Windows Update: FAQ

Note: If you’re looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.

In Windows 10, you decide 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 2020 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 2004.

To manually check for the latest recommended updates, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > 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 Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > 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 Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update , and then view available updates.
Check for updates

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot . Under Get up and running, select Windows Update.

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 November 2019 Update (version 1909) or later, or in Windows version 1809 for Pro or Enterprise, select Start > 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 Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > 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 Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > 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 Start > 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?

Reserved storage is not automatically turned on by Windows in any update scenarios. It is only turned on for new devices with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) or later preinstalled, or devices on which a clean install was performed.

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:

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 Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.

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.

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.

Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.

How to Disable Automatic Updates on Windows 10 Home (1607)

Please tell me how to effectively disable Automatic Updates on Windows 10 Home (1607).

Microsoft is ruining my life! After re-installing Windows 10 Home (1607) on Thursday for the 32nd time this year, I woke up this morning to find out that my (custom built) work PC has been yet again updated without my consent.

I’ve had to reinstall Windows 10 Home (1607) roughly 32 times this year because the Creator’s update (1709) keeps breaking my work PC.

I briefly tried switching to Windows 7 but had to switch back to Windows 10 Home (1607) due to software incompatibility issues.

I’ve tried every solution I can find (registry hacks), and I’ve spent at least 4 hours on the phone to the Microsoft Up and Running team in India, despite granting them remote access to my PC, nothing they’ve done has worked — It’s been a complete waste of my time.

This issue has been beyond frustrating, moreover, it has cost me thousands of pounds because It takes me roughly 5 days to painstakingly re-install and reconfigure the myriad of programs I use (code editors, design software, music software, 3D software and plugins) while also dealing with other responsibilities in my life. There’s nothing more embarrassing than telling a client you can’t meet a deadline because your computer isn’t working.

Worst of all, I feel trapped because I can’t afford the cost of building a new PC (in the hopes that it might be able to handle the creator’s update) or switching to a top-tier Mac.

Full Fix: Windows 10 automatic update problems

• Updates for your Windows 10 computer are very important. That’s why, having updates downloaded and installed automatically makes it that much easier to maintain your system.
• If automatic updates are getting stuck or fail to install, running the troubleshooter, making sure there is enough disk space or checking your security software are the most common ways to deal with this.
• Keeping an updated Windows is one of the most recommended best practice. The next one is usually around using an antivirus. Luckily we have just the right list of the best antivirus software available.
• We think that having a centralized place for all Windows 10 errors can be very useful. Check it out.

1. Download Restoro PC Repair Tool that comes with Patented Technologies (patent available here).
2. Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.
3. Click Repair All to fix issues affecting your computer’s security and performance

• Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

Windows 10 installs the missing updates automatically, but sometimes you might encounter automatic update problems on your PC. These problems can leave your system vulnerable, so today we’ll show you how to fix them.

Automatic update problems on Windows 10, how to fix them?

Windows Update is an important part of Windows 10, but sometimes you might encounter automatic update problems. Speaking of these issues, here are some common problems that users reported:

• Windows Update not working Windows 10 – This is a common problem that can occur with Windows 10, and it’s usually caused by your antivirus, so be sure to disable it.
• Windows 10 automatic update error – There are various automatic update errors that can occur on Windows 10, and if you encounter them, just run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
• Windows 10 automatic update is stuck, taking forever – Stuck updates are a common problem on Windows 10, and if waiting for update process to finish doesn’t help, you can always try disconnecting the external storage.
• Automatic update service is not running – This issue can occur if there’s a problem with Windows Update components, however, you can fix the problem simply by restarting the necessary components.

Solution 1 – Check your antivirus

According to users, the most common issue with automatic updates can be your antivirus software. In some cases, the antivirus can interfere with your system and cause various problems with Windows Update.

To fix the problem, it’s advised to disable certain antivirus features and check if that helps. If that doesn’t work, your next step would be to disable your antivirus altogether. In the worst case scenario, you might even have to remove your antivirus.

If removing the antivirus solves the issue, you might want to consider switching to a different security software. There are many great antivirus tools on the market, and if you want maximum protection that won’t interfere with your system, then you should consider using Bitdefender.

Solution 2 – Change Windows Update settings

1. Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by pressing Windows Key + I shortcut.
2. When Settings app opens, go to Update & Security section.
   
3. Navigate to Advanced options.
   
4. Now disable Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows option.
   
5. Scroll down and navigate to Delivery Optimization section.
   
6. Locate Allow downloads from other PCs option and disable it.
   

If you’re having automatic update problems on Windows 10, you might be able to fix them by making a couple of changes to the Windows Update settings. After making these changes, check if the problems with automatic updates are resolved.

Solution 3 – Free up some space

1. Press Windows Key + S and enter disk cleanup. Choose Disk Cleanup from the list of results.
   
2. Select your system drive and click OK.
   
3. Disk Cleanup will now scan your drive. This can take a couple of seconds, so don’t interrupt it.
   
4. When Disk Cleanup window opens, you’ll see a list of files. Select the files you want to remove and click OK.
   

Issues with automatic updates can occur due to lack of space on your PC, and in order to fix that, it’s advised to free up some space on your system drive. The updates require at least 20GB free on your system drive, and if you don’t have space, you’ll need to free it up as described above.

The application will now remove the selected files and you’ll successfully free up some space. If you’re not a fan of Disk Cleanup, you can also use third-party tools such as CCleaner to free up more space on your PC.

After freeing up space, try to install Windows Updates again.

Solution 4 – Disconnect USB storage devices

Many users use portable hard drives and other USB storage devices to store their files, but sometimes these devices can interfere with Windows Update and cause issues with automatic updates.

Run a System Scan to discover potential errors

To fix this problem, it’s advised that you disconnect all external storage devices from your PC and check if that solves the problem.

Solution 5 – Run Windows Update troubleshooter

According to users, if you have problems with automatic updates, the best way to fix them is to run Windows Update troubleshooter. Windows comes with many built-in troubleshooters that can fix common problems, and if you have problems with Windows Updates, you can fix the issue by doing the following:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
2. Select Troubleshoot from the left pane. Select Windows Update from the list and click Run the troubleshooter button.
   

The troubleshooter will now start and try to fix the problems automatically. Once the troubleshooter is finished, check if the problem is resolved.

Solution 6 – Reset Windows Update components

Sometimes problems with the automatic update can occur because certain Windows Update components aren’t working properly. However, you can fix that by resetting them. There are several ways to do that, but the fastest one is to use the command line. To do that, just follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) from the list.
   
2. Once

1. Command Prompt starts, run the following commands one by one:

• net stop wuauserv
• net stop cryptSvc
• net stop bits
• net stop msiserver
• Ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
• Ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
• net start wuauserv
• net start cryptSvc
• net start bits
• net start msiserver

After running all these commands, the Windows Update components will reset and the issue should be resolved.

Solution 7 – Disable your proxy

Many users use proxy in order to protect their privacy online, but sometimes your proxy can interfere with your Internet connection and cause automatic update problems. However, you can easily fix this issue by disabling your proxy. This is pretty easy to do, and you can do it by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app. Now select Network & Internet.
   
2. Navigate to Proxy in the left pane. In the right pane disable all options.

Once you do that, the proxy should be completely disabled on your PC and problems with automatic updates will be resolved. If you’re still concerned about your privacy, we suggest that you try using a VPN. There are many great VPN tools, and one of the best is CyberGhost VPN (77% off), so be sure to try it out.

Solution 8 – Download the missing update manually

If you’re having automatic update problems, you might be able to circumvent them simply by downloading and installing the missing updates manually. All Windows updates are available for download from Microsoft Catalog, and you can download them for free.

Before you can download the missing update, you need to know its update code. The update code starts with KB and it’s followed by an array of numbers, and you can usually find it in the Windows Update section. Once you find the update code, you can download the update by doing the following:

1. Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website and enter the update code in the search box.
2. You should now see the list of matching updates. Pick the update that uses the same architecture as your PC and click the Download button.
   
3. Wait while the update is downloaded. Once the download is finished, run the setup file to install the update.

Keep in mind that this solution might not fix the core problem with Windows Update, but at least it will allow you to install the missing update.

Solution 9 – Perform an in-place upgrade

If other solutions didn’t fix the automatic update problems on your PC, you might have to perform an in-place upgrade. This process will install the latest version of Windows while keeping all your files and applications intact. To perform an in-place upgrade, do the following:

1. Download and run Media Creation Tool.
2. Select Upgrade this PC now option in Windows Media Creation Tool.
3. Wait while the setup prepares the necessary files.
4. Select Download and install updates (recommended) and click Next.
5. The setup will now download the updates. This can take a while so be patient.
6. Once the updates are downloaded, follow the instructions on the screen. Once you reach Ready to install screen click Change what to keep.
7. Select Keep personal files and apps and click Next.
8. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

After performing the in-place upgrade, you’ll have the latest version of Windows 10 and the problem with the automatic update should be fixed.