Most users think that Microsoft’s Windows operating system is something that only comes on their computers. They never think about the software changes needed to keep their Windows 8 laptop, desktop or tablet running. It never occurs to them that the firmware that protects their devices from viruses, spyware, and all sorts of other nasty things requires constant upgrades. These users get annoyed with Windows 8 updates and then turn them off.
This is a huge, huge mistake. Updates are a crucial component of maintaining a good experience. You should not block updates on your phones or tablets, and you should never neglect updates on your Windows 8 PCs. Here’s how to update Windows 8 if you’ve turned off updates in the past but still want to keep your machine up to date.
Before we begin, please note that the version of Windows we are using is already running an update. This update is called Windows 8.1. Therefore, if you haven’t received this update yet, what you see below may look different. Microsoft started rolling it out to devices automatically last year, but if you don’t have one yet, go to the Windows Store and make sure there isn’t a thread asking you to get the Windows 8.1 update. If there isn’t an update, you’re good. If available, download Windows 8.1 now. You will need this for all future updates. Postpone it.
Windows 8.1 also includes some pretty nifty multitasking features that you’ll definitely want.
Press on your keyboard to go to the Start Screen. If you’re at a desk or 2-in-1, there should instead be a Windows button that takes you to the Start Screen. It’s fine.
If you have a mouse, take your pointer over your screen to activate the Charms Bar. Touch users should place their fingers on their screen and reveal the Charms bar.
Click or tap Charm.
Now click or tap on
Now click or tap. This is an option available in the bottom menu setting on the far left of your screen. In our example, it’s listed in the ninth spot under Ease of Access.
Welcome to the Update and Recovery option. You will see a button asking you to Check for Updates. You’ll want to click that to see any pending updates. You will then be prompted to install these updates and run your machine with the latest software. In our example we have a Restart button. This Restart button is for users who are already running automatic updates and just want to finish the update process.
Below the button area are options to view the update history of your Windows 8 device. Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 log the last time they checked and updated for updates. In recent years Microsoft has gotten better at distributing updates. In the past, downloading an update required a lot of input from users. Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 download minor updates in the background when you have a stable internet connection. If you went with the recommended settings for your Windows device, your system may already be doing this.
Most updates are not like Windows 8.1 because they usually don’t prove you with any new features. As you can see from this look at the last update history of our device, Microsoft mainly uses Windows Update to push security fixes for Windows itself. It also manages all updates for other Microsoft products. For example, Windows Update is how Microsoft Office updates are sent to users. Updated instructions on how some of the hardware inside your machine is also included here.
It is unclear how Microsoft plans to update Windows 8.1 with new features going forward. It is entirely possible to allow users to update using this interface or to route all feature upgrades through the Windows Store as in Windows 8.1. The company is already in the testing phase for Windows 10, the next major version of Windows.
If you have updates waiting to be installed, go ahead and install them now. There is nothing more important and necessary than keeping your Windows 8 device up to date.
Keep your machine up to date and it will serve you well.
