Microsoft changes the way it updates Windows, introduces “checkpoint cumulative updates”

A hot potato: Where do you start with Windows updates? They take time and can be disruptive. And they often introduce new bugs or cause system instability, breaking features that previously worked or causing performance issues. Microsoft is looking to address some of these complaints with the introduction of cumulative checkpoint updates in Windows 11. While they may seem like an improvement, they also have potential drawbacks.

Microsoft is introducing cumulative checkpoint updates for Windows 11, positioning them as smaller, faster, and more durable, requiring no action from users or IT administrators.

Basically, cumulative checkpoint updates allow for incremental differentials, meaning they build on the previous checkpoint rather than including all changes since the original release. An approach that will save time, bandwidth, and hard drive space for users and organizations, Microsoft explains.

The process may involve multiple checkpoints during the lifecycle of a Windows release, with the servicing stack merging all checkpoints and downloading only the missing content. In other words, for most update management tools, changes will be handled automatically by the Windows servicing stack.

The end result, Microsoft says, will be fewer downloads on Windows devices, more sustainable redistribution of updates across an organization, and a better experience for annual feature updates. But some users are already expressing concerns about the new process, especially since the technology is still new and not yet widely deployed.

One commenter noted that if there is a problem with a cumulative update, it can prevent security fixes from being applied since the entire cumulative update cannot be installed – although this appears to be a criticism of cumulative updates in general, and not the new checkpoint system specifically.

Administrators who obtain updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog will also see a change in how updates are presented. Monthly updates may contain multiple update package files, one for each checkpoint, plus an additional file with the cumulative payload from the latest checkpoint. These will need to be installed sequentially using existing deployment tools.

Another problem is that CCUs add an extra layer to an already complex update system. For example, it is conceivable that the new system will complicate the rollback process if problems arise after applying an update. And there is always the risk of conflicts between different checkpoint updates or with existing system configurations.

With these concerns taken into account, it seems that the benefits of smaller, faster updates outweigh the potential drawbacks, especially since Microsoft’s goal is to make the transition as seamless as possible.

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