Our customers frequently bring in computers to be repaired and have not installed the latest Windows 10 updates. Those same clients then ask – is installing every update really necessary? Some just decide to ignore the updates all together, saying something like “my computer was running just fine, so why bother?” Microsoft clearly wants us to do something with the update or they wouldn’t push them to our machines so frequently and with so many reminders.
Do you need to install every Windows 10 update? Can you skip some?
Yes, you really should install each and every update as they come. That’s the plain and simple answer.
Still, let’s take a step back and look at why updates are so important. Across the world there are nearly a billion devices running Windows 10 operating systems, and roughly 100 million running older versions of Windows. Each of those machines requires maintenance and every few weeks (or less in some cases) Microsoft releases updates to fix software issues caused by malfunctioning code, add in new features and, most importantly, protect against the latest security vulnerabilities being exploited by hackers.
While installing updates might not seem important because they don’t usually create any obvious changes to your desktop layout or settings, there are important things happening deep in your computer’s programming.
Unless you’ve customized your update settings, Windows automatically searches for available updates once a day. Updates found during these daily checks typically are meant to correct security risks that have popped up since the last round of updates. Computer experts agree that you should install every update as they come. Setting your computer to automatically update is an excellent solution because these minor updates doesn’t usually require your computer to restart, and they happen in the background as you work.
Some updates come in a larger package. Microsoft has dedicated every second Tuesday of the month to releasing cumulative updates. Unofficially, this is referred to as “Patch Tuesday” by computer developers and others in the know.
Cumulative updates are collections of the most substantial and important updates released over the last few weeks and months. While smaller daily updates may install without restarting, cumulative updates always require your device to restart fully before the installation is complete.
How to install Windows 10 updates
Microsoft has given users a few ways to install the latest Windows 10 updates. You can do so automatically, on a customized schedule or manually.
Starting at your desktop screen, open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of your screen or pressing it on your keyboard. Select Settings, then Update & Security and finally Check for updates.
On that same screen, you can select to install any optional updates, and view or change your update schedule options.
*See more Windows 10 Tips & Tricks
