Windows.old folder after only windows update, not install

Can this folder also be created just from a windows update too?

Yes, it does in case of major updates.

Major updates in Windows 10 such as the November update or the coming Aniversity update change the OS version and not just the build. You can see them in the Settings->System->About. When these updates are installed the files related to older version of windows will be stored in windows.old folder. This folder will be automatically be deleted after a month.

however the folder date seems to coincide with a windows update

That should be major update that changes the OS version.

Difference between build and version

Consider the following screenshot,

The version is 1511 means it is corresponds to 2015 November release. The updates installed after does not add any new features and hence does not change the version of the operating system. However

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