What's new in Windows 10, version 1607 for IT Pros

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Below is a list of some of the new and updated features in Windows 10, version 1607 (also known as the Anniversary Update).

Note

For release dates and servicing options for each version, see Windows 10 release information.

Deployment

Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD)

In previous versions of the Windows 10 Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK), you had to install more features for Windows ICD to run. Starting in version 1607, you can install just the configuration designer component independent of the rest of the imaging components. Install the ADK.

Windows ICD now includes simplified workflows for creating provisioning packages:

Learn more about using provisioning packages in Windows 10.

Windows Upgrade Readiness

Microsoft developed Upgrade Readiness in response to demand from enterprise customers looking for more direction and details about upgrading to Windows 10. Upgrade Readiness was built taking into account multiple channels of customer feedback, testing, and Microsoft’s experience upgrading millions of devices to Windows 10.

With Windows diagnostic data enabled, Upgrade Readiness collects system, application, and driver data for analysis. We then identify compatibility issues that can block an upgrade and suggest fixes when they're known to Microsoft.

Use Upgrade Readiness to get:

  • A visual workflow that guides you from pilot to production
  • Detailed computer and application inventory
  • Powerful computer level search and drill-downs
  • Guidance and insights into application and driver compatibility issues, with suggested fixes
  • Data driven application rationalization tools
  • Application usage information, allowing targeted validation; workflow to track validation progress and decisions
  • Data export to commonly used software deployment tools

The Upgrade Readiness workflow steps you through the discovery and rationalization process until you have a list of computers that are upgrade-ready.

Learn more about planning and managing Windows upgrades with Windows Upgrade Readiness.

Windows updates

Windows 10, version 1607, provides administrators with increased control over updates by changing the update deferral increment from weeks to days. Other changes:

  • Quality Updates can be deferred up to 30 days and paused for 35 days
  • Feature Updates can be deferred up to 180 days and paused for 60 days
  • Update deferrals can be applied to both Current Branch (CB) and Current Branch for Business (CBB)
  • Drivers can be excluded from updates

Security

Credential Guard and Device Guard

Isolated User Mode is now included with Hyper-V so you don't have to install it separately.

Windows Hello for Business

When Windows 10 was first shipped, it included Microsoft Passport and Windows Hello, which worked together to provide multi-factor authentication. To simplify deployment and improve supportability, Microsoft has combined these technologies into a single solution under the Windows Hello name in Windows 10, version 1607. Customers who have already deployed Microsoft Passport for Work won't experience any change in functionality. Customers who have yet to evaluate Windows Hello will find it easier to deploy due to simplified policies, documentation, and semantics.

Other changes for Windows Hello in Windows 10, version 1607:

  • Personal (Microsoft account) and corporate (Active Directory or Azure AD) accounts use a single container for keys.
  • Group Policy settings for managing Windows Hello for Business are now available for both User Configuration and Computer Configuration.
  • Beginning in version 1607, Windows Hello as a convenience PIN is disabled by default on all domain-joined computers. To enable a convenience PIN for Windows 10, version 1607, enable the Group Policy setting Turn on convenience PIN sign-in.

Learn more about Windows Hello for Business.

VPN

Windows Information Protection (WIP), formerly known as enterprise data protection (EDP)

With the increase of employee-owned devices in the enterprise, there’s also an increasing risk of accidental data leak through apps and services, like email, social media, and the public cloud, which are outside of the enterprise’s control. For example, when an employee sends the latest engineering pictures from their personal email account, copies and pastes product info into a tweet, or saves an in-progress sales report to their public cloud storage.

Windows Information Protection (WIP) helps to protect against this potential data leakage without otherwise interfering with the employee experience. WIP also helps to protect enterprise apps and data against accidental data leak on enterprise-owned devices and personal devices that employees bring to work without requiring changes to your environment or other apps.

Learn more about Windows Information Protection (WIP)

Windows Defender

Several new features and management options have been added to Windows Defender in Windows 10, version 1607.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

With the growing threat from more sophisticated targeted attacks, a new security solution is imperative in securing an increasingly complex network ecosystem. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a security service, built into Windows 10 that enables enterprise customers detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats on their networks.

Learn more about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

Management

Use Remote Desktop Connection for PCs joined to Azure Active Directory

From its release, Windows 10 has supported remote connections to PCs that are joined to Active Directory. Starting in Windows 10, version 1607, you can also connect to a remote PC that is joined to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Learn about the requirements and supported configurations.

Taskbar configuration

Enterprise administrators can add and remove pinned apps from the taskbar. Users can pin apps, unpin apps, and change the order of pinned apps on the taskbar after the enterprise configuration is applied. Learn how to configure the taskbar.

Mobile device management and configuration service providers (CSPs)

Numerous settings have been added to the Windows 10 CSPs to expand MDM capabilities for managing devices. To learn more about the specific changes in MDM policies for Windows 10, version 1607, see What's new in MDM enrollment and management.

Shared PC mode

Windows 10, Version 1607, introduces shared PC mode, which optimizes Windows 10 for shared use scenarios, such as touchdown spaces in an enterprise and temporary customer use in retail. You can apply shared PC mode to Windows 10 Pro, Education, and Enterprise. Learn how to set up a shared or guest PC.

Application Virtualization (App-V) for Windows 10

Application Virtualization (App-V) enables organizations to deliver Win32 applications to users as virtual applications. Virtual applications are installed on centrally managed servers and delivered to users as a service – in real time and on as as-needed basis. Users launch virtual applications from familiar access points, including the Microsoft Store, and interact with them as if they were installed locally.

With the release of Windows 10, version 1607, App-V is included with the Windows 10 for Enterprise edition. If you're new to Windows 10 and App-V or if you're upgrading from a previous version of App-V, you’ll need to download, activate, and install server- and client-side components to start delivering virtual applications to users.

Learn how to deliver virtual applications with App-V.

User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) for Windows 10

Many users customize their settings for Windows and for specific applications. Customizable Windows settings include Microsoft Store appearance, language, background picture, font size, and accent colors. Customizable application settings include language, appearance, behavior, and user interface options.

With User Experience Virtualization (UE-V), you can capture user-customized Windows and application settings and store them on a centrally managed network file share. When users sign in, their personalized settings are applied to their work session, regardless of which device or virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) sessions they sign in to.

With the release of Windows 10, version 1607, UE-V is included with the Windows 10 for Enterprise edition. If you're new to Windows 10 and UE-V or upgrading from a previous version of UE-V, you’ll need to download, activate, and install server- and client-side components to start synchronizing user-customized settings across devices.

Learn how to synchronize user-customized settings with UE-V.

Learn more