To update Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If updates are waiting, select Download & install (or Install all), then restart your PC when asked. Windows 11 also downloads and installs most updates on its own.
These steps cover Windows 11 Home and Pro on every version Microsoft currently supports, including the Windows 11 2026 Update (version 26H2), released September 29, 2026. They follow Microsoft’s Install Windows Updates page and Windows Update FAQ. A short Windows 10 section is included below.
Before You Start
Save your work, since most updates need a restart. Plug in a laptop, and make sure you have at least 20 GB of free space, which Microsoft’s troubleshooting guide lists for a 64-bit PC. Some updates also need an administrator account to approve them.
How to Update Windows 11
- Press Windows + I to open Settings. The Settings app opens.
- Select Windows Update at the bottom of the left menu. Your update status appears at the top of the page.
- Select Check for updates. Windows looks for new updates and lists any it finds.
- If updates are listed, select Download & install or Install all. Each update shows its download and install progress.
- Save your work and select Restart now when Windows asks. Your PC restarts, shows update progress for a few minutes, and then returns to the sign-in screen.
If Windows + I does not open Settings in step 1, use one of the other ways to open Settings in Windows 11, such as the Start menu or the Run box.
Don’t want to restart yet? Select the arrow next to Restart now and choose Schedule the restart to pick a time. You can also restart later from Start > Power > Update and restart.
A Windows Update icon (two curved arrows) near the taskbar clock means an update is ready; select it to open the same page.
If you need to stop an update before it finishes, you can cancel a Windows 11 update in progress.
Confirm the Update Worked
- Go back to Settings > Windows Update. A green check mark and You’re up to date mean nothing else is waiting.
- Select Update history to see each update and the date it installed.
- To see which version you have, go to Settings > System > About and look for Version under Windows specifications.
If your PC still feels slow once updates are installed, try the fixes for a slow computer in Windows 11.
How to Get the Windows 11 2026 Update (Version 26H2)
Version 26H2 is available for eligible PCs running Windows 11, version 24H2 or 25H2. For most of those PCs it arrives as a small enablement package that installs much like a monthly update, with one restart.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update. Your update options appear.
- Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Your PC is first in line for new features.
- When your PC is eligible, select Download & install under version 26H2. The feature update installs, and Windows asks you to restart.
Microsoft is rolling it out gradually and may hold it back from PCs with a known compatibility issue, so it may not show up right away. Microsoft’s Windows 11 release information lists Home and Pro support for 26H2 through October 10, 2028.
Microsoft’s ways to install Windows 11 page also lists the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, but it suggests waiting for the Windows Update offer first.
Update a PC Still on Version 23H2 or 24H2
Microsoft’s release information shows that Home and Pro support has ended for both 23H2 (November 11, 2025, see the end-of-servicing notice) and 24H2 (October 2026). Those PCs no longer get monthly security fixes. To move on, open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, and install the newer version Windows offers. If the update is held back for compatibility, fix the stated issue or wait for the offer rather than forcing it.
Get Driver and Optional Updates
Optional updates, which include many driver updates, are not installed automatically.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
- Under Additional options, select Optional updates.
- Check the updates you want and select Download and install.
- Restart the PC, even if Windows does not ask.
There’s more on this in Microsoft’s page about getting updated hardware drivers. If Windows Update has no driver for your device, get it from your PC or device maker’s website, not from a third-party “driver updater” tool. Graphics card owners can also update the graphics driver on its own.
Useful Windows Update Settings
- Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available: turn this on to get new features earlier.
- Receive updates for other Microsoft products: in Advanced options. Turning it on lets you update other Microsoft products when you update Windows.
- Pause updates: choose a pause length next to Pause updates. Once the pause limit is reached, you must install the latest updates before pausing again. For other ways to hold off, read how to stop automatic updates in Windows 11.
- Active hours (in Advanced options): tell Windows when you use your PC so it does not restart then. Pair it with Schedule the restart to cut down on surprise restarts.
- Metered connections: some updates won’t install automatically on a connection marked as metered, such as a phone hotspot. Connect to regular Wi-Fi or Ethernet to finish them.
See or Remove Installed Updates
Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history to see what was installed and when. To remove one, choose Uninstall updates, select the update, and select Uninstall. Microsoft does not recommend this unless necessary, and not every update can be removed. If an installed update introduced a problem, rolling back a Windows 11 update covers that separate situation.
Troubleshoot a Windows Update Error
Write down the failed update name and its error code before retrying. A download failure, insufficient storage, and an incompatible driver need different fixes.
- Restart the PC, check the internet connection, and connect a laptop to power.
- Free up space if you have less than 20 GB available, and unplug drives, docks, and accessories you don’t need.
- Check Settings > Time & language > Date & time and make sure the time is set automatically.
- Run the Windows Update troubleshooter: open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then select Run next to Windows Update. Follow the Get Help prompts if Windows opens them. For help with this screen, read about running a troubleshooter in Windows 11.
- Restart if instructed, then select Check for updates again. Note whether the same update and error code return.
- If it still fails, follow Microsoft’s steps for that specific error, or contact the device maker for a driver or compatibility issue.
See Microsoft’s update troubleshooting guide for advanced repairs. Back up your files before trying them, and do not delete system folders or remove several updates as a first step. For a deeper list of fixes, read how to remove failed updates in Windows 11.
If the PC freezes or seems stuck while it restarts for an update, how to restart Windows 11 has frozen-screen and recovery steps.
If you administer a Pro, Enterprise, or Education PC, you can hide routine update notices with the Display options for update notifications policy in the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), as Microsoft’s policy reference explains. Windows 11 Home doesn’t include the editor.
Check for Updates on Windows 10
On Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Download and install any offered updates, save your work, and restart when requested. These are Microsoft’s Windows 10 update steps; the Windows 11 menu is different.
Windows 10’s regular support ended October 14, 2025. Checking for updates does not enroll the PC in Extended Security Updates. If staying on Windows 10, check Microsoft’s current ESU eligibility and enrollment information. For an eligible PC moving to Windows 11, follow the steps to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop Windows 11 updates completely?
No. Updates will eventually need to be installed, but you can pause them for a while and schedule restarts.
What is the difference between a feature update and a quality update?
Feature updates, such as 26H2, arrive about once a year with new features. Quality updates come more often, usually monthly, and mainly include fixes and security updates.
How long does an update take, and how much data does it use?
Download time depends on your internet speed and the update size. Monthly quality updates are small; feature updates are larger but less frequent. Keep the PC on and plugged in until it returns to the sign-in screen.
Why does Windows say “You’re up to date” when a new version is out?
Microsoft releases feature updates gradually and holds them back from PCs with known issues. Turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available and check again later.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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