Unlock the features of Windows 10 version 20H2 right now

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 2, 2020
Updated • Aug 2, 2020
Windows, Windows 10
|
22

The next feature update for Windows 10, Windows 10 version 2009 or Windows 10 20H2, will be a smaller update once again. The benefit of this approach is that it takes less time to update to the new version and that there is not as high a chance of it introducing lots of new issues because of its lighter nature.

What many Windows 10 users don't know is that Microsoft has integrated the features of the next feature update, at least some of them, in Windows 10 version 2004 already.

Right now, it is necessary to install this week's preview updates as these introduced the features in the operating system. Since it is not advised to install preview updates, administrators may want to wait to this's month's Patch Tuesday to gain access to the features. Microsoft will release security updates on August 11, 2020.

All it takes to enable the features of Windows 10 version 2009 in Windows 10 version 2004 is to make two modifications to the Registry.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\0\2093230218]
"EnabledState"=dword:00000002
"EnabledStateOptions"=dword:00000000

You can either make these manually, create a Registry file from scratch, or download the following Registry file to your system to run it right away after extracting the file.

Click here to download the Registry file: features-windows-10-20H2

Restart the device after you have made the change and you will notice that the new Start Menu is already visible after the restart. The new Start Menu changes the backgrounds of tiles to the theme to reduce colors significantly.

windows 10 new start menu

Another new feature that becomes available after making the change in the Registry is that Edge's tabs are now displayed in the Alt-Tab dialog. Alt-Tab displays open program windows by default, and Microsoft modified the functionality in the next feature update to include tabs from the new Microsoft Edge web browser as well when the shortcut is used.

The Settings app includes options to change the Alt-Tab behavior, e.g. to restore the classic functionality and hide Edge tabs. Go to Settings > System > Multitasking, and change the "Pressing Alt + Tab shows" setting from "Open windows and all tabs in Edge" to "open windows only". You may also select to open the five or three most recent tabs in Edge additionally.

alt tab edge tabs

Administrators can undo the change at any time by deleting the Registry keys and restarting the system.

Now You: What is your take on Microsoft's "one big and one small update per year" strategy? (via Deskmodder)

Summary
Unlock the features of Windows 10 version 2009 right now
Article Name
Unlock the features of Windows 10 version 2009 right now
Description
Find out how to enable the features of the upcoming feature update for Windows 10, Windows 10 version 2009 or Windows 10 20H2, in the current version Windows 10 version 2004.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. jas said on August 17, 2020 at 10:52 pm
    Reply

    How to revert registry changes? Are there default settings or just deletee “EnabledState” and “EnabledStateOptions”?

  2. Nicks said on August 7, 2020 at 5:04 pm
    Reply

    This registry trick worked for me but, new tils design and other things working but transperency effect is not working now.

  3. Anonymous said on August 6, 2020 at 5:47 pm
    Reply

    Why does it still look like its made for mobile phones? Can we get a desktop version?

  4. KAAA said on August 4, 2020 at 1:13 am
    Reply

    Its looks nice but its not working that great. Some app icons are adopted some are not.

  5. Anonymous said on August 3, 2020 at 1:57 pm
    Reply

    It only looks good if you have a solid wallpaper. If you got a busy wallpaper it looks terrible. They need to provide a way to adjust the tile transparency level.

  6. Hristo Velev said on August 3, 2020 at 1:34 pm
    Reply

    How can I revert to the old start menu?

  7. Duhh Dementia said on August 3, 2020 at 11:31 am
    Reply

    I do not see any changes. I have not installed the optional mandatory update for this to work, I don’t know how to merge registry files and I am also using Windows 7 because I don’t want my files to be sent secretly to China. Written, clear instructions are for weak and dumb people! This article is so confusing, borderline clickbait and straight out lies. I feel Donald Trump wrote this!

    1. ed said on November 21, 2020 at 12:17 am
      Reply

      Lol! It’s insane

  8. Tony said on August 3, 2020 at 3:55 am
    Reply

    Doesn’t work here. Downloaded Reg file and merged it. Restarted. Start Menu still using the old color scheme. Windows 10 v2004 Build 19041.264 here.

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 3, 2020 at 6:23 am
      Reply

      You need the optional update as mentioned in the article. Build 19041.423 is required.

      1. Tony said on August 3, 2020 at 3:50 pm
        Reply

        Thanks. That is definitely not worded clearly in the article.

  9. Splice said on August 3, 2020 at 1:25 am
    Reply

    This also requires the optional update “2020-07 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 10 Version 2004 for x64-based Systems (KB4568831)”. After installing the 2004 feature update I was running ver 10.0.19041.388 and the trick did not work. After installing KB4568831 I am running 10.0.19041.423 and it does work. Also, after clicking “optional updates” I did not immediately see the above mentioned update. I had to click the arrow next to “Other updates” to expand it.

  10. R. said on August 2, 2020 at 10:55 pm
    Reply

    Would this also install the new Chromium Edge if you had not installed that before? As that is also included in 20H2.

  11. ULBoom said on August 2, 2020 at 10:43 pm
    Reply

    Media Center has risen from the dead! Pink this time instead of blue.

    They’re totally out of ideas.

  12. notinthematrix said on August 2, 2020 at 8:03 pm
    Reply

    I’m not sure I understand what features I am “unlocking” by making the changes to my registry. I have Windows 10 Home 20H2, OS Build 19042.423, Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.31.0. Do the registry changes unlock features in the version I am using, or just in pre-20H2 versions?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 3, 2020 at 6:22 am
      Reply

      This works only on Windows 10 version 2004, not 20H2.

  13. Anonymous said on August 2, 2020 at 6:51 pm
    Reply

    These live tiles have potential: they could become both a replacement for the desktop gadgets (they’re accessed a lot easier when in the start menu, too) and introduce full support for the widgets we know from mobile OSs.

    1. DVDRambo said on August 3, 2020 at 7:24 am
      Reply

      The problem is that when you drag a live tile to the desktop it becomes a shortcut with a standard icon and not a live tile. What were they thinking when they came up with this lack of implementation of live tiles, not allowing them on the desktop that most people use, only on the occasionally used Start menu? That’s bad design.

  14. vanp said on August 2, 2020 at 5:45 pm
    Reply

    “The new Start Menu changes the backgrounds of tiles to the theme to reduce colors significantly.”

    What does this mean exactly? In addition to the ‘flat’ appearance of W10, now they’re taking away color? Is the color scheme of your Start Menu above what everybody will see/be stuck with?

    1. Allwynd said on August 2, 2020 at 7:24 pm
      Reply

      Just look at the screenshot and compare it to your start menu. The backgrounds are now transparent instead of having a colored square behind them.

  15. ikjadoon@gmail.com said on August 2, 2020 at 5:08 pm
    Reply

    I think Microsoft has officially retired the YYMM names (“2009”). It’ll just be 20H2 now for Insiders. Which, IMO, is a good change. Why have a 2009 update if there’s no 2005, -6, -7, and -8 updates?

    Though, they’re keeping the “May 2020 Update” name for consumers, which seems like it defeats the point. “So, where are the April 2020 and the March 2020 updates?”

    1. Lautaro said on August 3, 2020 at 5:12 pm
      Reply

      The names of 2009 is the date of the build or official release (can’t remember which one).
      So you could have 2010 and the next one be 2015 and it’d be the same. It’s not a numeric order (such as 1 2 3)

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