This article is for people with visual or cognitive impairments who use a screen reader program such as Windows Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Microsoft 365 screen reader support content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support.
Use your keyboard and a screen reader to check for and install updates in Windows 11. We have tested it with Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.
Notes:
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To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.
In this topic
Check if updates are available
Windows 11 regularly checks for updates while your computer is switched on. You can also perform the manual check at any time.
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To open Settings, press the Windows logo key +I. With Narrator and NVDA, you hear: "Settings window, search box, find a setting." With JAWS, you hear: "Settings, search box, find a setting."
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Type Update in the search field. The list of search results is updated as you type. When you stop typing, with Narrator, you hear: "Suggestions." With JAWS and NVDA, you hear the number of search results. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Windows Update settings," and then press Enter to open the Windows Update page.
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To check for updates, press the Tab key until you hear "Check for updates, button," and then press Enter. Windows takes a moment to perform the check.
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If you hear "Updates available," Windows automatically starts downloading and installing the updates. After the installation is complete, you might hear: "Restart required." In this case, do one of the following:
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Keep working normally. The updates will be finished when you restart your computer the next time.
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Restart immediately. Save all your work if necessary, close your open apps, and then, on the Windows Update page in Settings, press Shift+Tab until you hear: "Restart now." Press Enter to restart your computer.
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Check for additional updates
There might be an update available even if you hear "You're up to date" when checking for updates as described in Check if updates are available. These are typically monthly non-security updates or feature updates released twice per year. To check for additional updates:
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To open Settings, press the Windows logo key +I. With Narrator and NVDA, you hear: "Settings window, search box, find a setting." With JAWS, you hear: "Settings, search box, find a setting."
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Type Update in the search field. The list of search results is updated as you type. When you stop typing, with Narrator, you hear: "Suggestions." With JAWS and NVDA, you hear the number of search results. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Windows Update settings," and then press Enter to open the Windows Update page.
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Press the Tab key until you hear "Advanced options, more, button," and then press Enter. Press the Tab key until you hear "Optional updates, more, button," and then press Enter.
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If additional updates are available, you hear the name of the first available update category, for example, "Driver updates," followed by "Show all settings, button," and either "Expanded" or "Collapsed." If you hear "Collapsed," press Enter to expand the category.
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Press the Tab key until you hear the name of the first update, followed by "Checkbox." Press Spacebar to select or clear the checkbox.
Note: You usually need to press the Tab key twice per each update to reach the checkbox.
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Press the Tab key or Shift+Tab to move forwards or backwards between categories and updates. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have checked all available categories and updates and selected the ones you want to install.
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Press the Tab key until you hear "Download and install," and then press Enter. Windows starts downloading and installing the selected updates.
Note: Additional updates can take a while to download and install because of their size.
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After the installation is complete, you might hear: "Restart required." In this case, do one of the following:
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Keep working normally. The update will be finished when you restart your computer the next time.
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Restart immediately. Save all your work if necessary, close your open apps, and then, on the Windows Update page in Settings, press Shift+Tab until you hear: "Restart now." Press Enter to restart your computer. This might take a little longer than usual because the update process is finishing up.
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See also
Troubleshoot problems updating Windows
Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Settings in Windows
Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365
Technical support for customers with disabilities
Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.
If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.
