Windows 10
Note
If you're looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.
Windows 10 offers you the choice of when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you'll get the latest fixes and security improvements, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected. In most cases, restarting your device completes the update. Make sure your device is plugged in when you know updates will be installed.
If other questions come up when you update Windows 10, here are some other areas that might interest you:
When you only want info about updating Windows 10, you'll find answers to many of your questions here:
When the Windows 10 May 2019 Update is ready for your device, it will be available to download and install from the Windows Update page in Settings. Choose a time that works best for you to download the update. You'll then need to restart your device and complete the installation. After that, your device will be running Windows 10, version 1903.
To manually check for the latest recommended updates, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update .
To get help updating to the latest version of Windows 10, go to the Microsoft software download page and download the Update Assistant.
Some updates may not be available on all devices at the same time—we’re making sure updates are ready and compatible.
To stay up to date, select the Start button > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update , and then select Check for updates.
If a feature update is available for your device, it will appear separately on the Windows Update page. To install it, select Download and install now.
Here are a few things you can try if you're having trouble installing updates:
- Make sure that your device is connected to the internet. Downloading updates requires an internet connection.
- If you’re connected the internet, try to install the updates manually. Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update , and then view available updates.
Check for updates - Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot . Under Get up and running, select Windows Update.
- If the Troubleshooter doesn't fix the problem, see Troubleshoot problems updating Windows 10 or Fix Windows Update errors.
The time required to download updates primarily depends on internet connection speed, network settings, and update size. Make sure your device is plugged in and connected to the internet to download updates faster.
You can’t stop updates entirely—because they help keep your device safe and secure, updates will eventually need to be installed and downloaded, regardless of your update settings. Here's how to temporarily pause updates from being downloaded and installed. Note that after the pause limit is reached, you'll need to install the latest updates before you can pause updates again.
In the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) or in Windows version 1809 for Pro or Enterprise, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update . Then choose one of the following options:
- Select Pause updates for 7 days.
- Select Advanced options. Then, in the Pause updates section, select the drop-down menu and specify a date for updates to resume.
To finish installing an update, your device will need to restart. Windows will try to restart your device when you're not using it. If it can't, you'll be asked to schedule the restart for a more convenient time. Or, you can schedule anytime by following these steps:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update .
- Select Schedule the restart and choose a time that's convenient for you.
You can set active hours to make sure automatic restarts for updates only happen when you're not using your device. Learn about active hours for Windows 10.
Try deleting files you don’t need, uninstalling apps you don’t use, or moving files to another drive like an external USB drive or OneDrive. For more tips on freeing up disk space, see Free up drive space in Windows 10.
We recommend keeping devices like laptops and tablets plugged in when you’re not using them. This way, if updates are installed outside active hours, your device will have enough power to complete the installation. Windows updates don’t consume more battery than other typical system processes.
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.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history .
For more info about what’s included in updates for Windows 10, see Windows 10 update history.
We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.
- Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.
Feature updates are typically released twice per year and include new functionality and capabilities as well as potential fixes and security updates. Quality updates are more frequent and mainly include small fixes and security updates. Windows is designed to deliver both kinds of updates to devices through Windows Update.
To double check that your device is up to date, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and see your update status and available updates.
To find which version of Windows you're running, see Which version of Windows operating system am I running?
No. Reserved storage will only be enabled on new devices with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) preinstalled or clean installed. Devices updating from a previous version of Windows 10 will not have reserved storage enabled.
The amount of temporary free space required to install any Windows update varies based on a number of factors, as detailed in the "Why does the amount of space required to update Windows vary so much?" section of Free up drive space in Windows 10. The Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) requires about the same amount of free disk space as previous updates when installed via Windows Update or an in-place upgrade.
Windows 8.1
Note
If you're looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.
The best way to keep Windows 8.1 up to date is to turn on automatic updates. With automatic updates, you don’t have to search for updates online or worry about missing critical fixes or device drivers for your PC. Instead, Windows Update automatically installs important updates as they become available.
To turn on automatic updates:
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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.
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Select Choose how updates get installed, and then, under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).
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Under Recommended updates, select Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.
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Under Microsoft Update, select Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows, and then select Apply.
Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.
Note
If your PC is connected to a network where updates are managed by Group Policy, you might not be able to change settings related to Windows Update. For more info, contact your organization’s technical support.
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. To check for updates manually, select Check now.
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 your PC’s update history, 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.
We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.
- 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.
Here are a few things to try if you’re having problems installing updates:
- 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.
- See the Fix Windows Update errors guided walkthrough to try to fix the problem.
Windows 7
Support for Windows 7 is ending on January 14, 2020 We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.
The best way to keep Windows 7 up to date is to turn on automatic updates. With automatic updates, you don’t have to search for updates online or worry about missing critical fixes or device drivers for your PC. Instead, Windows Update automatically installs important updates as they become available.
To turn on automatic updates:
- Select the Start button . Type Update in the search box, and select Windows Update from the list of results.
- In the left pane, select Change settings, and then under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).
- Under Recommended updates, turn on Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates, and then select OK.
Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.
Note
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.
To see your PC’s update history, select the Start button, then select Control Panel > Programs. Under Programs and Features, select View installed updates.
We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.
- Select the Start button, then select Control Panel > Programs. Under Programs and Features, select View installed updates.
- Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.
Here are some things you can try if you're having problems installing updates:
- 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.
- See the Fix Windows Update errors guided walkthrough to try to fix the problem.