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Why is the new Windows update naming system a terrible idea for expert users?
Microsoft is changing the way it names updates for Windows 11. The company says this will make the names simpler and easier for people to understand. This change affects how updates appear on the Windows Update page in your settings.
Understanding the Change
To see what is different, you must first know how update names used to look. An update name was very long and detailed. It looked something like this:
2025-09 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5070773)
This name told you the year and month, the update type, the Windows version, and the specific Knowledge Base (KB) number.
Now, Microsoft is making these titles much shorter. The new titles remove information like the date and your system type. The goal is to be more direct.
Here are examples of the new, simplified names:
- Security update (KB5034123)
- Preview update (KB5062660)
- .NET Framework security update (KB5056579)
- Logitech driver update (123.331.1.0)
- Phi Silica AI Component Update (KB5064650)
Microsoft believes these new titles are more intuitive. They only show what Microsoft thinks is the most important information. This includes the update type and its KB or version number.
A Significant Drawback
This change, however, creates a major problem for many users. The new naming system removes the date from the title. Before, you could immediately see that an update was from September 2025 (2025-09). This date gave you clear and immediate context.
Without the date, you only see a KB number, like KB5067036. Most people do not know what a specific KB number means without looking it up. The date was a simple piece of information that helped you track what was installed on your computer and when. This is especially important if an update causes problems. Knowing the date helps you identify the troublesome update quickly.
For system administrators and advanced users who manage computers, this removal is a step backward. They now must perform an extra step to find the release date. You can still find it by clicking the “More information” link, but this is less efficient. The at-a-glance information is gone. This change complicates a process that used to be simple for those who need this information the most.