How to force Windows Update to check and install updates

Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10. You need an administrator account to install updates. On a work PC, IT may control updates and some options below can be greyed out.

Check for updates manually

1. Press Win + I to open Settings and go to Windows Update (Windows 10: Update & Security > Windows Update).
2. If you see Updates paused, click Resume updates.
3. Click Check for updates. Windows contacts Microsoft straight away instead of waiting for its next scheduled check.
4. Click Download & install or Install all if updates are listed, then Restart now when asked.

Some updates, such as driver updates and preview updates, are never installed automatically. Find them under Advanced options > Optional updates and tick the ones you want.

If you prefer typing commands, see how to run Windows Update from the command line, which covers PowerShell and installing update packages with wusa.

Turn on early updates

Windows 11 has a switch called Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available on the Windows Update page. Turning it on puts your PC near the front of the queue for new features and non-security updates instead of waiting for a gradual rollout. It doesn’t skip testing or install preview builds; security updates arrive on the normal schedule either way. Leave it off if you prefer stability over new features.

Force a feature update with Microsoft’s assistant

Microsoft rolls out new Windows versions in waves, so a PC can wait weeks before Check for updates offers one. To skip the wait:

1. Go to Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page (or Download Windows 10).
2. Under Windows 11 Installation Assistant (Windows 10: Update now), download the assistant.
3. Run it, accept the license terms and let it download and install the new version. Your files and apps stay in place.
4. The PC restarts several times. Keep it plugged in.

The assistant checks compatibility first. If it says your PC doesn’t meet the requirements, Windows Update won’t offer the upgrade either.

Install one update from the Microsoft Update Catalog

When one cumulative update keeps failing in Windows Update, installing it by hand often works:

1. Note the update’s KB number from the Windows Update page or Update history.
2. Open the Microsoft Update Catalog and search for that KB number.
3. Pick the entry that matches your Windows version and type, usually x64-based Systems (or ARM64 on Arm PCs). Check your version in Settings > System > About.
4. Click Download, open the link, and run the .msu file. Restart when it finishes.

If the installer says the update doesn’t apply to your computer, you picked the wrong version, or the PC already has it or a newer one.

If Windows still won’t update

• Metered connection. Windows holds back downloads on metered networks. Check Settings > Network & internet, open your Wi-Fi or Ethernet properties, and turn Metered connection off.
• Low disk space. Updates need several gigabytes free on C:. Clear space with Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations.
• The troubleshooter. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter from Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (Windows 10: Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters).
• Error messages. For “Something went wrong”, see Windows Update “Something went wrong”; if it can’t reach Microsoft, see “We couldn’t connect to the update service”; and if the service itself is gone, see Windows Update service missing.

Related guides

• Windows Update from the command line
• Windows Update “Something went wrong”: how to fix it
• We couldn’t connect to the update service
• Windows Update service missing: how to restore it

Official sources: for more detail, see Microsoft’s own pages:

• Microsoft Support: Install Windows updates
• Microsoft Support: Get Windows updates as soon as they’re available
• Microsoft Update Catalog

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to force a Windows update?

Yes, as long as the update comes from Windows Update, the Installation Assistant or the Microsoft Update Catalog. Avoid update files from other websites.

Why does my PC say it’s up to date when a friend’s PC got a new version?

Microsoft releases feature updates gradually and holds them back on PCs with known compatibility issues. Use the Installation Assistant if you want it now, or wait for the offer.

Can I force an update on a work computer?

Only within what your organization allows. If Windows Update says some settings are managed by your organization, ask IT before using the assistant or catalog.