Service Pack and Update Center

Get the latest update for Windows 10

Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs updates to make sure your device is secure and up to date. This means you receive the latest fixes and security updates, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected.

Though updates are downloaded and installed automatically, they may not be available on all devices at the same time—we’re making sure updates are ready and compatible.

To check for updates manually, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update >, and then select Check for updates.

A service pack (SP) is a Windows update, often combining previously released updates, that helps make Windows more reliable. Service packs can include security and performance improvements and support for new types of hardware. Make sure you install the latest service pack to help keep Windows up to date. Service packs take about 30 minutes to install, and you’ll need to restart your computer about halfway through the installation.

The recommended (and easiest) way to get updates such as service packs is to turn on Windows Update for Windows 8.1 and let Windows notify you when the updates you need are ready to install.

A service pack (SP) is a Windows update, often combining previously released updates, that helps make Windows more reliable. Service packs, which are provided free of charge on this page, can include security and performance improvements and support for new types of hardware. Make sure you install the latest service pack to help keep Windows up to date. Service packs take about 30 minutes to install, and you’ll need to restart your computer about halfway through the installation.

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

The latest service pack for Windows 7 is Service Pack 1 (SP1). Learn how to get SP1.

Support for Windows 7 RTM (without SP1) ended on April 9, 2013.

What Is a Service Pack?

Definition of a service pack and how to tell which one you have

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A service pack is a collection of updates and fixes, called patches, for an operating system or a software program. Many of these patches are often released before a larger service pack, but the service pack allows for an easy, single installation.

An installed service pack also tends to update the version number for Windows. This is the actual version number, not the common name like Windows 10 or Windows Vista.

More Information on Service Packs

Service packs often include new features in addition to fixes. This is why one version of a program or OS can be much different than another on a different computer. This is especially true if one person remains on an early service pack and another is two or three service packs ahead.

Most of the time, a program or operating system refers to service packs by the number of service packs that have been released. For example, the first service pack is usually called SP1, and others take on their own numbers like SP2 and SP5.

Most operating systems and software programs provide service packs free of charge as either a manual update from the developer’s website or through an auto-update feature within the program or OS.

Service packs are often released on a schedule, like every year or every two or three years.

Even though service packs contain lots of updates in one package, you don’t have to manually install each update on your own. The way service packs work is that after you download the initial package, you just install it like you would a single program, and all the fixes, new features, and so on are installed automatically or with you clicking through just a few prompts.

What Service Pack Do I Have?

Checking to see what service pack is installed on your Windows operating system is really easy; learn how it’s done through Control Panel.

Verifying the service-pack level of an individual software program usually works through the Help or About menu options within the program. The most recent service pack might also be posted on the developer’s website in a Release Notes or Changelog section, which is helpful if you’re using the most up-to-date version of the program.

Am I Running the Latest Service Pack?

Once you know what service pack level Windows or another program are running at, check to see if it’s the latest available. If you’re not running the latest service pack, download and install it.

Below are updated lists containing download links for the service packs for Windows and other programs:

In Windows, service packs push through Windows Update but you can just as easily install one manually using the Latest Microsoft Windows Service Packs as linked above.

For example, to download Windows 7 Service Pack 1, check out the Windows Service Packs link, find the right download based on your system type, download the linked file, and then run it as you would any program you download and plan to install.

Service Pack Errors

It’s more likely for a service pack to cause an error for a program or operating system than it is for a single patch.

The service pack updates take much longer to download and install than a single patch, so there are more places where an error could occur. Also, because service packs feature many updates in one package, the odds increase that one of them will interfere with another application or driver that’s already on the computer.

Learn how to fix problems caused by Windows Updates if you’ve experienced a problem after or before the service pack has finished installing, such as the update freezing and not installing all the way.

If you’re dealing with a service pack for a specific program, it’s best to contact the support team for that software. It’s next to impossible to apply blanket troubleshooting steps to service packs for all programs, but uninstalling and reinstalling the software should be the first step if you’re not sure what else to try.

How to Find Which Windows Service Pack or Update You Have Installed

You should always be running the latest version

Windows service packs and other updates improve the stability and sometimes the functionality of Windows. Making sure you have the latest updates installed ensures that Windows and the software you run on Windows is working well and is secure from malicious attacks.

You can see which service pack or major update you have installed in most versions of Windows through the Control Panel. However, the specific way you go about viewing this information depends on which operating system you have.

Start by determining your version of Windows so you know which set of steps to follow along with below. If you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 8, you’ll notice that you don’t have a service pack installed. This is because, with these versions of Windows, Microsoft releases updates on a continual basis in smaller chunks instead of infrequent, large packs as was the case with earlier Windows versions.

You can always install the latest Windows service pack or update automatically via Windows Update. Or, if you’re needing a service pack for Windows 7 or earlier versions of Windows, you can do so manually by following the links to the latest Microsoft Windows service packs and updates.

Windows 10

You can find basic Windows 10 information in the System section of Control Panel, but the specific version number of Windows 10 is found in Settings:

Open Settings in Windows 10 by pressing the Windows Key+I key combination.

That’s an uppercase «i» not an «L».

Select System when the Windows Settings screen opens.

Choose About from the left pane at the bottom.

The Windows 10 major update you have installed is shown on the Version line.

A faster way to find the Windows 10 version number is by typing the winver command at the command prompt or in the Run dialog box.

Windows 10 updates can be easily installed through Windows Update.

Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP

The System area of Control Panel is where you can find information for Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

Open Control Panel. The fastest way to open Control Panel in Windows 8 is to select it through the Power User Menu (Windows Key+X). For other versions of Windows, open the Start menu and select Control Panel.

Select System and Security (8 and 7), System and Maintenance (Vista), or Performance and Maintenance (XP).

You won’t see this option if you’re viewing Control Panel in the large icons, small icons, or classic views. Instead, select System and then skip down to Step 4.

Choose System.

At the top of the System window, under the Windows edition section, is the Windows major update version or service pack level. On Windows XP, from the General tab, look for the service pack details at the top, under System.

Things to Remember

If you’re still running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, it’s recommended to update to the latest Windows 8 version via Windows Update. If you don’t want the most up-to-date Windows 8 version to be installed automatically, you can instead download the Windows 8.1 update manually.

The same is true for Windows 7, Vista, and XP: Windows 7 SP1, Vista SP2, and XP SP3 are the latest major updates for those operating systems, so you should update to them if you’re not already.

If you don’t have the latest update installed, or don’t have a service pack installed at all, then you should do so as soon as you can. You can install these updates automatically from Windows Update or manually by downloading and installing them.

Latest Windows Service Packs and Updates

An updated list of the latest Windows service packs and major updates

Microsoft regularly releases major updates to its Windows operating systems.

Formerly, those updates pushed through comprehensive service packs, but more often these days, they’re semi-regular and significant updates through Windows Update.

In fact, in Windows 10 and Windows 8, the service pack, as we know it from previous versions of Windows, is essentially a dead idea. Much like updates on your smartphone, Microsoft is continually adding major features through automatic patching.

Latest Major Updates to Windows 10

As of April 2021, the last major update to Windows 10 is Windows 10 Version 20H2, referred to as the Windows 10 October 2020 Update. This update began rolling out on October 20, 2020.

Updating is automatic through Windows Update.

You can read more about the individual fixes and improvements on Microsoft’s What’s New in Windows 10 Version 20H2.

Latest Major Updates to Windows 8

As of April 2021, the latest major update for Windows 8 is the confusingly named Windows 8.1 Update.

If you’ve already updated to Windows 8.1, the easiest way to update to Windows 8.1 Update is through Windows Update. See instructions for manually installing Windows 8.1 Update in the Download Windows 8.1 Update section of our Windows 8.1 Update Facts piece.

If you’re not already running Windows 8.1, see How to Update to Windows 8.1 for detailed instructions on applying the Windows 8.1 update. When that’s done, update to Windows 8.1 Update through Windows Update.

Microsoft isn’t planning another big update to Windows 8, like a Windows 8.2 or Windows 8.1 Update 2. New features, if available, will instead be pushed through updates on Patch Tuesday.

Latest Microsoft Windows Service Packs (Windows 7, Vista, XP)

The most recent Windows 7 service pack is SP1, but a Convenience Rollup for Windows 7 SP1 (basically an otherwise-named Windows 7 SP2) is also available which installs all patches between the release of SP1 (February 22, 2011) through April 12, 2016.

The latest service packs for other versions of Microsoft Windows include Windows Vista SP2, Windows XP SP3, and Windows 2000 SP4.

In the table below are links that take you directly to the latest Microsoft Windows service packs and major updates for each operating system. These updates are free.

The easiest way to install the latest Windows service pack or update is to run Windows Update.

Download Links for Windows Updates & Service Packs
Operating System	Service Pack / Update	Size (MB)	Download
Windows 7	Convenience Rollup (April 2016) 2	316.0	32-bit
Convenience Rollup (April 2016) 2	476.9	64-bit
SP1 (windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe)	541.9	32-bit
SP1 (windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe)	912.4	64-bit
Windows Vista 3	SP2	475.5	32-bit
SP2	745.2	64-bit
Windows XP	SP3 4	316.4	32-bit
SP2 5	350.9	64-bit
Windows 2000	SP4	588 (KB)	32-bit

_{[1] Beginning in Windows 8, Microsoft began releasing regular, major updates to Windows 8. Service packs will not be released.
[2] Windows 7 SP1 and the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update both must be installed prior to installing the Convenience Rollup.
[3] Windows Vista SP2 can only be installed if you already have Windows Vista SP1 installed, which you can download here for both 32-bit 64-bit version.
[4] Windows XP SP3 can only be installed if you already have Windows XP SP1a or Windows XP SP2 installed. If you do not have one or the other of those service packs installed, install SP1, available here, before trying to install Windows XP SP3.
[5] Windows XP Professional is the only 64-bit version of Windows XP and the latest service pack released for the operating system is SP2.}