How to Update Windows 10 Manually

To update Windows 10 manually, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install what Windows finds, and restart when asked. Because Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, new security updates now reach only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates (ESU), which you join from the same Windows Update page with Enroll now.

Applies to: Windows 10, version 22H2 (Home, Pro and other editions).

What Windows 10 can still get from Windows Update

“Updating manually” used to mean nothing more than pressing a button. Since Windows 10 left support, what you receive depends on whether your PC is enrolled in ESU. Windows 10 PCs keep working after end of support, but without ESU they no longer receive software updates, security fixes or technical assistance. According to the release information, the October 2025 security update was the last one for the general population, while enrolled PCs kept receiving monthly fixes (the September 2026 update was KB5122878, followed by an out-of-band update, KB5129236, on September 14, 2026).

Your situation	What you can get	What to do
Home PC enrolled in consumer ESU	Critical and important security updates through October 12, 2027	Keep checking Windows Update and install what it offers
Home PC on version 22H2, not enrolled	No new security updates	Enroll in ESU, or move to Windows 11 if your PC qualifies
PC on an older Windows 10 version (for example 21H2)	Not eligible for ESU until it is on 22H2	Get version 22H2 first (see the Update Assistant section)
Work or school PC	Whatever your organization’s paid ESU subscription and policies allow	Ask your IT department; the consumer program can’t be used for these PCs

ESU provides critical and important security updates only; it is a way to stay protected while you plan a move, not a return to full support. Security updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 continue through October 10, 2028. Antivirus software such as Microsoft Defender isn’t enough on its own without operating system security updates.

Before you update

• Use an administrator account. Installing updates and enrolling in ESU both need administrator rights. For ESU, the Microsoft account you use must be an administrator on the PC and can’t be a child account.
• Plug in and stay online. The first troubleshooting check is that the PC is connected to power and the internet. A laptop that runs out of battery mid-install can leave an update half finished.
• Save your work. Many updates need a restart, so close open apps before you start.
• Back up important files before a larger change, such as moving to version 22H2 or reinstalling Windows with the Media Creation Tool.
• Check your version. Select the search box on the taskbar, type winver, and select winver in the results. The window that opens shows your version (for example 22H2) and OS build number.
• Make room if storage is tight. An upgrade to a newer version needs at least 16 GB of free space on 32-bit Windows or 20 GB on 64-bit Windows.

Check for updates in Settings

This is the recommended method for monthly security fixes. Windows Update offers the packages meant for your PC, so you don’t have to work out which file fits your version.

1. Select Start, then select Settings (the gear icon). The Settings window opens.
2. Select Update & Security. The update settings open.
3. Make sure Windows Update is selected on the left. The page shows your update status.
4. Select Check for updates. Windows looks for updates available for your PC and lists any it finds.
5. Install the updates Windows finds and wait for them to finish. Large updates can take a while; leave the PC on and plugged in.
6. When Windows asks you to restart, save your work and restart. The PC may take a few minutes longer than usual to restart.
7. Go back to Windows Update and select Check for updates again. Repeat until no more updates appear, since some updates only show up after earlier ones are installed.

If the check fails, the Windows Update troubleshooter guide explains what to try next.

Enroll in Extended Security Updates

If Windows Update finds nothing new month after month, your PC probably isn’t enrolled in ESU. The requirements and options, from the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates page:

• The PC must run Windows 10, version 22H2, in the Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations edition, and be for personal use. PCs managed by an organization are excluded.
• You sign in with a Microsoft account. If you normally use a local account, Windows prompts you to sign in to one during enrollment.
• Enrollment is free if you sync your PC settings. The other options are redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time purchase of $30 (or the local equivalent) plus tax.
• One ESU license covers up to 10 devices, and you can enroll at any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027.
• Options and timing can differ by region, such as in the European Economic Area.

To enroll, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, select Enroll now, and follow the prompts. If the button is missing, or you want help picking a payment choice, read enrolling in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates. After enrolling, run Check for updates again.

Install a specific update from the Microsoft Update Catalog

The Microsoft Update Catalog is Microsoft’s official library of individual update packages. Use it when you need one particular update by its KB number (the “Knowledge Base” number Microsoft gives every update), for example when Windows Update keeps failing on that update or when the PC can’t reach Windows Update directly. Don’t use it to replace ESU enrollment: post-2025 security updates are delivered to enrolled PCs.

1. Find the KB number you need. The Windows 10 update history page lists every release with its date, KB number and OS build.
2. Open the Microsoft Update Catalog in your browser and type the KB number into the search box. The catalog lists every package with that number.
3. Pick the row that matches your PC: the title should name Windows 10 (version 22H2 for most PCs) and your processor type, such as x64 (64-bit), x86 (32-bit) or ARM64. If you aren’t sure which you have, the 32-bit and 64-bit Windows FAQ shows how to check.
4. Select Download on that row, then save the file it offers. Monthly Windows updates come as files ending in .msu.
5. Double-click the .msu file. The Windows Update Standalone Installer checks whether the update applies to your PC, then shows the update and its license terms. Follow the prompts to install.
6. Restart when asked, then confirm the new build number with winver.

For the technical side, including the command-line options IT staff use for silent installs, read the description of the Windows Update Standalone Installer.

Get the latest Windows 10 version with the Update Assistant

The Update Assistant helps a PC that is stuck on an older Windows 10 version move to the latest one, version 22H2, which is also the version ESU requires. It doesn’t add monthly security fixes on its own, so run Windows Update afterward.

1. Check your version with winver. If it already shows 22H2, you don’t need the Update Assistant.
2. Open Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 page. Under Windows 10 2022 Update | Version 22H2, select Update now to download the Update Assistant.
3. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts. Leave the PC on and plugged in until the update is complete and the PC has restarted.
4. When Windows is back, check winver again, then use Check for updates to pick up the newest security updates.

The Update Assistant doesn’t run on ARM-based PCs. It is supported only on x86 and x64 PCs.

Repair Windows 10 in place with the Media Creation Tool

If Windows Update keeps failing and the troubleshooting steps below don’t help, the Media Creation Tool can reinstall Windows 10 version 22H2 over your current copy. It’s a bigger job than a normal update, so back up first.

1. On the Download Windows 10 page, under Create Windows 10 installation media, select Download Now.
2. Run the tool and follow its prompts. You need a license for Windows 10, an internet connection and enough storage space for the download.
3. Select Upgrade this PC now, then select Next.
4. When asked what to keep, choose Keep personal files and apps to keep everything. The other choices, Keep personal files only and Nothing, remove more, so read them carefully.
5. Let the setup finish without turning off the PC; expect it to restart during the process. Afterward, run Check for updates to get the latest security fixes.

Which method should you use?

Method	Best for	Not for
Check for updates in Settings	Monthly security updates on an enrolled PC; the first thing to try every time	Getting updates on a PC that isn’t enrolled in ESU
Enroll now (ESU)	Home PCs on version 22H2 that need security updates through October 12, 2027	Work or school PCs
Microsoft Update Catalog	Installing one known update by KB number when Windows Update fails on it	Beginners who don’t know which package fits their PC
Update Assistant	PCs still on a Windows 10 version older than 22H2	ARM-based PCs, or PCs already on 22H2
Media Creation Tool	Repairing a PC whose updates keep failing, by reinstalling 22H2 in place	Quick monthly updates

Check that the update installed

• Look at the build number. Run winver. The OS build should match the latest update in the Windows 10 update history; for example, KB5122878 from September 8, 2026 brings version 22H2 to build 19045.7725.
• Check again. On the Windows Update page, select Check for updates. If nothing new appears and there’s no restart waiting, the PC is current for what it is eligible to receive.
• If an update causes problems, you can uninstall a Windows update. Be aware that some updates can’t be uninstalled and that you should understand the risk before removing a security update.

If Windows Update isn’t working

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

1. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
2. Under Get up and running, select Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.
3. Apply any fixes it suggests, restart, and check for updates again.

The automated Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app is another starting point on Windows 10.

Work through the basic checks

These checks follow the official update troubleshooting guide, roughly from quickest to most involved:

• Restart the PC; a pending restart can block the next update.
• Confirm the PC is plugged in and online, and that you’re using an administrator account.
• Unplug external drives, docks and other hardware you don’t need, then try again.
• Make sure the date, time and time zone are set automatically.
• Free up storage space with the built-in tools for freeing up space in Windows 10 safely.
• Update third-party drivers from the hardware maker’s website, using one of the safe routes for updating all drivers on Windows 10.
• Clear the Windows Update cache. This means stopping the Windows Update service, emptying the SoftwareDistribution folder and starting the service again; follow the official guide’s steps exactly if you try this.

Common error codes

If Windows Update shows an error code, this table matches each one to a likely cause:

Error code	Likely cause
0x800f0922	Not enough disk space, or a problem with system components
0x8007000d	Corrupted update files or update cache
0x800705b4	The update took too long or was interrupted
0x80240034	A stuck update or a connection problem
0x80070057 or 0x80080005	Corrupted files or incorrect configuration
0xC1900101	An incompatible driver
0x80248014	The update database or service isn’t running
0x80070005	Access denied or not enough permissions
0x80070002	The update failed to install

“Up to date” but you know a newer update exists

On Windows 10 this usually means the PC isn’t enrolled in ESU or isn’t on version 22H2. Check winver, then look for the Enroll now option on the Windows Update page.

Work or school PCs

If Windows Update settings can’t be changed or mention that your organization manages them, your IT department controls Windows Update on that PC. Microsoft’s consumer ESU program can’t be used on these PCs; organizations buy their own ESU subscription, so ask IT before changing anything.

A downloaded .msu file won’t install

The Standalone Installer only installs an update that applies to your PC. Check that the package title matches your Windows 10 version and processor type, that the update isn’t already installed (compare build numbers with winver), and that any pending restart is done.

Frequently asked questions

Does Windows 10 still get updates in 2026?

Only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates get new security updates. Monthly ESU updates continued in 2026, and the consumer program runs through October 12, 2027. PCs that aren’t enrolled stopped receiving security fixes after October 2025.

Is ESU free?

It can be. Enrollment costs nothing extra if you sync your PC settings with a Microsoft account. Otherwise, you can redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or pay a one-time $30 fee plus tax.

How often should I check for updates manually?

Windows Update checks automatically, but a manual check once a month, after Microsoft’s monthly release, is a sensible habit. It is also worth checking after you enroll in ESU or after a long time offline.

Will updating delete my files?

Monthly updates install fixes on top of your current Windows, but a backup is still the safe habit. The Media Creation Tool is different: it asks what to keep, and only Keep personal files and apps keeps everything, so choose it and back up first.

Can I upgrade to Windows 11 instead?

Yes, if your PC meets the requirements. Eligible PCs see an option in Windows Update to upgrade to Windows 11 for free. The compatibility check and both upgrade routes are explained in upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Are third-party “update fixer” tools safe?

Stick to Microsoft’s own routes: Windows Update, the Microsoft Update Catalog, the Update Assistant and the Media Creation Tool. The official troubleshooting guide covers the repair steps, so you don’t need tools that change system settings you can’t see.

Next step: open Windows Update now and check whether your PC shows Enroll now. If it does, enroll before installing anything else so the following checks bring in the latest security updates.

If winver shows an older version, start by updating to Windows 10 22H2.