Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004) now available

The Surface Laptop 3.
The Surface Laptop 3. (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • The Windows 10 May 2020 Update is now available.
  • The update includes a new Cortana UI, updates to Virtual Desktops, and streamlined Swift Pair.
  • The update also moves more options to the Settings app.

As Windows 10 has been out for years in some form, even major updates don't have the laundry list of new features that we used to see. Instead, updates like the May 2020 Update focus on specific changes and improvements as well as bug fixes.

One of the biggest changes in the latest update is Cortana. It's now a system app that can be updated independently from Windows 10, similarly to the Mail and Calculator apps. The new Cortana focuses on typing, though voice is still an option.

Review: Windows 10 May 2020 Update packs improvements to existing features

Following the update, you'll be able to rename Virtual Desktops and save them across reboots. This improves workflows that utilize Virtual Desktops quite a bit as you no longer have to set things up every time you reboot your PC.

The Windows 10 Settings app gained some features, including cursor speed controls. Microsoft is moving all settings into that app over time, and that movement continues in this update.

Microsoft also made improvements to Swift Pair, the Task Manager, and made changes to Windows Search. You can read all about the changes in our complete breakdown of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.