Update system 10. Free programs for Windows download for free. Upgrade to Game Mode

Microsoft releases major feature updates twice a year. When your device is ready to install the next feature update, you will see a notification in the Center Windows updates.

The feature update will only be installed when the device administrator approves the installation by selecting "Download and install now" for the appropriate update. The only exception to the rule is when the end of support for a specific product is approaching. Windows versions 10. In this case, the update will be installed forcibly if your computer is compatible with it.

If your device has been blocked from installing a feature update for any reason, Windows Update will notify you that a new version is available, but the computer is not yet ready to receive it.

After installing the update, Windows will ask the user if they can restart now or if they need to schedule the update. If you are working on an important document or performing other important activity, there is no need to restart your computer. Click the link instead Schedule restart and select a time and date to restart your PC to apply the updates.

The next step is to tell Windows when you usually use your computer to prevent interruptions due to reboots. On the Windows Update page, click the link Change activity period. Set the amount of time during which Windows will not restart after installing an update. Click the "Save" button.

At any time, you can view what updates have been installed on your system to check individual updates and ensure that only the updates you need are installed. Click the link View the update log. Windows shows a list of all recent updates. To learn more about a specific update, click on the appropriate link. This will open the update page from Microsoft Action Center, which will provide you with detailed information about the update, including known errors.

Indeed, Microsoft sometimes releases updates with serious bugs that do more harm than good. Usually Redmond fixes bugs in the next corrective update. If you don't want to wait for a fix, then uninstalling the update may become effective way to get rid of problems. On the page View update history click link Uninstall updates. Windows will open a Control Panel applet with a list of installed updates. Double-click the problematic update to remove it.

Starting with Windows 10, version 1903, an option became available in Windows Update Pause updates for 7 days., which allows you to defer all updates, including security updates. If you enable this feature, Windows will not check for and automatically install all updates for 7 days. The option is also available for Windows 10 Home users, who can use it up to 5 times, and thus defer updates for up to 35 days.

How to temporarily disable driver updates

Microsoft also offers the Show or hide updates troubleshooter, which allows you to hide driver updates and prevent them from being reinstalled before a good version is available.

Download the troubleshooter package from the official Microsoft website - wushowhide.diagcab. This portable application, run it - no installation required. To hide an update problematic driver use the option Hide updates to restore the update - Show hidden updates.

Sometimes updates seriously disrupt the performance of the system. In this case it will suit you Windows recovery 10 to an earlier state that was before the update was installed. On the Windows Update page, click the link View update history, and then click on the link Recovery options and select the option Restore your computer to its original state.

Please note that resetting the system will remove all installed applications and configured parameters. Before performing full reset, try to restore the system using restore points. Open Control Panel(turn on Small icons display mode), then go to System, click link System protection, and then select the Restore button. On the first screen, select the “Select a different restore point” option. On the next screen, select the appropriate restore point.

Select the restore point that preceded the update installation. Click the "Search for Affected Programs" button to see what impact the repair process will have on your installed applications. Then click "Next" to go directly to the recovery process.

On the page Windows Update select link Extra options to configure various functions system updates.

• When updating Windows, provide updates for other Microsoft products - this parameter ensures that when you install Windows system updates, you also receive updates for Microsoft Office and other products from Microsoft. It is recommended to enable the option.
• Automatically download updates even over metered data connections (fees may apply) - This option allows you to download updates over mobile connections to the Internet. If the amount of traffic on your tariff is limited, we recommend leaving this option disabled.
• A reminder will appear on the screen before restarting. To receive more restart notifications, enable the option - this option allows you to display a PC restart notification on top of the standard notification. If you are usually not distracted by standard notifications, then it is better to enable the option. Otherwise, leave it disabled.
• Pause updates – this option allows you to defer the installation of updates for a certain number of days. If you want to receive the latest updates promptly, leave the option disabled.

The options are more suitable for organizations than for ordinary users. It is recommended to leave the settings as they are. If you want to defer the installation of major Windows 10 functional updates for up to 365 days, you can use the following instructions:

Click the link Delivery optimization. On the page that opens, you can allow the update to be downloaded from other computers on your network or from computers on the Internet. When enabling this option, it is recommended to select the option Computers in local network You can configure additional Delivery Optimization settings if you wish, but most users should leave the default settings.

Despite the fact that Windows 10 has been on sale for quite some time, it is still considered a “young” operating system. Developers work every day to improve it to make the user experience more comfortable. All changes made, no matter how useful they may be, are carefully packaged and sent to the computer in the form constant updates, which is why it is so important to know what they contain and how to install them correctly.

Do I need to update Windows 10

The issue of the need for Windows updates has always been acute, and for good reason. There is still no consensus, so in order to decide whether to update the system, it is necessary to consider all the arguments for and against.

Why you shouldn't update Windows 10

The wisdom of updates to the Windows operating system line has always been in question.

If we talk about the operating systems Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, then almost all updates did not bring anything new or made changes to functions that were ordinary users were unclaimed. With the release of Windows 10, this tradition was partially preserved. Most updates to this OS add only new corporate, server and other narrowly focused functions, as well as fix old ones and add new small errors.

Windows 10 updates take a long time to install and require a restart of the computer. There would be nothing wrong with this if they came out less often than once every two weeks. For the most part, Microsoft’s corporate policy is to blame for this frequency, thanks to which everything new is immediately packaged and sent to work without thorough checking and testing.

Windows 10 updates take a very long time to install and at the most inopportune times

Windows 10 doesn't ask users whether they need an update or not, and installs everything automatically when the system reboots. This can catch a user by surprise who decides to quickly reboot the computer. Some Windows 10 updates can take up to two hours to install, depending on your device's specifications. In addition, downloading them can eat up all Internet traffic, and sometimes even computer resources.

Also in Windows 10 there is such a thing as advertising. And on free versions systems, it is often accompanied by the forced installation of unpopular and low-quality software from Microsoft. Updates to advertising services are also included in the general Windows update list.

Why you need to update Windows 10

It is imperative to install the first update immediately after installing the system. The fact is that there are many more varieties of Windows 10 than might seem at first glance.

First, the general non-personalized version of the system is installed. After installing the drivers and the first update, the OS changes to the version that best matches the hardware configuration, which allows you to improve overall performance Windows 10 and its compatibility with the computer.

Now let's talk about the advantages of regularly updating Windows 10. Surely you have heard about the spying functions of this system. In many ways, such services work with a single goal: collecting and sending statistics to the center technical support. This allows developers to monitor Windows operation 10 on different computers and under different conditions in order to regularly improve the system by releasing updates. It is thanks to the active collection of information that some Windows 10 updates are truly valuable and can make the user experience more comfortable.

It’s worth mentioning separately about the security system update. Every second Windows 10 update improves system protection against viruses and other external threats.

Taking into account the high activity of ransomware and cybercrime in recent years, updating security systems is relevant. Even if the computer has good antivirus, which you fully trust, does not provide guaranteed protection against threats that target vulnerabilities in Windows itself.

Windows 10 General Update includes vulnerabilities and security updates

Windows 10 updates are especially important for owners of older hardware. After Windows installations 10 Most drivers are downloaded automatically: this process often includes some compatibility improvements to further ensure better performance computer. Unfortunately, the Microsoft database is far from complete, which especially affects outdated hardware. But such information is collected very quickly, and with the next update a package may arrive that is intended exclusively for one of the computer components.

All types of Windows 10 updates and misconceptions associated with them

Under "update" operating system"Many users sometimes understand completely different things. To avoid confusion, it’s first worth taking a closer look at a couple of points: what an update is, what it can be, and what it cannot be.

The confusion about the types of updates is quite serious. It arose due to the inaccurate translation of English words into Russian. For example, version - version, edition - version, build - version and the like.

Table: what is called “Windows 10 Update”

What is meant by “Windows 10 Update”

Windows Update is responsible for updating the system in Windows 10. When it starts it starts automatic check for the presence of new assemblies and additional resources, and if something is found, immediate downloading and installation will begin. There are other ways to start the update, but the procedure itself is always the same.

"Windows 10 Update" is "Windows 10 Build Update" plus "Windows Additional Resources Update". This procedure is indivisible and unique possible option updating your system.

Updating Windows 10 involves updating the operating system and some of its components

There are no update methods

Due to various misconceptions and user memory about Windows 7, you can often find mention of update methods that actually do not exist.

Selective update

Many users mistakenly believe that selective system updates are allowed in Windows 10. Once upon a time there was indeed information that Microsoft would make such an opportunity for owners of the Windows 10 Professional release. However, this idea was not continued, and users are not expected to have any choice in the near future.

All updates for Windows 10 are downloaded in one package, and it is impossible to separate what you need from everything else. There are also no special programs or utilities that allow you to implement this function. And although there are ways that allow you to update the system to a certain version, excluding subsequent ones, you will not be able to choose what to install from this update and what not.

All updates for Windows 10 are packaged in one package that cannot be separated in any way

Manual update

Manual updating of Windows 10 can be considered synonymous with selective updating: that’s exactly what it means. Windows 10 only has automatic updates, which you can run manually. It’s just that it either starts itself or at the user’s request, and Windows 10 always updates the same way.

Manual update can be called offline update via MSU file, downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog

Upgrade to Game Mode

Game mode is enabled in the settings:

1. Click on the Start button and click on the gear icon to open Settings.

   Click on the "Start" button and click on the gear to open "Settings"

2. In the window that appears, click on “Games”.

   In the window that appears, click on “Games”

3. On the left side of the window, click on “Game Mode” and activate the single switch.

   On the left side of the window, click on “Game Mode” and activate the only switch

If you don’t have a game mode in your settings, simply update the system using any of the suggested methods and try again.

Installing a specific update

It is recommended to download only the latest Windows 10 update, which is what the system itself does. Any update package is installed completely and includes changes to all previous OS updates. You won't be able to skip any specific update.

Update packages include changes from all previous ones, unless they have been excluded by newer ones. Also, if problems occur after upgrading to latest version, you can upgrade to any previous one. How to do this is described in the chapter “Updating to a specific version”. However, remember that any subsequent update of the system will return all changes.

How much do updates weigh and how long does installation take?

The Update Center downloads only the latest update, which is enough to keep the operating system up to date.

Several packages are downloaded simultaneously only if the internal version of Windows 10 is changed. In this case, their weight is summed up. The updates themselves do not accumulate in any way, but simply replace each other. Their sizes are approximately 500 MB for x86 systems and 1 GB for x64. After applying the changes, the update package itself is removed, but the size free space

• on the hard drive will change:
• the size of the operating system can change up or down within 1 GB (the weight of the update itself does not affect this);

The update cache will remain on drive C, which weighs 50–80% of the update itself. The update cache is designed to restore the system in case of failure. Usually it is deleted on its own after some time if there is not enough free space on the disk. The update cache is located at C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\. This is the only trace left. To remove it, you need to disable Update Center and start the system in safe mode

. How to do both is written in the chapter “How to stop updating Windows 10”.

Deleting the update cache will not harm the system in any way The time it will take for the system to update is difficult to predict, since it depends on the capabilities of the computer and Internet speed.

If you run the update check yourself, the weight of the update will be shown before it starts downloading. If the system starts the process itself, and there is little space on the computer, it will notify the user about this. The table below shows the sizes of the latest update packages for all internal versions of Windows 10 that the system will download.

Table: weight of the latest Windows 10 update packages

How to update Windows 10

Typically, Windows 10 updates are launched without the user's knowledge. Either the system receives a message about the appearance of something new, or it checks for updates using a timer on its own. If information about the availability of updates is confirmed, their background download will begin, and the user will learn about this only after the computer is rebooted.

However, you can request to check for updates yourself.

Basic method

The easiest way to run the scan is through Windows Update, which is located in the Settings window.

1. Click on the “Start” button and open “Settings” by clicking on the gear icon.

   Click on the “Start” button and open “Settings” by clicking on the gear

2. In the window that opens, click on “Update and Security”.

   In the window that opens, click on “Update and Security”

3. Click on the "Check for updates" button.

   Click on the "Check for updates" button

Video: How to check for updates in Windows 10

Via “Command Line” (forced)

Checking for updates may be disabled by various settings systems. If this is the case, you will not be able to update using the general method. In this case, you should use the “Command Line” to force the search for updates to begin.

Through utilities

Windows 10 can also be updated via special programs designed specifically for this purpose.

The utilities will not provide any special features. They do not contain the updates themselves, but only redirect the system to the Microsoft server to search for them.

Both applications described below are located on the official Microsoft website in the “Software Downloads” section.

Utilities for updating Windows 10 can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website

Media Creation Tool

Windows10Upgrade (+ transition to Windows 10)

Here everything is even simpler, since you only have to press one button in the application itself, but it will be installed on your computer. It also allows you to upgrade to Windows 10 from version 8.1 and earlier.

Download the application from the official Microsoft website, run it as an administrator and click “Update now”.

Run Windows10Upgrade as an administrator and click "Upgrade Now"

Updating to a specific version

These methods can also be considered as updating without an internet connection. They differ from the previous ones in that now the search current version Windows 10 will not run on a Microsoft server, but on a Windows 10 image or a special file.

Via ISO image

Video: how to download the official Windows 10 image

Via CAB or MSU file

Files with the CAB and MSU format are special Windows 10 updates that are designed to update systems that do not have access to the Internet. You can download them from the official Microsoft website. Update files should open like regular files.exe format, but if this does not happen, they can be launched via the “Command Line”.

Launch Command Prompt as an administrator and enter one of the following commands:

Changing Windows 10 edition (without reinstallation and data loss)

Changing the edition of Windows 10 is only possible to a more “expensive” version of the system. If you want, for example, to change from Enterprise to Professional, only a complete reinstallation of the system will help you: Enterprise is the most expensive edition. But from the Home version the transition is more than possible.

1. Click on the "Start" button and click on the gear to go to "Settings".

   Click on the "Start" button and click on the gear to go to "Settings"

2. In the window that opens, click on the “Update and Security” section.

   Click on the "Update and Security" section

3. On the left side of the window, select Activation and click Change Product Key.

   Select the Activation tab and click Change Product Key

4. Enter one of the following keys(the keys are conditional: they allow you to change the version, but do not activate it):
   
5. If the update does not start automatically, select Windows Update on the left side of the window and click Check for Updates.

   Select the "Winodws Update" tab and click "Check for updates"

How to stop updating Windows 10

If you urgently need to interrupt a Windows 10 update that has started, quickly disconnect your Internet connection. Now you need to launch Command Prompt as an administrator and enter the following commands one by one: net stop wuauserv, net stop bits and net stop dosvc.

Open the "Start" menu, enter "cmd" in the search, click on " Command line» right click mouse and select "Run as administrator"

If you want to prevent downloading updates, the easiest way to do this is through services.

1. Open the Start menu, enter “services.msc” and run the found utility.

   Expand the Troubleshooting tab and select your problem

Regularly updating Windows 10 is a useful thing, but not always convenient. However, periodic updates for this system are almost vital. It’s better to endure an hour-long system update once again than to try to deal with more serious computer problems later.

The latest version of the OS and the necessary utilities will increase the security of using the device. After all, the easiest way for viruses to penetrate a computer is considered to be unprotected or outdated software. The American corporation Microsoft and antivirus developers strongly advise users to ensure that their PC is up to date.

Windows 10 operating system independently in automatic mode install all current updates on this moment time. Moreover, regardless of whether we are talking about major upgrades or small patches.

There are situations when a person needs to force a series of updates.

Here are the main ones:

• Done clean reinstalling Windows 10. Please note that any freshly installed version will require an update.

• News about large-scale innovations has been announced, during which users are interested in trying out innovations and comparing them with previous functions.

• Temporary shutdown of the update center due to forced circumstances (during a trip out of town or to the sea, long departure, downloading large packages is limited due to weak signal internet connection). More detailed information about temporarily disabling Windows 10 improvements can be found in our material.

After the release of the first major Anniversary update for the “ten”, comparable to SP1 for its predecessors, users were able to get acquainted with such an application as the Windows 10 Update Assistant.

April 2017 was marked by the appearance of the second major update package for Windows 10, comparable to SP2. Let's look at how this utility works and whether it is really as convenient as Microsoft claims.

Download Update Assistant

To get the next major upgrade, follow the following instructions.

1. Go to official page Download "Assistant" at https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10.

It is highly not recommended to download an updater from third-party resources - a very high percentage of virus and other malware disguises itself as an update assistant.

2. Click on the “Update now” icon.

3. Wait for the Update Assistant utility to complete downloading.

If you're using Edge, you'll have to confirm to download the executable file.

4. Run the resulting file.

5. In the assistant window, click “Update now” to install updates to the latest version of Windows 10.

As a result, the program will start the process of checking the computer parameters and its condition minimum requirements for running Windows 10. Usually this stage goes smoothly, but problems become:

• lack of a license key;
• lack of free disk space.

Pay attention to these points in advance.

5. If the first attempt was unsuccessful, after correcting the situation, click “Try again.”

The process of downloading the missing files and installing them has started. All user data will be safe and sound, and applications will continue to work as before.

If necessary ( new system didn’t like it or its operation is problematic) Windows 10 can be rolled back at any time. The main thing is that the Windows.old folder is not changed by the user. The rollback is carried out through the “Update and Security” Options item.

Due to the functioning of the assistant, a new directory Windows10Upgrade appears; what this new folder is and why it is needed, we will consider in this subsection. The directory temporarily stores the files necessary to update the operating system, and appears in the root of the system volume when the update wizard or Media Creation Tool is launched (on systems other than the “ten”).

1. Open the “Control Panel” using the search on the “Taskbar”.

2. From the list, select “Programs and Features”.

3. Find offline installer updates to Windows 10 Creators Update."

4. Click on it and click “Delete/Change”.

5. Confirm the action by clicking “Delete”.

As a result, the program will be uninstalled. After this, the Windows10Upgrade directory can be deleted manually through Explorer or file manager, if the folder is not deleted automatically.

Recently, user expectations from corporate IT devices and their workplace have changed dramatically. Today, users are interested in functional and fast devices with a pleasant and convenient interface on large touch screens. Powerful, reliable and secure devices are in demand for use both at work and for personal purposes. Nowadays it is popular to work quickly and safely in corporate network, have fun on the Internet from home or by connecting via WiFi, without thinking about operating system and software updates.

On the other hand, today Microsoft Windows 10 is the very platform that can provide seamless and securitized operation of personal equipment in the corporate network for work. Many have already managed to download Windows 10 for free and install it on their PC, or buy new computer, laptop, tablet with Windows 10 pre-installed. The corporate sector is not so quick to rise, although many experts and IT specialists are well aware of the advantages of switching from Win 7 or 8.1 to the tenth.

The innovative advantages of the latest tenth Windows include:

• personal information protection Credential Guard linked to equipment,
• built-in progressive protection against malicious activity Win Defender,
• stopping Pass The Hash threats, in which hacking one computer threatens all devices on the network,
• the use of Win Hello biometric data with facial recognition and fingerprint identification for security purposes,
• downloading updates using InstantGo technology while idle and even in standby mode,
• uniform view of applications different resolutions on a computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone,
• multiple desktops in Task View mode where applications are launched, as in Apple Mac OS X
• built-in DirectX 12, which previously had to be updated separately,
• The multimedia player supports popular formats, including FLAC, MKV, MP4 and AVI, encoded with the latest codecs,
• image viewer understands RAW format and can copy photos to OneDrive,
• new fast browser Edge works with HTML 5 and without legacy technologies.

For everyone who is still using Win 7 or 8.1 that meets the requirements, it’s time to download Windows 10 for free by updating to Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool online using a USB flash drive, DVD or ISO files, on the official Microsoft website. This is a limited time offer. The tenth Windows is backward compatible with previous Windows, while allowing you to get completely new sensations and emotions both in your home living room or children's room, and in the workplace.

Updates to the latest version of Windows 10 download for free

Microsoft does not stop improving the tenth version of its operating system; for this purpose, fixes are collected in patches. If in Windows settings 10 allows automatic updates, you just need to check that all patches are already installed. Otherwise, you can use the Microsoft Catalog. You can download updates to the Microsoft Update Catalog only using Internet Explorer, since the Microsoft catalog uses ActiveX elements that are not compatible with other browsers. As an alternative, it is possible to download Windows 10 updates for free using direct links from the official Microsoft website without leaving the site without registration and SMS (below on a light green background). After installing the patches, a cold reboot of the device will be required.

Solving Windows 10 update problems

Sometimes the update freezes in the process from 5% to 95%, as a result the patch is not installed, or after restarting the computer the user observes blue screen. Installation problem or blue BSOD screen After restarting the computer, these are solvable problems. First, before starting the process, you should disable your antivirus software, VPN and Proxy client software. Secondly, you should be patient: unpacking and installing patches takes from half an hour to several hours, depending on the performance of the computer. As a last resort, to fix problems you should use “Troubleshooting” from the “Start and Run” section of the operating system Windows systems 10.

Updates to versions 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803 and 1809

Cumulative updates for Windows 10 1511 (Win 10 November Update 1511) have not been released for a long time. Support for version 1607 on the Semi-Annual servicing channel has ended. Devices under Windows control 10 Home or Pro will not receive monthly security and quality updates, Microsoft recommends updating Windows 10 to the latest version. Devices on Long Term Service Channels (LTSC) will continue to receive updates until October 2026. Windows 10 Anniversary Update (v. 1607) installed on Intel chipset"Clovertrail" will receive updates until January 2023 on the Microsoft Community Blog.

The latest updates to Windows 10 versions 1709 and 1703 prepared the system for the transition to version 1809. Patch KB4023057 for Windows 10 versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709 and 1803 prepares the PC for the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. Information about current version you can see your Windows 10 by entering "winver" (without quotes) in search bar and pressing the Enter key. The very same version 1809, or Redstone 5, or Windows 10 October 2018 Update, showed a false start for the first time on October 2, 2018, and when it was relaunched on November 13, 2018, not everything went smoothly. At the end of 2018, the base remained 1803.

Many users have installed on their computers and Windows laptops 10 version 1809, while avoiding installation problems, including incorrect disk cleanup after the update. For them, we provide the opportunity to download KB4523205 (November 2019) for Windows 10 version 1809 for free, the build number will change to 17763.864. Increased stability, improved reliability, speed of operation and security are expected. There are no new features - only optimization and bug fixes.

Windows 1809 has actually learned to predict the optimal time for updating and then rebooting the PC. It has become possible to install fonts without super-administrator and administrator rights. SwiftKey, a cloud clipboard, your phone with support for both iPhone and Android and other useful functionality have appeared. Users are pleased with improved Skype, Microsoft Edge, Windows Defender, Notepad, game bar, emoticons, screenshots and search. Problems with the loss of user data have not received a comprehensive and convincing solution from Microsoft; many users of the https://site still have doubts.

Version 1903 / 1909 updates

Version 1903 received a light theme, increased performance and many improvements. Among the pleasant little things: changes in the Update Center, Notepad improvements, improved access to Linux files, Windows 10 sandbox, passwordless access, automatic elimination problems, hiding notifications when launching applications in full screen mode. The operating system now allows you to remove more built-in applications and provides new applications in virtual reality. Improved compatibility with Windows 10 from independent developers.

Today, Windows 10 (versions 1903 / 1909) can experience many problems. Cumulative updates will gradually resolve most issues, so we recommend installing KB4524570 (November 2019) for Windows 10 versions 1903 / 1909, which changes the operating system build number to 18363.476.