Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to update Windows. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

How to Update Windows

Keeping Windows up to date is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your computer. Regular patching delivers security fixes, new features, bug fixes, and improved compatibility with hardware and software.

Check Your Windows Version

Before following the steps below, confirm which version of Windows you are using. Some menu paths and options differ between Windows 10 and Windows 11. See our article on how to check your Windows version.

Why Update Windows?

Updates deliver:

• Security fixes that protect against viruses, ransomware, and other threats
• New features and improvements
• Bug fixes and performance improvements
• Compatibility with the latest hardware and software

How to Check for Updates

Method 1: Settings App (Recommended)

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click Windows Update in the left-hand menu.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Wait for Windows to scan for available updates.

Method 2: Search from the Start Menu

1. Press Win (or click the Start button) and type Windows Update settings.
2. Select the Windows Update settings result.
3. Click Check for updates.

Installing Available Updates

Quality Updates vs Feature Updates

Windows delivers two main types of updates:

• Quality updates: Monthly security and reliability patches. These download and install automatically through Windows Update.
• Feature updates: Larger version upgrades (for example, moving to a new release of Windows 11). These may require more disk space and a longer installation time.

If Updates Are Found

1. Click Download if prompted.
2. Wait for the download to complete. Progress is shown in the Settings window.
3. Click Install now or Restart now when the download finishes.
4. Your PC will restart to apply the updates. This may take several minutes.

If No Updates Are Available

• You will see the message “You’re up to date”.
• Check again in a few days, or refer to the troubleshooting section below if you suspect updates are missing.

Feature Updates Using Windows Update Assistant or Media Creation Tool

Windows 11

1. Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website.
2. Run the tool and choose “Upgrade this PC now”.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to upgrade to the latest feature update.

Windows 10

1. Download the Windows Update Assistant from Microsoft’s website.
2. Run the tool and follow the on-screen prompts to upgrade to the latest feature update.
3. Alternatively, download the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10, select “Upgrade this PC now”, and follow the wizard.

Manually Download Updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog

1. Identify the KB number of the required update (for example, KB5021234).
2. Open a web browser and go to the Microsoft Update Catalog.
3. Enter the KB number in the search box and press Enter.
4. Download the appropriate package for your system architecture (x64, x86, ARM).
5. Run the downloaded .msu file and follow the installation wizard.
6. After installation, restart the PC and verify the update appears in Settings > Windows Update > Update history.

Managing Updates

Pause Updates Temporarily

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Pause updates.
3. Choose a date from the calendar picker. Windows 11 typically allows up to 35 days; Windows 10 limits may differ.

Set Active Hours

Active Hours tells Windows when you typically use your PC so it will not restart for updates during those times.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Advanced options.
3. Under Active hours, choose Automatically adjust active hours or set them manually.

Restart Scheduling and Notifications

Windows may notify you when a restart is required to complete updates. You can schedule a restart for a convenient time from the Windows Update page or from the restart notification. Active Hours helps prevent automatic restarts during your typical workday.

Receive Updates for Other Microsoft Products

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
2. Under Other Microsoft products, toggle Receive updates for other Microsoft products on or off.
3. When enabled, updates for products such as Microsoft Edge and Office are delivered alongside Windows updates.

View Update History

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Update history.
3. Review installed quality updates, driver updates, and feature updates.

Defer Feature and Quality Updates

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
2. Under Feature updates, select the number of weeks to defer. Windows 10 allows up to 365 days; Windows 11 allows up to 30 days.
3. Under Quality updates, choose the defer period. Windows 10 allows up to 4 weeks; Windows 11 allows up to 7 days.

Reset Windows Update

If updates are failing, stuck, or not appearing, perform a full Windows Update reset:

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
2. Stop the update-related services:

   net stop wuauserv
   net stop bits
   net stop cryptsvc
   net stop msiserver

3. Rename the distribution folders:

   ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
   ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

4. Restart the services:

   net start wuauserv
   net start bits
   net start cryptsvc
   net start msiserver

5. Close Command Prompt and run Check for updates again.

Troubleshooting Common Update Issues

Common Error Codes

• 0x80070057: Often indicates invalid parameters or corrupted update components. Try the Windows Update reset procedure above.
• 0x80240034: Indicates that the update was not found. Run Windows Update again after restarting your PC.

Insufficient Disk Space

If an update fails due to low disk space, free up space using Disk Cleanup or by removing unnecessary files. See our guide on how to free up disk space. Windows 11 feature updates generally require at least 10 GB of free space.

Roll Back a Feature Update

If a feature update causes problems, you can uninstall it within 10 days of installation:

1. Open Settings > System > Recovery (Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Recovery (Windows 10).
2. Under Go back (Windows 11) or Go back to the previous version of Windows (Windows 10), click Go back.
3. Follow the prompts to uninstall the feature update and restore the previous version.

MSP-Managed Devices

If your computer is managed by your IT service provider, Windows Update may be disabled or controlled by patching policies. Do not attempt manual resets or major updates without consulting your provider first.

Still need help?

If you cannot resolve update issues after following this guide, please Open a Ticket for support.

Still Having Issues?