How to Check for and Install Windows Updates

This article explains how to update the Windows operating system. These instructions work for Windows 11 through Windows 98.

How to Check for and Install Windows Updates

Windows updates are most easily installed using the Windows Update service. While you could certainly download updates manually from Microsoft's servers, updating via Windows Update is considerably easier to do.

The Windows Update service has changed over the years as Microsoft released new versions of Windows. While Windows updates used to be installed by visiting the Windows Update website, newer versions of Windows include a special built-in Windows Update feature with more options.

Below is the best way to check for, and install, Windows updates based on your version of Windows. You'll need to know which version of Windows you have to make sure you're following the correct steps for your computer.

Check for and Install Updates in Windows 11

In Windows 11, Windows Update is found in Settings.

Right-click the Start menu and choose Settings, or search for it from the search bar. Once it opens, select Windows Update from the left side.

To check for Windows 11 updates, select Check for updates.

Windows 11 checks for updates to the OS after selecting that button, but will also do so automatically. Depending on the options you have set up, your PC will reboot to apply some updates either while you're using your computer or sometime during an off time.

Check for and Install Updates in Windows 10

In Windows 10, Windows Update is found within Settings.

To get there, select the Start menu, followed by the gear/settings icon to the left. In there, choose Update & Security and then Windows Update on the left.

Check for new Windows 10 updates by choosing Check for updates.

In Windows 10, downloading and installing updates is automatic and will happen immediately after checking or, with some updates, at a time when you're not using your computer.

Check for and Install Updates in Windows 8, 7, and Vista

In Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, the best way to access Windows Update is via the Control Panel.

In these versions of Windows, Windows Update is included as an applet in Control Panel, complete with configuration options, update history, and lots more.

Just open Control Panel and then choose Windows Update.

Select Check for updates to check for new, uninstalled updates. Installation sometimes happens automatically or it might need to be done by you via the Install updates button, depending on what version of Windows you're using and how you have Windows Update configured.

Check for and Install Updates in Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98

In Windows XP and previous versions of Windows, Windows Update is available as a service hosted on Microsoft's Windows Update website.

Similar to the Control Panel applet and Windows Update tool in newer versions of Windows, available Windows updates are listed, alongside a few simple configuration options.

Checking for, and installing, uninstalled updates is as easy as selecting those respective links and buttons on the Windows Update website.

More on Installing Windows Updates

The Windows Update service isn't the only way to install Windows updates. As mentioned above, updates to Windows can also be downloaded individually from Microsoft Download Center and then installed manually.

Another option is to use a free software updater program. Those tools are usually built specifically for updating non-Microsoft programs but some include a feature for downloading Windows updates.

Most of the time, Windows updates are installed automatically on Patch Tuesday, but only if Windows is configured that way. See How to Change Windows Update Settings for more on this and how to change how updates are downloaded and installed.