How do I keep my Windows PC up to date?

Posted on: 14 May, 2017 - 16:21

The best way to keep your PC current is to turn on automatic updates. With automatic updates, you don’t have to search for updates online or possibly miss critical fixes or device drivers for your Windows PC. Windows Update automatically installs important updates as they become available.
 

* Note: If your PC is connected to a network where updates are managed by Group Policy, you might be unable to change settings related to Windows Update. For more info, contact your organization’s support person. For PCs owned and managed by the university, updates are handheld automatically and you do not need to follow these instructions.

To turn on automatic updates in Windows 10:

  1. Select the Start  button, then select  Settings  > Update & security  > Windows Update . If you want to check for updates manually, select Check for updates.
  2. Select Advanced options, and then under Choose how updates are installed, select Automatic (recommended).

To turn on automatic updates in Windows 8.1:

  1. 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.
  2. Select Choose how updates get installed, and then under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).
  3. Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box.
  4. Under Microsoft Update, select the Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows check box, and then select Apply.

To turn on automatic updates in Windows 7:

  1. Select the Start button. In the search box, enter Update, and then, in the list of results, select Windows Update.
  2. In the left pane, select Change settings, and then under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).
  3. Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box, and then select OK.

These instructions are sourced from the following Microsoft article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/12373/windows-update-faq
 

Category: 
Information Security