Windows 10 Lean will trim the features for better performance on slower devices
But it’s set to be even more locked down than Windows 10 S
While we’re still waiting for the next major version of Windows 10 to be released, which now will apparently be called Windows 10 April Update, we’ve also seen evidence of new features that will come in later updates, including a new cut-down version of the operating system known as Windows 10 Lean.
According to a Twitter user named Lucan, Windows 10 Lean will be a new installation option when you install Windows 10 from scratch. The new edition is available in an early version of Windows 10, build (17650), which can be downloaded by Windows Insiders who have chosen the ‘Skip Ahead’ feature.
It looks like Windows 10 Lean will be a 64-bit version of Windows 10 that is 2GB smaller than Windows 10 Pro, with a number of features cut to save disc space.
Welcome to Windows 10 Lean/CloudE/S (once again?)This new edition started shipping with this week's Skip Ahead build (17650)It seems to be heavily cut down, an x64 clean install is roughly 2 GB smaller than ProIts edition ID is 0xB7 which was missing from SDK headers pic.twitter.com/2Sn3SVXeZBApril 20, 2018
This means wallpapers, drivers for CD and DVD drives, and a number of apps have been cut. In this early version, Lucas also found that Microsoft’s Edge browser doesn't show download prompts, which means you can't get files from the internet, making it even more restricted than Windows 10 S.
So it looks like Windows 10 Lean will be aimed at devices which have limited resources, and where security is a priority. It’s good to see Microsoft targeting hardware like that, but the ever-growing list of Windows 10 varieties is quickly becoming confusing.
None more black
Another upcoming feature was also unveiled on Twitter, this time by Rafael Rivera, a software engineer, who found that a dark theme is coming for File Explorer.
This makes the windows you use for browsing the files on your computer a better match for any theme you have that uses dark colors.
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Well, it's a start.(mach2 enable 10397285) pic.twitter.com/PI5JKJAid2April 20, 2018
While it’s not a particularly groundbreaking feature, it is one that quite a few people have asked for in the past.
Again, this is an early version of the feature, but if you fancy trying it out Rivera has creating a hacking tool known as Mach2 that will allow you to enable it. Of course, we always advise that you take care when using such tools.
Via MSPoweruser
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. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.