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.
Windows 10 not installing updates after restart
I’ve searched everywhere, but can’t seem to find a person with this problem.
My computer is forcing me to schedule a restart to install an update every time I turn it on. It sets the restart to about 15 minutes after I power on, and there is no way for me to change it (the change schedule part is greyed out). While I have no problem with this, whenever I do restart my computer, Windows 10 installs no updates at all. It literally just restarts, and immediately asks me to schedule another restart in 15 minutes. So basically I get to use my computer for 15 minutes, and Windows forces me to restart for no reason. I’ve tried everything, including the «restart and install updates» options, but no update is installed at all each time.
What can I do about this?
Replies (41)
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I appreciate you for trying some steps in order to get the issue fixed.
Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter to check and fix issues with Update. I would suggest you to run this troubleshooter to check if the issue is with your Windows update.
Refer these steps:
1. Press Windows key + X, select Control panel.
2. Change the view by option on the top right to Large icons.
3. Click on Troubleshooting and click on the view all option on the left panel.
4. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
5. Restart the system and check if the issue is resolved.
Please revert if you face any issues with Installing Windows updates.
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The troubleshooter does not find any issues.
I have exactly the same problem.
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Sorry to hear that you are still facing the issue.
I would suggest you to try the methods below and check if it helps.
Method 1: Clean Boot
Place the computer in clean boot state and try to check for updates. Placing your system in Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue. You need to follow the steps from the article mentioned below to perform a Clean Boot.
Once you computer restarts in clean boot state, follow the steps below to check for updates:
1. Press Windows key + I to open settings.
2. Click Update and Security > Windows update > Check for updates.
Disclaimer: Once you are done with the troubleshooting, perform the steps in «How to reset the computer to start as usual after troubleshooting with clean boot» to reset computer as usual.
Method 2: Reset Windows update components
Manually reset the Windows Updates Components and then reinitiate the Windows Update process.
Resetting Windows Update Components will fix corrupt Windows Update Components and help you to install the Windows Updates quickly.
Please follow the below steps to reset the Windows Updates Components:
1. Press Windows Key + X on the keyboard and then select “ Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
2. Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer and the Windows Update Services . To do this, type the following commands at a command prompt. Press the “ENTER” key after you type each command.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
3. Now rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder. You can do this by typing the following commands in the Command Prompt. Press the “ENTER” key after you type each command.
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
4. Now, restart the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer and the Windows Update Services . Type the following commands in the Command Prompt for this. Press the ENTER key after you type each command.
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
5. Type Exit in the Command Prompt to close it and then restart the computer.
6.After restarting the computer, now retry to install Windows Updates.
Registry disclaimer:
Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.
Let us know the result. We will be glad to help if you need further assistance.
