Microsoft is rolling out a software update for Windows 8.1 on Tuesday, August 12th. But despite some earlier reports, this isn’t “Windows 8.1 Update 2” and we shouldn’t expect the kind of major changes we aw when Update 1 launched in April.

Microsoft has made a habit of releasing security updates once a month on “Update Tuesday,” and in recent months the company has begun adding new features as well as bug fixes.

That’s what we can expect next week: a handful of small improvements rather than a dramatic overhaul of the operating system.

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So what can we expect on August 12th? Here are a few things that Microsoft will roll up in the update:

  • Precision touchpad improvements
  • Miracast updates which let a computer act as a Miracast wireless display receiver
  • Fewer login prompts when using SharePoint online

Exciting, no? Yeah… no.

Anyway, the update will roll out starting August 12th to folks who have automatic updates enabled. You can also use Windows Update to apply the update manually and enterprise users can opt in or out of the update.

An update for Windows Server 2012 R2 is also coming August 12th.

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9 replies on “Microsoft: A Windows 8.1 update is coming August 12th, but it’s not that exciting”

  1. Hopefully the first one will help fix touchpad driver issues with my Dell, which seems to be over-sensitive no matter how much I adjust it.

  2. I’d like them to allow a task in the Task Scheduler to be able to wake a PC up from Connected Standby if set to do so.

  3. I thought the next update was going to address the “keyboard/mouse” users.

    “In the short term you’ll see less resources devoted to [Desktop mode] until we get Metro figured out, but once that happens the desktop is very much a first world citizen. It will be equal with metro. The desktop is not going away, we can’t develop Windows in Metro. … Once [Metro is] purring along smoothly, we’ll start making the desktop more advanced. We’ll add things that we couldn’t before. Things will be faster, more advanced, and craftier than they have in the past – and that’s why Metro is good for power users. -”

    I also thought it was going to bring back the traditional start menu…me thinks they are going to force the Win9 upgrade for that.

  4. “A Windows 8.1 update…”
    “..is not that exciting”

    Well that’s a redundant statement!

    1. Finally I can Miracast my android phone to my Surface and surf on the go easily. Now I just need to figure out how to Bluetooth my cover to the phone without the adapter.

    2. Same. Was thinking of buying a Chromecast but if it works (mirroring) then I can just use my spare T100.

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