Windows Update: Overview
An up-to-date PC gives you the best possible experience. So Microsoft wants to help you make sure you've got the most up-to-date Microsoft software for your PC. Windows Update, a free service built into Windows, is designed to help you keep your PC more secure, reliable, compatible with devices, and able to run new features that may enhance your experience. With Windows Update, you can easily get what your PC needs, such as:
The latest security updates to protect against malware and other potentially unwanted software
Updates that improve reliability and performance
Upgrades to Windows features
Drivers from Microsoft partners
Your privacy is important, to you and to Microsoft. While Windows Update needs to check your PC to determine which updates it needs, it does not collect your personal information. Windows Update simply checks to see what software and hardware is installed, so it knows what updates you need. For more details, see the Windows Update privacy statement.
Advances in Windows Update for Windows Vista users
Easier. With Windows Vista, Microsoft streamlined keeping your PC up to date. Now you have a single Windows Update control panel right in Windows Vista that you can use to access, download, and install updates for your PC.
You can access all levels of updates—Important, Recommended, and Optional. You can also set up the service to automatically download and install both Important and Recommended updates. (With Windows XP, only updates classified as High-priority are automatically downloaded and installed. You need to visit the Windows Update website to manually select and download other available updates.)
With Windows Vista, it's easier to see what updates are available for your PC. When you open your Windows Update control panel, you'll see all Optional updates available for your PC.
More Convenient. Windows Update has flexible installation options so you can reduce potential interruptions and install updates when it's most convenient for you. You choose when updates will be installed and you can choose to postpone installing an update that requires you to restart your PC. And when a software update applies to a file that you're using, Windows Vista can save the application's data, close it, update the file, and then restart it.
Windows Update for Windows XP users
In Windows XP, you can update your PC by visiting the Windows Update website to check for and install High-priority and Optional updates. Or, you can receive High-priority updates automatically by turning on Automatic Update. Learn more about how Windows Update works with Windows XP.
Keep your PC more secure and reliable
Using Windows Update with automatic updating is a good first line of defense against security threats, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. Microsoft also recommends that you improve your PC's security by using a firewall and maintaining antivirus and antispyware software (like Microsoft Security Essentials).
Learn more about Microsoft Security Essentials
Learn more about these steps and other easy ways to protect your PC.
