How to Manually Check and Install Windows Updates

Windows 11 normally checks for updates automatically, but sometimes an available update may not appear immediately, or the automatic update process may fail. In such cases, you can manually check for and install Windows updates through the Windows Update settings.

Manually checking for updates is also useful when Microsoft has recently released a security update, feature update, driver update, or other important fix and you want to see whether it is available for your PC. In this guide, we’ll show you how to manually check for and install Windows updates in Windows 11, including how to download optional updates and what to do if Windows Update does not find or install an available update.

How to Manually Check for Windows Updates in Windows 11

Windows 11 provides a Check for updates button that lets you manually ask Microsoft’s update service whether new updates are available for your device. This is the simplest way to check for pending security, quality, and feature updates.

Steps to Check for Updates

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Windows Update from the left sidebar.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Wait while Windows checks Microsoft’s servers for available updates.
5. If updates are available, Windows will begin downloading them automatically.
6. Follow any instructions to Install or Restart your PC.

If Windows displays “You’re up to date,” there are no updates currently offered to your device through the normal Windows Update channel.

Quick Insight: Seeing “You’re up to date” does not necessarily mean that every possible Windows update is installed. Some optional updates, preview updates, and device-specific updates are listed separately under Advanced options > Optional updates.

How to Manually Install a Specific Windows Update

If Windows Update does not offer a particular update, you can download it directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog. This is useful when you know the update’s KB number, such as KB5124008, and want to install that specific update manually.

• Find the KB number of the update you want to install.
• Open the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
• Search for the KB number.

• Find the package that matches your Windows version and system architecture (e.g., x64 or ARM64).
• Click Download next to the appropriate package.

• Open the downloaded .msu file.
• Follow the Windows Update Standalone Installer prompts.
• Restart your PC if required.

Make sure you download the package that matches your Windows version. Installing an incorrect update package can result in an installation failure.

Quick Insight: The Microsoft Update Catalog is most useful when Windows Update doesn’t offer a specific update or when you need to reinstall a particular KB update.

How to Find Your Windows 11 Version and System Type

Before manually downloading an update from the Microsoft Update Catalog, check your Windows 11 version and system architecture. This helps you choose the correct update package.

Check Your Windows Version

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type winver and press Enter.
3. Note the Windows version and OS build shown in the window.

You can also go to Settings > System > About to see additional device information.

Check Whether Your PC Is x64 or ARM64

1. Open Settings > System > About.
2. Find System type under Device specifications.
3. Check whether your PC uses an x64-based processor or an ARM64-based processor.

Use these details when searching for a KB number in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Quick Insight: Don’t choose an update simply because the KB number matches. The update must also be compatible with your Windows version and processor architecture.

How to Install Optional Updates in Windows 11

Windows 11 separates some updates from the regular Windows Update process. Optional updates can include certain drivers and other updates that Microsoft does not automatically install on every PC.

If you’re troubleshooting a hardware or compatibility problem, checking this section can be useful.

1. Open Settings using Windows + I.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Click Advanced options.
4. Scroll down and select Optional updates.
5. Expand the available update category.
6. Select the updates you want to install.
7. Click Download & install.
8. Restart the PC if Windows asks you to.

You don’t need to install every optional update simply because it is available. If your PC is working normally, review the update description and install a driver update when it addresses a specific hardware or compatibility issue.

Quick Insight: Optional updates are different from the regular monthly security updates that Windows installs through the normal Windows Update process. Treat them as targeted updates rather than a checklist that must always be installed.

What to Do If Windows Update Doesn’t Find an Update

Sometimes you may expect a particular Windows 11 update to be available, but when you click Check for updates, it shows that your PC is up to date. This does not necessarily mean something is wrong.

Microsoft can roll out updates gradually, and an update may not yet be offered to every compatible device. Compatibility safeguards can also temporarily prevent a feature update from being offered if Microsoft identifies a known issue with a particular hardware or software configuration.

If you know a specific KB update should be installed, check Settings > Windows Update > Update history first to see whether it was already installed.

For a specific update not available through Windows Update, you can search for its KB number in the Microsoft Update Catalog and manually download the appropriate package.

Avoid forcing a feature update simply because it is available elsewhere. If Microsoft has temporarily withheld an update from your device due to a known compatibility issue, waiting for the safeguard to be removed can prevent further problems.

How to Check Whether a Windows Update Was Installed

After manually checking or installing updates, you can use Update history to confirm what Windows 11 has installed. This is particularly useful when troubleshooting an update issue or verifying that a specific KB update has been successfully applied.

1. Open Settings with Windows + I.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Click Update history.
4. Review the list of recently installed updates.
5. Expand categories such as Quality Updates, Driver Updates, or Definition Updates to see more details.
6. Look for the KB number of the update you installed.

If a particular KB update appears in the history, Windows has successfully installed that package. If an update repeatedly appears to download but never shows in Update history, the installation may have failed, and you should check the error information before trying to install it again.

What to Do If a Windows Update Fails to Install

If Windows 11 repeatedly downloads an update but fails to install it, don’t immediately try installing the same package repeatedly. First, note the error code shown by Windows Update and check whether the update appears in Settings > Windows Update > Update history.

You can then try these basic troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart the PC and run Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates again.
2. Make sure you have enough free storage space for the update.
3. Disconnect unnecessary USB devices and other external hardware.
4. Temporarily close applications that may interfere with the installation.
5. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter from Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
6. If a specific KB update continues to fail, search for that KB number in the Microsoft Update Catalog and check whether a compatible standalone package is available.

If the same update fails repeatedly, the error code is more useful than simply retrying the installation. It can help identify whether the problem is related to corrupted update components, insufficient storage, incompatible drivers, or another Windows issue.

Frequently Asked Questions