Windows 10 21H1 will come with no change in hardware requirements when compared to Windows 10 20H2, the previous version, according to a post on the company's official Windows hardware certification blog.
"The release of Windows 10, version 21H1 will not bring updates to the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program and will follow the same guidelines as 20H2, the requirements of Windows 10, version 2004 continue to apply to Windows 10, version 21H1.", said Microsoft on the blog.
The company also added that drivers compatible with systems running Windows 10, version 2004 will be digitally signed to 21H1 using the same signature properties.
"Drivers that meet all applicable Windows 10, version 2004 requirements will be digitally signed with the same signature attributes," Microsoft added.
Windows 10 21H1 arriving between March and June 2021
While no exact date has been revealed for the release of Windows 10 21H1, Microsoft expects to release the new version later this semester. Microsoft first announced that the next update will be 21H1 as part of a Windows 10 20H2 cumulative update released to Insiders in the "Release" channel.
The new features and improvements added to 21H1 will be available to 20H2 users immediately after the update is released via an activation package that will enable disabled Windows 10 21H1 features.
As Windows 10 21H1 will be installed via a small activation package, this feature update will install very quickly on devices running Windows 10 2004 and 20H2.
Windows 10 gets new patch in preparation for OS version 21H1Users running older versions of Windows 10 will need to install the full update, which will take much longer as it will likely be between 2GB or 4GB in size.
As the activation package has already started rolling out, it is expected to roll out slowly to Windows 10 20H2 users as optional preview updates.
Some expected, but not yet confirmed, new features in Windows 10 21H1 include DNS over HTTPS, a Task Manager "Architecture" tab, and a "What's New?" section. under Tips and Best GPU Settings. The first preview of 21H1, Windows 10 build 20150, was released by Microsoft to Insiders on the Dev (Fast) channel in June 2020.
