When your device becomes eligible for the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, it will download automatically based on your Windows Update settings. Once the download is complete, you’ll be prompted to choose the best time for you to complete the installation. After it’s installed, your device will be running Windows 10, version 1803.
Can’t wait? See Get the Windows 10 April 2018 Update for info on how to get it now.
Here are some answers about how Windows Update keeps your PC up to date.
If your PC is connected to a network where updates are managed by Group Policy, you might be unable to change settings related to Windows Update. For more info, contact your organization’s support person.
Automatic updates in Windows 10:
Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs updates to make sure your device is up to date. To finish installing the update, your device will need to restart. If you're asked to restart your device while you're busy using it, you can schedule the restart for a more convenient time:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update .
- Select Schedule the restart and choose a time that's convenient for you.
Note
You can set active hours to make sure automatic restarts for updates only happen when you're not using your PC. Learn about active hours for Windows 10
If you’re using Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise, you can choose to temporarily pause updates from being downloaded and installed. This option isn’t available in other versions of Windows 10, including Window 10 Home:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update . Under Update settings, select Advanced options.
- Turn on Pause updates. Note that, after a certain amount of time or after canceling a pause, you'll need to install the latest updates before you can pause updates again.
To turn on automatic updates in Windows 8.1:
- Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. If you want to check for updates manually, select Check now.
- Select Choose how updates get installed, and then under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).
- Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box.
- Under Microsoft Update, select the Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows check box, and then select Apply.
To turn on automatic updates in Windows 7:
- Select the Start button . In the search box, enter Update, and then, in the list of results, select Windows Update.
- In the left pane, select Change settings, and then under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).
- Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box, and then select OK.
To manually check for updates in Windows 10:
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update . If you want to check for updates manually, select Check for updates.
To manually check for updates in Windows 8.1:
Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. If you want to check for updates manually, select Check now.
To manually check for updates in Windows 7:
An update history is available so you can see which updates were installed, and when. You can also use this list to remove specific updates, although we don't recommend this unless it's necessary.
To see update history in Windows 10:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options > View your update history.
For more info about what’s included in updates for Windows 10, see Windows 10 update history.
To see update history in Windows 8.1:
- Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.
To see update history in Windows 7:
- Select the Start button , then select Control Panel > Programs, and then under Programs and Features, select View installed updates.
To remove an update in Windows 10:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options > View your update history > Uninstall updates.
- Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.
To remove an update in Windows 8.1:
- Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.
- Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.
To see update history in Windows 7:
- Select the Start button , then select Control Panel > Programs, and then under Programs and Features, select View installed updates.
- Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.
- Make sure that your PC is connected to the Internet. Some updates can’t be installed if you’re using a metered Internet connection.
- If you’re connected the Internet and updates aren’t installed automatically, wait a few minutes and then try to install the updates manually.
- Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter to try to fix the problem.