Windows 10: Reliability Update KB4023057 (Feb. 2021) released

[German]Microsoft has re-released on Feb. 11, 2021 an updated version of the reliability update KB4023057 for machines with Windows 10. The update is supposed to improve the reliability of the Windows Update service.

A reader's tip

German blog reader Guido B. emailed me last night (thanks for that) to let me know that update KB4023057 had been installed on a Windows 10 machine for him. Here is his message:

Hello Mr. Born,

I have a new laptop and was amazed to be offered and installed Update: KB 4023057 via the Windows Update feature this evening. A restart of my system was not requested. Specifically, I have been using the laptop for a good 3 weeks and so far this update did not come! Since it is a new Acer laptop worth 900 euros, I assume that should be enough storage space on my SSD. Why I received this update, I do not understand.

Designation under update history/quality updates: (KB4023057)

2021-01 Update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64 based systems

My system: Windows 10 Home Version: 20H2 19042.804

Hard disk: 409GB of 475GB free

I could not elicit any changes to my system's network settings after the update.

A quick search on the web confirms that this update was offered to other users. In the Microsoft Update Catalog the update is listed as of February 1, 2021.

Reliability Update KB4023057

In the support article KB4023057 Microsoft outlines the purpose of this update, which is only available for consumer systems with Windows 10, as: 

This update includes reliability improvements to Windows Update Service components in consumer Windows 10, versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809, 1903, 1909, 2004, and 20H2. It may take steps to free up disk space on your device if you do not have enough disk space to install Windows updates.

This update includes files and resources that address issues that affect the update processes in Windows 10 that may prevent important Windows updates from being installed. These improvements help make sure that updates are installed seamlessly on your device, and they help improve the reliability and security of devices that are running Windows 10.

So, the update will be made available for all Windows 10 versions that have been released for home users so far. However, the list of supported Windows 10 versions is quite wasteful. That's because Windows 10 versions 1507 (RTM) to 1903 have since fallen out of support in the consumer edition (Home and Pro). And in enterprise environments, where some of these versions are still in support, the reliability update is not offered. The purpose of distributing this update widely should be to make older Windows 10 versions that can't be updated to the latest Windows builds because of problems with Windows Update ready for a move, if necessary.

I wrote more details about what this update is doing in my blog post Windows 10: Update KB4023057 released (Sept. 6, 2018). In addition, these details are also described in the support post for update KB4023057. 

Similar articles:
Windows 10 reliability update KB4023057 (02/08/2018)
Windows 10: Update KB4023057 re-released
Windows 10 Updates KB4295110/KB4023057 (08/09/2018)
Windows 10: Update KB4023057
Windows 10: What is REMSH.exe for?
Windows 10: Update KB4023057 released (Sept. 6, 2018)
Windows 10: Refresh for Reliability Update KB4023057 (Nov. 2020)