Installing Updates Automatically

How to Configure Your Windows PC to Install Updates Automatically

Ensuring that your Windows PC will install updates automatically as soon as they become available is a crucial step in maintaining security and system performance. Follow these steps to configure your PC for automatic updates:

For Windows 10:

1. Open Settings:
   • Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
   • Select Settings (the gear icon).
2. Navigate to Update & Security:
   • In the Settings window, click on Update & Security.
3. Check for Updates:
   • In the Windows Update section, click on Check for updates to ensure your system is currently up-to-date. This step will also help you verify that automatic updates are enabled.
4. Configure Update Settings:
   • Click on Advanced options under the Windows Update section.
   • Ensure the Automatic (recommended) option is selected under Choose how updates are installed. This setting allows Windows to automatically download and install updates.
5. Adjust Active Hours:
   • To prevent updates from installing during inconvenient times, scroll down and click on Change active hours. Set the hours during which you typically use your PC to minimize disruption.
6. Restart Options:
   • You can also adjust restart settings by clicking on Restart options. Here, you can enable Show a notification when your PC requires a restart to finish updating to get alerted when a restart is needed.
7. Confirm Settings:
   • Close the Settings window. Your PC is now configured to automatically install updates as soon as they are available.

For Windows 11:

1. Open Settings:
   • Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) and select Settings (gear icon).
2. Navigate to Windows Update:
   • In the Settings window, click on Windows Update on the left sidebar.
3. Check for Updates:
   • Click Check for updates to ensure your system is up-to-date and that automatic updates are enabled.
4. Configure Update Settings:
   • Click on Advanced options under Windows Update.
   • Ensure that Automatically download updates, even over metered data connections (charges may apply) is toggled on if you have a metered connection.
5. Adjust Active Hours:
   • Click on Active hours. Set the hours when you’re most likely using your PC to avoid interruptions during active periods.
6. Restart Options:
   • In the Advanced options section, you can also enable Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating to receive alerts when a restart is needed.
7. Confirm Settings:
   • Close the Settings window. Your Windows 11 PC is now set to automatically install updates as soon as they become available.

By following these steps, you ensure that your Windows PC will automatically download and install updates, keeping your system secure and running smoothly.