How to Update Software on Your Computer: A Complete Guide

Step-by-step guide to safely update software on your computer and improve security and performance.

Software updates rarely announce themselves as important. A small notification badge, a "New version available" pop-up — it's easy to click "Later" and forget about it. But outdated software is one of the more common ways a Windows PC ends up vulnerable to security issues, slow, or incompatible with newer file formats and features.

This guide covers every practical way to keep software updated on a Windows PC — from the operating system itself down to individual desktop apps and hardware drivers. If you haven't installed the software yet, our guide on how to install software on a computer covers that first step; this one picks up from there.

Before You Start: Quick Checklist

• Save your work. Some updates require closing the program or restarting your PC.
• Check your internet connection. Larger updates, especially for Windows itself, download faster and more reliably over Wi-Fi than a mobile hotspot.
• Check free disk space. Updates, particularly Windows feature updates, can temporarily need several gigabytes of free space during installation.
• Back up anything critical. Major updates are generally safe, but backing up important files before a big Windows update is good practice regardless.

1. Keep Windows Itself Updated

Windows Update covers the operating system, security patches, and many hardware drivers all in one place, and it's the single most important update to stay on top of.

1. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If updates are found, select Download and install, then restart your PC when prompted.

Windows 11 installs most updates automatically by default, but manually checking is worth doing periodically, especially after a new feature update rolls out. Microsoft's official Windows Update FAQ covers exactly how updates are scheduled, downloaded, and installed.

2. Update Apps from the Microsoft Store

Apps installed through the Microsoft Store update separately from Windows itself, and usually do so automatically in the background.

1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
2. Select your profile icon, then App settings, and confirm App updates is toggled on for automatic updates.
3. To check manually, select Library in the Store and click Get updates.

3. Update Traditional Desktop Programs

Programs installed outside the Microsoft Store — the classic .exe-based desktop apps — don't share a single update system, so each one typically needs to be checked individually.

1. Open the program and look for Help > Check for Updates, or a similar option under Settings or the program's menu.
2. If an update is available, follow the prompts to download and install it — this usually works the same way as the original installation.
3. Some programs check for updates automatically on launch and simply notify you when one is ready.

This is the most time-consuming part of keeping software current, since it means checking each app separately rather than relying on one central system.

4. Use a Dedicated Software Updater Tool

If you have a lot of installed programs, a dedicated updater tool can scan your system and flag outdated software in one pass, rather than checking each app by hand.

Tool	What it does	Best for
Patch My PC (Home Updater)	Scans for outdated common apps and updates them in bulk	Updating many free/common programs quickly
Windows Package Manager (winget)	Command-line tool built into Windows for installing and updating apps	Users comfortable with basic command-line steps
Manufacturer support apps (e.g., Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant)	Checks for driver and firmware updates specific to your PC model	Laptop and desktop hardware updates

As with any software, only download updater tools from their official websites, since "PC update" and "driver update" tools are a category frequently impersonated by unwanted or bundled software.

5. Update Device Drivers

Drivers let Windows communicate with your hardware — graphics cards, printers, network adapters, and so on — and outdated ones can cause anything from minor glitches to instability.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the category for the device you want to update (for example, Display adapters).
3. Right-click the device and select Update driver, then choose Search automatically for drivers.

For most hardware, Windows Update handles driver updates automatically in the background, which is generally the safest source. Microsoft's official guide on updating drivers through Device Manager covers the manual process in more detail if Windows Update doesn't find what you need. Avoid third-party "driver updater" tools promoted through pop-up ads — Microsoft itself warns that these are a common source of unwanted software, and the manufacturer's own website is a safer source for anything Windows Update doesn't cover.

6. Update Your Web Browser

Browsers update frequently, often for security fixes, and most do this automatically without requiring any action. To confirm you're on the latest version, most browsers show version information and a manual update check under a menu option like "About" — for example, Settings > About in Chrome or Edge.

How to Check Which Version You're Currently Running

Before deciding whether an update is worth installing, it helps to know what you're currently running. For Windows itself, go to Settings > System > About to see your current version and build number. For most desktop programs, the version number is listed under Help > About, or sometimes under Settings. Comparing this against the latest version listed on the developer's official website confirms whether you're actually behind, rather than updating unnecessarily.

Troubleshooting Failed Updates

If an update won't download, fails partway through, or a program shows an error after updating, a few common causes are worth checking:

• Not enough free space: Updates, particularly for Windows, can temporarily need extra room to download and install. Our guide on how to free up storage on Windows 11 covers how to clear space quickly.
• Interrupted download: A dropped connection mid-update can corrupt the download — try again over a stable connection.
• Conflicting leftover files from a previous version: If a program consistently fails to update cleanly, a full uninstall and fresh reinstall sometimes resolves it. Our guide on how to uninstall software completely covers removing every trace before reinstalling.
• Broader system issues: If updates are failing across multiple programs, not just one, our guide on how to fix common Windows 11 problems covers wider troubleshooting steps.

Why Staying Updated Matters

Beyond new features, updates frequently patch security vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by malware. Outdated software is a commonly cited entry point in security incidents, precisely because known flaws in older versions are public information once a fix is released. Keeping software current is one of the simplest habits that meaningfully reduces risk, alongside general PC maintenance like the steps in our guide on how to speed up Windows 11, which also touches on how accumulated bloat and outdated background processes affect performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update software on my computer?

Windows itself checks and installs updates automatically by default, so a manual check every few weeks is enough as a backup. For individual desktop programs, checking whenever you notice a "new version" prompt, or every month or two for frequently used apps, is a reasonable habit.

Is it safe to update software automatically?

Yes, for the vast majority of software, automatic updates are safe and recommended, since they typically include security fixes. The main exception is in specialized work environments where a specific software version is required for compatibility with other tools.

Why do some updates require a restart?

Updates that replace files currently in use by Windows or a running program — including many drivers and system-level updates — can't fully apply until the system restarts and those files are no longer locked.

Can outdated software cause security problems?

Yes. Once a security flaw in a piece of software becomes public, unpatched systems running the older version remain vulnerable until updated. This is one of the main reasons security guidance consistently recommends keeping software current.

Should I use third-party "driver updater" tools?

Generally, it's safer to rely on Windows Update or the hardware manufacturer's own website for driver updates. Many third-party driver updater tools promoted through pop-up ads bundle unwanted software or install unnecessary or incorrect drivers.

What's the difference between updating and reinstalling software?

Updating replaces only the files that changed between versions, keeping your existing settings and data intact. Reinstalling removes the program entirely and installs it fresh, which is sometimes necessary if repeated update failures suggest the existing installation is corrupted.