How to Check for Windows Updates

How to Check for Updates

 

Installing updates can often provide stability to your machine as well as potentially resolving minor issues. No all updates are installed automatically and it is important to check for these updates regularly.

 

  1. Click on the Start menu

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

 

  1. Select the gear icon to go to Settings

A picture containing text, screen

Description automatically generated

 

  1. Select Update & Security

 

  1. Be sure to check the blue Check Online for Updates from Microsoft Update. Do this instead of the Check for Updates box above it as this will find all possible updates for your machine.

 

NOTE: If for some reason the Check online is not showing it is typically just that the last update was not finished or the page needs to be refreshed. You may see a retry button or you can in this case use the Check for Updates box. Sometimes after clicking this the Check Online link will appear again. 

 

 

Graphical user interface, application

Description automatically generated

 

  1. It may take some time to find the updates. You can leave this window open in the background while it is searching. Once it finds all the updates go ahead and install all of them. 

 

Additionally if you see an option at the bottom of the list of updates for  Optional Updates you will want to install those. 

 

NOTE: You may have to install some and restart and then check for updates again a few times to make sure all the updates that were available were installed.