Install Optional Updates in Windows 10

How to Install Optional Updates in Windows 10

Optional updates are updates aren’t required to run the operating system. The OS can work as expected without installing them. However, they may enhance some of its features, or add extra options to connected devices. Optional updates may include device drives, extra packages for Microsoft's software like Office, and hardware. Starting in Windows version 2020, May 2020 Update, it is possible to install optional updates on demand. In this blog post, we will review the procedure in detail.

Optional updates are updates that are not critical for keeping Windows up-to-date, secure, and reliable. Usually, they include third-party drivers for devices you have installed, OEM utilities, and device-specific patches.

With release of Windows 10, optional updates had gone. This change wasn't welcomed by many users. The updates are now automatically downloaded and installed except on metered connections. The user couldn't see them or cancel their installation.

This has changed with Windows 10 Build 18980, a Fast Ring build released to Insiders on September 11, 2019. Fortunately, Microsoft decided to give more control over updates to the user's hands. If you are running Windows 10 version 2020, you can do the following.

To Install Optional Updates in Windows 10,

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Update & security -> Windows Update.
3. On the right, click on the View optional updates link.
4. On the next page, expand available groups of updates to see what it is possible to download and install.
5. Select (check) the updates you want to install, and click on the Download and install button.

You are done.

Note: If you don’t have the View optional updates link in Settings, this may indicate that you running an older version of Windows 10.

Definitely, this is a pleasant change for all Windows 10 users. Having optional updates listed separately the way it was implemented in Windows 7 makes update installation more convenient.

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