There are three common ways to update Windows 10: using the Update Assistant, the Media Creation Tool, and Windows Update. TipsMake.com will guide you through updating Windows 10 in detail using all three methods.
Have you recently noticed that Windows 10 is receiving a new update with several bug fixes? Not updating Windows can cause problems, as Windows 10 updates bring a number of new features and improvements to the operating system.
There are three common ways to update Windows 10: using the Update Assistant, the Media Creation Tool, and Windows Update. TipsMake.com will guide you through updating Windows 10 in detail using all three methods.
What is the latest version of Windows 10?
The latest version of Windows 10 is the 2022 Update, version '22H2', released on October 18, 2022. Currently, Microsoft releases major new updates for Windows 10 annually, but this version doesn't include many new features or changes.
These major updates may take some time to reach your PC because Microsoft and PC manufacturers need to conduct extensive testing before rolling out the updates widely.
This update was codenamed '22H2' during development because it was scheduled for release in the latter half of 2022.
The Windows 10 2022 Update is so minor that Microsoft won't even reveal what's new in it. Microsoft says they're 'offering a limited range of new features' in this update. According to Bleeping Computer, one known change for users in this update is the option to view important notifications when Focus Assist is enabled. There are likely also some smaller bug fixes and security improvements, as always.
When Microsoft provides an update for your PC, it will install automatically. But Microsoft doesn't release new Windows updates to all PCs at once. Instead, Microsoft rolls them out gradually over time, after both Microsoft and various PC manufacturers test whether they cause problems with different hardware configurations. If your PC doesn't receive the update, it means Microsoft isn't entirely confident that it will work on your hardware.
However, you can skip this and choose to install the update. Because you can always downgrade back to your current Windows 10 version if you encounter any problems, assuming you choose to do so within 10 days of upgrading. There are some risks involved, but you're still installing a stable operating system update.
Why is keeping your PC updated a good idea?
You might want to pause Windows updates or click 'Remind Me Later' when a software update notification appears so you can get back to work and do it later. This may seem harmless, but delaying software updates can have unfortunate consequences.
Programmers strive to optimize software to prevent third-party intrusion. Hackers can find vulnerabilities in the program's source code and exploit them to steal user data.
Software updates will find these vulnerabilities and fix them, making the program and the information you store on it more secure.
Windows updates also help fix bugs. These are errors in the program's code that cause the program to malfunction and display error messages. Updating your program means you'll experience optimal performance from your software.
Installing these updates can be tedious and sometimes inconvenient, but they will be useful in the long run.
1. How to update Windows 10 to November 2021 using Update Assistant
While this method isn't as convenient as checking Windows Update , many users consider it more stable and significantly less prone to bugs. Importantly, it allows for skipped updates.
To update Windows 10 to November 2021 using the Windows 10 Update Assistant, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the Microsoft support website and click on Update Now . A file saving window will open; choose a folder to save the file (approximately 6MB).
Step 2: Download and run the Windows10Upgrade9252.exe file .
Step 3: In the Windows 10 Update Assistant window that opens, click Update Now .
Step 4: The Windows 10 Update Assistant will check if your computer is compatible with the update. If all conditions are met, you will see three green checkmarks; press Next to continue.
Step 5: The update assistant will download the necessary files for the update process to your computer. This step can be fast or slow depending on your internet speed. It took me almost an hour.
Step 6: The assistant proceeds to update the computer to the Windows 10 November 2021 Update. This step will take a leisurely 80% of the way, then it will start to slow down considerably, taking about 2 hours to complete.
Step 7: Restart your computer and wait for it to configure the new update, which will take about another hour.
During the first 6 steps of the process, you can continue working on your computer as usual. Once step 6 is complete, your computer will need to restart to configure the update. During this time, you will only see a blue screen displaying a percentage and you won't be able to do anything. You can restart immediately or schedule a restart later. Once the computer restarts, the update is complete.
Since it's just an update, all your data, applications, and most of your settings will remain unchanged.
2. How to update Windows 10 using Media Creation Tool
If your device is compatible with the new feature update, but you're having trouble with Windows Update, you can use the Media Creation Tool to install the latest Windows 10 update on your computer.
To install a new version of Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool, follow these steps:
- Open the Microsoft support website, the link is in section 1.
- Click the "Download tool now" button .
- Double-click the MediaCreationTool20H2.exe file to run the support tool.
- To accept the terms of use, click Accept .
- Here, you can click " Upgrade this PC now" to update your current computer or choose "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC" to create a bootable USB drive or download a Windows 10 ISO file to install on another computer. Then click "Next".
- Next, the tool will download the Windows 10 update file to your computer and proceed with the update. Please follow the on-screen instructions.
The Media Creation Tool will install Windows 10 version 2004 on your desktop, laptop, or tablet without losing your personal files, settings, and applications.
3. How to download Windows 10 updates using Windows Update
The safest way to receive the November 2021 update is to wait until you receive an update notification on your device. However, you may wait a while and still not receive the update. Therefore, if you want to receive the update quickly, you can force your computer to update using Windows Update when the update is available.
To update to Windows 10 November 2021 using Windows Update, follow these steps:
Step 1. Open Settings .
Step 2. Click on Update & Security .
Step 3. Click on Windows Update .
Step 4. Click the "Check for updates" button .
Step 5. Click the "Download and install now" button in the "Feature Update to Windows 10" section .
Step 6. Click the Restart Now button after the update has downloaded to your device.
Once the above steps are completed, the new version will be downloaded and installed automatically, similar to installing a quality update, only the update process will take longer.
If you're using Windows Update and your device isn't seeing the update, it might be because Microsoft is blocking it as the new version is still incompatible with your hardware or software configuration.
If the above methods don't work, you can use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive and perform a fresh installation of Windows 10 with the latest features and changes.
Note: Newly released updates may contain bugs. If you're not in a hurry for any reason, we recommend waiting until Windows Update automatically provides this update to your computer. This will ensure the update runs most stably on your device.
- Instructions on how to create a Windows 10 installation USB.
Good luck with your project!