Windows Update checks your computer automatically, but you can also check manually whenever you want

Your computer is set to look for updates on its own schedule, usually at night or when you're not using it. But if you want to see right now whether updates are waiting, or if you've been putting off restarting and want to know what's pending, you can open the update screen yourself in about 30 seconds. The steps are the same whether you're on Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Checking manually doesn't change anything about how updates work — it just lets you see the status immediately instead of waiting for the automatic check. Once you know what's waiting, you can decide when to restart and install.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, select Update & Security (Windows 10) or System > Windows Update (Windows 11), and click "Check for updates" to see what's waiting.
  • Windows will download updates in the background, but you'll need to restart your computer to install them — the restart can usually wait until tonight.
  • If an update is marked "Restart required", your computer won't install it until you restart, even if you leave it running for days.
  • Updates normally take 10 to 30 minutes to install after you restart, and your computer will be unusable during that time.
  • If an update fails or gets stuck, restarting your computer usually fixes it — Windows will try again on the next restart.

How to open the Windows Update screen on Windows 10

Click the Windows button in the bottom left corner of your screen. Type "update" and you'll see "Check for updates" appear at the top of the search results. Click it.

This opens the Settings window to the Update & Security page. You'll see a blue button that says "Check for updates". Click that button. Windows will now look for any updates that are waiting for your computer. The screen will say "Checking for updates" for a few seconds, then show you what it found. If nothing is waiting, it will say "You're up to date". If updates are available, they'll start downloading right away in the background — you don't have to do anything while this happens.

How to open the Windows Update screen on Windows 11

Click the Windows button in the bottom left corner. Type "update" and select "Check for updates" from the search results.

This opens Settings to the Windows Update page. You'll see a button that says "Check for updates". Click it. Windows will now search for updates waiting for your computer. The page will show "Checking for updates" briefly, then display what was found. If you're current, it says "You're up to date". If updates are waiting, they'll download automatically in the background.

What happens after Windows finds updates

Once updates download, Windows will tell you that a restart is required. You don't have to restart immediately — you can keep working and restart tonight or whenever is convenient. But Windows won't install the updates until you do restart.

When you're ready, click "Restart now" on the update screen, or restart your computer the normal way (Start menu > Power > Restart). Your computer will restart, install the updates, and restart again. This usually takes 10 to 30 minutes. Your screen may go black or show a progress bar during installation — this is normal and you should not turn off your computer. After the restart completes, your computer will be back to normal and the updates will be installed. You can check the update screen again if you want to confirm everything installed successfully.

What to do if you see an error or update gets stuck

If an update fails or seems to be taking too long, restart your computer. Windows keeps track of what it was trying to install and will try again on the next restart. Most stuck updates clear themselves this way.

If the same update fails twice, write down the error code or message you see, then restart one more time. If it fails a third time, the update may have a known issue — you can search for the error code online to see whether other people have reported the same problem and what they did to fix it. Do not turn off your computer while updates are installing, even if it seems frozen. Updates can take 20 or 30 minutes on older computers, and the screen may not change for long stretches. If your computer has been restarting for more than an hour, then it's safe to force a restart by holding the power button for 10 seconds.

Why Windows Update matters and what gets updated

Windows updates include security patches that close holes hackers can use to get into your computer, fixes for bugs that make programs crash, and improvements to how Windows runs. Security updates especially are important — they come out regularly because new threats appear constantly.

You don't need to understand what each update does. Windows handles the details. Your job is just to let the updates install when they're ready. If you delay updates for weeks or months, your computer becomes more vulnerable to malware and viruses, and programs may stop working correctly.

How often should you check for updates

You don't need to check manually. Windows checks automatically on a schedule, usually several times a week. If you restart your computer regularly — at least once a week — you'll catch any updates that are waiting.

The only reason to check manually is if you haven't restarted in a while and you're curious whether anything is pending, or if you know a specific security update came out and you want to make sure it installed. Otherwise, let Windows do the checking on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check for updates while I'm working on something?

Yes. Checking for updates doesn't interrupt your work — Windows just looks for what's available and downloads in the background. You only need to restart when the download is done, and you can wait until you've saved your work and closed your programs.

What if I don't restart after an update downloads?

The update won't install. Windows will keep reminding you to restart, and the update will stay on your computer waiting. Eventually Windows will force a restart if you ignore the reminders for too long, but you can choose when to restart as long as you do it within a few days.

Do I need to be connected to the internet to check for updates?

Yes, your computer needs an internet connection to check for updates and download them. Once they're downloaded and you restart, the internet connection is not needed for the installation itself.

Why does Windows Update sometimes take so long?

Large updates can be 500 megabytes or more, and older computers or slower internet connections take longer to download them. Installation also takes time because Windows has to replace system files carefully. Patience is normal — don't restart or turn off your computer while updates are installing.

Can I turn off automatic updates?

You can delay updates or choose when to install them, but turning off updates entirely is not recommended — it leaves your computer unprotected against security threats. If you need to avoid updates at a specific time, restart your computer before that time arrives so any pending updates install first.