Do you need to install all Windows updates?

About a billion devices around the world use the Windows 10 operating system. Hundreds of millions more people use older versions of this popular software. To keep your computer running smoothly, every few weeks, Microsoft releases updates to add features that help protect the computer from hackers and viruses.

The question is, do you really need to install all of those updates? The short answer is yes, you should install all updates.

According to Microsoft, Windows updates keep your computer constantly updated with new security features and enhancements. This will also protect against data loss and information theft, the company says.

Computer experts also agree on the importance of this update.

'Updates on most computers are usually installed automatically, are security-related and designed to cover the latest discovered security vulnerabilities. These updates should be installed if you want to keep your computer safe from intrusion, '' writes computer expert Tim Fisher in Lifewire.

Windows operating system checks for updates once a day. Usually on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, Microsoft will roll out a new cumulative update. This is an important update and your computer will have to restart itself before the process completes.

You may be hesitant about installing updates, especially if your copy is still running smoothly. In fact, there are many updates that don't work as well as the old version. For example, the April 2020 update, known as KB4541335, left many users' computers virtually unusable until they restored and uninstalled them.

Another update released in February 2020 ruined countless systems before Microsoft decided to take it down and delete it for good.

Microsoft prioritizes updates according to importance. If you find the update is important, you need to install it as soon as possible.

For example, in March 2020, Microsoft warned users to install emergency updates to protect against security breaches. If not updated, hacker can attack your computer.

For the above cases, you need to install the update immediately. Similarly, for updates that other Microsoft emphasizes as important, you need to follow the instructions to increase the security of your computer.

Besides, in case updates go wrong, it's a good idea to create a recovery drive as a backup of all kinds.