Microsoft reveals why the Spring Creators Update has been delayed

Windows laptop

We were disappointed when Microsoft delayed the Spring Creators Update, its next big overhaul of the Windows 10 operating system, but also curious to know what was serious enough to halt the much-hyped update, and now Microsoft has revealed why.

In a blog post announcing the release of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17134, Dona Sarkar, who works at Microsoft, revealed that as “Build 17133 progressed through the rings, we discovered some reliability issues we wanted to fix. In certain cases, these reliability issues could have led to a higher percentage of (BSOD) on PCs for example.”

Build 17133 is how Microsoft refers to the Spring Creators Update, as even though it was expected to launch on April 10, it still hasn’t been officially named.

Blue screen of death

You don't want to see a blue screen of death

Blue screen blues

The fact that the update was causing 'blue screen of death' errors, which cause Windows to become unresponsive and display a blue error screen, on enough PCs to warrant the delay of the update makes us feel like this was the correct move.

You can still download and install the Windows 10 Spring Creators Update early and, if you have, there's good news. With the release of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17134 (RS4), which is available to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring, Microsoft appears to have addressed these issues.

The fact that Microsoft has released the fixes as a separate build (17134 doesn’t come with any other new features or fixes) rather than waiting to include it in a larger, cumulative update shows how seriously it's taking the problem.

It also gives us hope that we’ll see an official release of the Spring Creators Update, or whatever Microsoft decides to call it, sooner rather than later.

To install the update, open up the Settings app, then go to ‘Update & Security’ then click on ‘Check for updates’.

Matt Hanson
Managing Editor, Core Tech


Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. Ever since he got an Amiga A500+ for Christmas in 1991, he's loved using (and playing on) computers, and will talk endlessly about how The Secret of Monkey Island is the best game ever made.