Upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr | SCCM

This article details the steps to upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr. The Windows 10 20H2 update KB4562830 has been released, and you can upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using SCCM.

The 20H2 update is also known as Windows 10 October 2020 Update.

The Windows 10, version 20H2 comes with new features for select performance improvements, enterprise features, and quality enhancements.

Most of all, Windows 10 20H2 is an H2-targeted release. It will be serviced for 30 months from the release date for devices running Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education editions.

Like 1909 update, the Win 10 20H2 is available as enablement package. On a Windows 10 machine, you can download and install Windows 10 20H2 October 2020 update via Windows Update as well.

To upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr, you can either use the servicing plans or deploy the 20H2 feature update or enablement package. SCCM admins can deploy the Windows 10 20H2 enablement package to upgrade Windows 10 2004 to 20H2.

If you are upgrading from previous Windows 10 version to version 20H2, I would not recommend deploying this update directly on to end user devices.

You should test the Windows 10 20H2 upgrade on a pilot batch of machines and if the upgrade is successful, you can deploy Windows 10 20H2 using a phased deployment plan.

Important – If you are running Windows 10, version 2004 and haven’t installed the September 8, 2020, updates, you will not see the version 20H2 enablement package on your device.

Options to Upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr

So if you have decided to upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr, there are few things to consider. Based on your current Windows 10 version, the deployment method varies.

• Upgrade Windows 10 1909 and earlier builds to Windows 10 20H2 – If you have a device running Windows 10, version 1909 or an earlier version such as Windows 10 1903, do not deploy the enablement package. That’s because the enablement package is not meant for older builds. Furthermore, you cannot install the enablement package on these devices manually. In this case, you must deploy a Windows 10 20H2 feature update and perform the upgrade to version 10 20H2.
• Upgrade Windows 10 2004 to Windows 10 20H2 – If you are running Windows 10 version 2004 on your devices, you can deploy the Windows 10 20H2 enablement package. The version 20H2 enablement package KB4562830 updates from version 2004 to version 20H2 with a single restart, reducing the update downtime.

Windows 10 20H2 Feature Update vs Enablement Package

So just to make it more clear, the below info will help you to decide which update to deploy.

• Feature Update to Windows 10 Version 20H2 x64-based systems 2020-10 via Enablement Package – Install this update to enable the Windows 10 Version 20H2 feature set for Windows 10 Version 2004 devices. It is only applicable to Windows 10 Version 2004 devices that have installed the 2020-10 or later Cumulative Update. After you install the KB4562830 update, you will have to restart your computer.
• Feature update to Windows 10 (business/consumer editions), version 20H2 – Deploy this update using ConfigMgr to upgrade your Windows 10 1909 and earlier builds to version 20H2.

Windows 10 20H2 Upgrade Prerequisites

You must have the following prerequisites installed before you upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr

• Servicing stack update for Windows 10, version 2004: September 8, 2020 or a later servicing stack update
• October 13, 2020 – KB4579311 (OS Build 19041.572) or a later cumulative update
• Configure software update point to deploy Windows 10 feature updates if you haven’t done that.

Download Windows 10 20H2 Feature Update

If you have set up your Software Update Point correctly, you should find the Windows 10 20H2 feature update in the updates list. If you don’t, manually run the software updates sync.

Run the Software Updates Synchronization and open the wsyncmgr.log file on site server. You should see the Windows 10 20H2 updates in the list.

Synchronizing update d6d35b34-003a-4825-b46f-231c6b70158c - Feature Update to Windows 10 Version 20H2 x64-based systems 2020-10 via Enablement Package

In the Configuration Manager console, go to Software Library\Overview\Windows 10 Servicing\All Windows 10 Updates. Right click Feature update to Windows 10 version 20H2 and click Download.

Create a new deployment package. Specify the name as Windows 10 20H2 Deployment Package and define the package source. Click Next.

Specify the distribution points or distribution point groups. Click Next.

Nothing to change on Distribution Settings page. So click Next.

We will download the Windows 10 20H2 updates from internet. Click Next.

We have successfully downloaded Windows 10 20H2 feature update. Click Close.

If you want to know the size of Windows 10 20H2 feature update, it’s 3.77 GB. It’s a big update, and you should find two files within that folder. An ESD file and WindowsUpdatebox.exe file.

Deploy Windows 10 20H2 Feature Update using SCCM

We will now deploy Windows 10 20H2 feature update. In the SCCM console go to Software Library > Overview > Windows 10 Servicing > All Windows 10 Updates. Right click Feature update to Windows 10 (business/consumer editions), version 20H2 and click Deploy.

On the General page, specify the deployment name. Next click Browse and choose a device collection. Click Next.

Specify the type of deployment which is either Available or Required. I am going to make this deployment Available for end users. Click Next.

On the Scheduling page, you can choose the software available time. Since I want the feature update 20H2 to appear ASAP in Software center, I will select As soon as possible. Click Next.

Specify the user experience for this deployment. Click Next.

Specify the download settings based on your requirements. Click Next.

Finally on the Completion page, click Close.

Upgrade Windows 10 1909 and earlier to Windows 10 20H2

In the above step you deployed the Windows 10 20H2 feature update to a Windows 10 device collection. This device collection consists Windows 10 1909 and earlier builds.

Since I have made the 20H2 feature update available in software center, the update will show up once the clients receive the deployment. All the user needs to do is select the Windows 10 20H2 feature update and click Install.

The installation time is not going to be quick as compared to enablement package installation. The device will restart in order to complete the Windows 10 20H2 upgrade.

Download Windows 10 20H2 Enablement Package

We will now download and deploy Windows 10 20H2 enablement package that simply upgrades Windows 10 2004 builds to version 20H2.

Navigate to Software Library > Overview > Windows 10 Servicing > All Windows 10 Updates. Right click Feature Update to Windows 10 Version 20H2 2020-10 via Enablement Package and click Download.

You can either deploy the update directly or download it first and then deploy. I prefer to download the update first and then deploy.

Correction – In the below screenshot, instead of download option the deploy option is highlighted by mistake.

Create a new deployment package by specifying deployment name and package source. Click Next.

In this step click Add button and specify the distribution points or DP groups. Click Next.

Select Download software updates from internet and click Next.

On the remaining pages, click Next and on Completion window, click Close.

The Windows 10 20H2 enablement package is only 86MB in size and hence you will notice that it doesn’t take much time to download on client machines.

Deploy Windows 10 20H2 Enablement Package using ConfigMgr

To deploy Windows 10 20H2 upgrade enablement package using ConfigMgr.

• In the ConfigMgr console, go to Windows 10 Servicing and click All Windows 10 Updates.
• Right click Feature Update to Windows 10 Version 20H2 2020-10 via Enablement Package and click Deploy.

On the General page, specify the deployment name. Click Browse and select a Windows 10 device collection running 2004 builds. Click Next.

Select the Type of deployment. In this case, I will select Required. I will schedule the update and let the user install it within specified days. If the user doesn’t install the update, it installs as per the deadline. Click Next.

I will set the software available time to As soon as possible and installation deadline to end of the month. Click Next.

Specify the user experience settings for the deployment and click Next.

Click Close.

Upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr

Login to the Windows 10 2004 client machine. Wait until the deployment appears in the software center. The Windows 10 20H2 enablement package should appear in Updates tab.

Select the Feature Update to Windows 10 Version 20H2 x64-based systems 2020-10 via Enablement Package and click Install.

The installation was quick and the Restart option appeared in just few minutes. Click Restart to finish the Windows 10 20H2 upgrade.

Login back to the client computer and run the winver command to find the Windows 10 version and build details. If you see Windows 10 version as 20H2, smile and start preparing a plan to deploy to update to rest of the machines in your setup. Hope the steps to upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 using ConfigMgr helps.