The next major update to Windows 10 will roll out performance improvements to support remote work and security.

Microsoft officially confirmed in a blog post that an update to Windows 10, version 21H1, will be released this spring. The company traditionally releases two major Windows updates a year; the 21H1 version follows the October 2020 update and precedes a major software overhaul, codenamed "Sun Valley," scheduled for this fall.

Starting today, Microsoft is making 21H1 available to beta testers in its Windows Insiders program. It will then be released to all Windows 10 users "later in the first half of this year," in April or May.

"Version 21H1 of Windows 10 will have a scope of features that will improve security, remote access, and quality," said John Cable, head of Windows Servicing and Delivery at Microsoft. The features we are releasing in this update are focused on the core experiences that customers have told us they rely on the most right now."

Cable said, "We've been working on this for a while now, and we're excited about the new features.

Cable also explained that version 21H1 will be delivered using Microsoft's servicing technology, similar to the monthly updates and the October 2020 update. In other words, installation should be quick and seamless.

Microsoft highlighted three key features in the upcoming Windows 10 update.

The first new Windows 10 feature is designed to allow users to connect an external camera and set it as the default for laptops that already have a built-in camera. The latter two items are intended to improve security and support remote work.

Version 21H1 of Windows 10 is the smaller of Microsoft's two updates this year. Codenamed "Sun Valley," due in the fall, is rumored to be a complete revamp of the desktop interface, with a new Start menu, Action Center, file explorer, and taskbar.