PC to Windows 11 – Keeping your computer up to date in the early days of Windows was a chore. This made it easy for viruses to spread, and it appeared that no two computers were running Windows in the same way at times.
Fortunately, Windows 10 and Windows 11 make updating a breeze. Windows should be downloading and offering updates automatically by default (although you may need to restart the computer on your own).
You can manually check for Windows 10 and Windows 11 updates if you believe there is one you haven’t received yet. You can also pause automatic updates if they annoy you (despite the fact that they are necessary).
Windows is set up to install updates in the background, with no need for you to do anything. Even so, you can check for updates and have Windows automatically install them.
This is useful if you need a new feature that’s only available in an optional update, or if you’re troubleshooting a Windows problem and the latest update might fix it.
1. Click the Start icon (or press the Windows key) and then click Settings. It might just look like a gear icon.
2. The Settings app will open. If you’re using Windows 10, click Update & Security. If you’re using Windows 11, click Windows Update at the bottom of the left sidebar.
3. To see if there are any updates available, click Check for updates. There’s a chance the page might start checking as soon as you open it, no clicking needed.
4. If there’s an update ready to install, it should appear under the Check for updates button. Click Download, Download and Install, or Download Now.
Any updates will require a restart of your computer, so make sure all of your work is saved before proceeding.
How to stop automatic Windows updates
Windows updates are enabled by default, and there is no way to “permanently” disable them without also disabling important system settings in Windows 10.
However, you can temporarily disable automatic updates. You can pause them for up to a month in Windows 10; you can only pause them for a week in Windows 11.
1. Head back to the Settings app and open the updates screen again.
2. Now, depending on what version of Windows you have:
- In Windows 10, click Advanced options, then scroll down to the Pause updates section. Here, click Select date and choose the date you want to pause updates until.
- In Windows 11, scroll down to More options and select the Pause for 1 week option.
| Press-Wire Homepage | press-wire.org |
