Windows Updates for Windows 10 and 11

Identify which version of Windows you are using

Updating on Windows 10

Updating on Windows 11

NOTE: This article is to assist with performing routine updates to Windows 10 and Windows 11, not to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11. It's recommended you check for updates at least once a week.

Updating Windows will normally be a quick process if you check for updates weekly, typically taking just 5 minutes. Every few months, a bigger update is available that could take approx. 20 minutes.

If you ignore updates they will soon become critical, can cause unintended interruptions, and can comprimise the organisation's cybersecurity stance, so it pays to make this a recurring task once a week. Additionally, optional updates can end up becoming more important too, and often doing optional updates is a quick way to solve many 'IT problems' that range from laggy performance, to audio/visual device flakiness.

We aim for this to become an utomated process, so in the meantime your involvment in checking for updates is very much welcomed. Windows Updates are an important way to maintain security and help protect your computer from malicious attacks and malware.

Remind yourself which version of Windows you are using

Follow the instruction below and take a look at your screen to visually identify your version of Windows.

1. Click on your Start button.

Windows 10 looks like:

Windows 11 looks like:

Updating on Windows 10

1. Click on your Start button then the Settings icon.

2. Click on Update and Security.

NOTE: If you see the Windows 11 invitation to upgrade, click Stay on Windows 10 for now.

3. If you don’t see a list of updates already downloading, click on Check for updates. Please click View optional updates if it’s there.

Check for updates

Check for optional updates

4. Expand any categories/sections by clicking the chevron, select all the available optional updates by checking their boxes, then click Download and install. They will be added to your list of updates in progress.

5. When needed, you’ll be prompted to restart your computer. Make sure any open work is saved then click Restart now. If it's been a while since updates were last applied, you may need to repeat these steps to install all available Windows update and drivers.

This will normally be a quick process if you check for updates once a week, typically taking just 5 minutes. Every 6 months a bigger Microsoft feature update is available that could take approx. 20 minutes. If you leave updates until they become critical, you know they’ll force themselves into your day at the least convenient moment, so it pays to make this a recurring task once a week.

We can automatically restart computers overnight, but I know some colleagues like to leave work open and do not appreciate overnight restarts. This makes your installing updates all the more important – it will better secure your computers and let you be in charge of when updates happen.

Updating on Windows 11

1. Start by clicking on the Settings app in the taskbar, or also found by clicking the Start button – and typing Settings if the icon is not visible.

2. Click Windows Update.

3. If there are no updates already waiting, hit Check for updates button. This will check for updates, as well as download and install them. Once they have installed, there may be an option to restart your computer to apply these updates. Hit restart now, as long as you have saved any open work.

4. Check for optional updates. Head to Advanced options.

Then select Optional updates.

Click the down arrow to display available updates.

Check all available updates and click Download & Install.

You will usually need to restart your computer to apply updates, which can be done from the first Windows Update panel, as above, or directly from the Start menu.

Optional updates can be just as important, and applying optional updates is often a quick way to prevent or solve many computer usability problems, ranging from laggy performance to audio/visual device glitches. If you encounter issues or errors performing updates, please post a ticket in the Helpdesk.