get it on day one, though it goes without saying that manual downloads will also be offered to those who don’t want to wait any longer and have the IT knowledge to deal with possible bugs and compatibility issues.
Fortunately, these tech-savvy users can already download the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update with a small trick, thanks to how fast the RTM build advanced lately. The only thing they have to do is to enroll in the most stable ring of the Windows Insider program and leave it after receiving the final tidbits of the Spring Creators Update.
Doing this is not at all rocket science, and it takes just a few minutes, though it’s worth noting that you might not receive the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update immediately after entering the Windows Insider program. This depends on a series of factors, but you should be offered a new build in just a few hours.
The ring that you need to be part of in the Windows Insider program is called Release Preview, and it’s pretty much the latest step that a feature release needs to make before the public launch. When a build reaches Release Preview it’s considered to be nearly flawless, with no stability or performance issues whatsoever. This means builds available for users here are the ones that will be shipped to everyone else when the time comes.
To enter the Windows Insider program you need a Microsoft account, so keep this in mind if you’re currently using a local account.
Once you’re logged in and you select your account, you’re going to need to select the ring that you want to be part of. There are three options: just fixes, apps, and drivers (Release Preview), active development of Windows (Fast and Slow), and skip ahead to the next Windows release (Skip Ahead). Select the first option called Just fixes, apps, and drivers and hit the Continue buttons.
Afterwards, you’ll be provided with a confirmation screen and you’ll be required to reboot your system. The PC will then be part of the Release Preview ring and checking for updates should offer you the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update, either immediately or after a few hours, as detailed above.
Installing the Spring Creators Update is a process that shouldn’t take more than an hour on a new system, but this time depends on your hardware configuration.
Once the process comes to an end, you can leave the Insider program and return to the production ring, which means that you’ll receive updates just like before. A cumulative update for Windows 10 Spring Creators Update should be published shortly after the launch and include fixes that Microsoft developed since the RTM build was pushed to the Fast ring.
The Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant is expected to be updated with support for the Spring Creators Update next week, and we’ll detail the process of installing the OS with this method when it becomes available.
