Today, Microsoft released a new build for Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel, labeled build 26120.1252 under KB5038603. This update includes bug fixes and various improvements and introduces a feature called “checkpoint cumulative updates.”
This new feature is similar to another improvement allowing IT system administrators to manage feature update installations, instead of having them installed automatically. In a blog post on Microsoft’s Tech Community website, Maliha Qureshi, a Principal Program Manager Lead at Microsoft, explained the new feature.
The main idea behind checkpoint cumulative updates is to make Windows update downloads smaller, which means they will install faster. Due to their reduced size, this also allows major feature updates to be installed quickly.
Microsoft states that Windows 11 version 24H2 will have a new method for delivering feature updates. Instead of creating binary differentials for every cumulative update from the original RTM (release to manufacturing) version, updates will only generate these differentials from the latest checkpoint.
Additionally, Microsoft notes that this approach will reduce server-side load.
You can visit the official Microsoft Tech Community blog post for more details on checkpoint cumulative updates.