Solved How to get automatic updates?

larc919 · Jun 25, 2024

When I turn on my Windows 10 PCs, one of the first things they do is check for updates. They immediately install security updates such as those for Defender without bothering me. Neither of the PCs I'm running Windows 11 Insider on (Beta & Release Preview) will do that. I have to check for updates manually on both. When I google how to set up automatic updates, I'm told to run wscui.cpl and select "automatic updates," but no such setting shows on that page. Surely there has to be a convenient setting for ordering automatic updates. At least, getting security updates automatically should be enabled by default.

Wisewiz · Jun 25, 2024

@larc919 Hi, fellow member! I think you should know that in W11 24H2 994, the automatic updating works very well, indeed. Sure, if I start one of my office machines and soon after the desktop appears, I click Windows Update and then click Check for updates, WU will search and tell me (usually) that it has a Defender database update, and it will then auto-install that. BUT, if I wait about five minutes or so after the desktop appears, I can open WU, and it will show me the "You're up to date" message, and date/time that message a few minutes earlier, meaning it has checked for, found, and installed updates.

I have no complaints with that.

IanMosley · Jun 25, 2024

larc919 said:
When I turn on my Windows 10 PCs, one of the first things they do is check for updates.

Welcome to 11 Forums.

Check out this tutorial - Enable or Disable Windows Update Automatic Updates in Windows 10 - by Brink, our resident expert.
Works equally with Windows 10 / 11.

Ghot · Jun 25, 2024

Probably gonna be Windows Updates in... 21 minutes.

Well... I don't see any updates on Windows 10 or on Windows 11. Maybe we're gonna get a break.

Bree · Jun 25, 2024

larc919 said:
When I turn on my Windows 10 PCs, one of the first things they do is check for updates. They immediately install security updates such as those for Defender without bothering me. Neither of the PCs I'm running Windows 11 Insider on (Beta & Release Preview) will do that. I have to check for updates manually on both.

Left to its own devices a Windows PC, whether 10 or 11, should automatically check for updates only once a day (approximately). I understand that it's actually every 22 hours plus a random 0-6 hours to spread out the demands on the download servers. If it's been more than a day since the PC was last turned on, then the next automatic check would be overdue, and should take place a little while after start up.

I'm guessing you may not be turning on you Windows 10 PCs as often as the Windows 11 Insiders ones. If so, that could explain the difference you are seeing.

andrew129260 · Jun 25, 2024

Bree said:
Left to its own devices a Windows PC, whether 10 or 11, should automatically check for updates only once a day (approximately). I understand that it's actually every 22 hours plus a random 0-6 hours to spread out the demands on the download servers. If it's been more than a day since the PC was last turned on, then the next automatic check would be overdue, and should take place a little while after start up.

I'm guessing you may not be turning on you Windows 10 PCs as often as the Windows 11 Insiders ones. If so, that could explain the difference you are seeing.

In addition to this, the windows update service runs on manual triggered start. So if you start your pc and immediately check for updates, the service forces an earlier start then if you had just waited a bit.

You can set the windows update service to automatic delayed start or just automatic if you want, which I found does have it search for updates more often.

Wisewiz · Jun 25, 2024

Ghot said:
Well... I don't see any updates on Windows 10 or on Windows 11. Maybe we're gonna get a break.

Yeah, all quiet on the Western Front, and the Eastern Front, and ... so on. Twenty minutes past one, and zero, nada, zilch.

Ghot · Jun 25, 2024

Wisewiz said:
Yeah, all quiet on the Western Front, and the Eastern Front, and ... so on. Twenty minutes past one, and zero, nada, zilch.

Must be an early 4th of July present from Microsoft.

Wisewiz · Jun 25, 2024

For the Canadians among us, an early 1st of July present from Microsoft.

NormanF · Jun 25, 2024

larc919 said:
When I turn on my Windows 10 PCs, one of the first things they do is check for updates. They immediately install security updates such as those for Defender without bothering me. Neither of the PCs I'm running Windows 11 Insider on (Beta & Release Preview) will do that. I have to check for updates manually on both. When I google how to set up automatic updates, I'm told to run wscui.cpl and select "automatic updates," but no such setting shows on that page. Surely there has to be a convenient setting for ordering automatic updates. At least, getting security updates automatically should be enabled by default.

In a word, NO! There are good reasons you don't want auto update enabled. Some updates might not work or change the way your PC runs that could degrade its performance. Or keep Windows from booting. You're better off installing updates yourself and if you've problems, you can remove and block them. Getting a fast update isn't worth the risks you might face from enabling it.

hsehestedt · Jun 25, 2024

Ghot said:
Probably gonna be Windows Updates in... 21 minutes.

Well... I don't see any updates on Windows 10 or on Windows 11. Maybe we're gonna get a break.

LOL, I had my eyes on the clock as well, but I've noticed that the preview updates seem to not be on as strict a timeline recently. Usually I think of those as being released on the 4th Tuesday of the month, but sometimes they have been released later in the day or even on Wed or Thur.

andrew129260 · Jun 25, 2024

NormanF said:
In a word, NO! There are good reasons you don't want auto update enabled. Some updates might not work or change the way your PC runs that could degrade its performance. Or keep Windows from booting.

Since windows 7 I have only had one bad update through windows updates, (and it was just an update that just wouldn't install, everything ran fine) and that includes my jobs through the years. I notice a ton of people blame updates for the reasons things break, but rarely is the windows update actually being the actual cause.

It's true windows updates can break things, but I think in general it happens way less than the doom and gloom people spout all the time.

Now if you do enable the get the latest updates as soon as they are available that makes sense.

But I also don't race into constantly check for updates and I just let windows do its thing.

I never had an update break windows from booting or anything catastrophic.

hsehestedt · Jun 25, 2024

andrew129260 said:
I never had an update break windows from booting or anything catastrophic.

I also have never had a catastrophic event as a result of Windows updates. I have had one or two minor issues, but all were easy to work around.

My strategy is usually to set Windows to delay updates for a few weeks just prior to patch Tuesday on my most important machines. Then, I will install the patch Tuesday updates on some test systems, and also wait a couple of days to see if any reports of any major issues surface. If nothing critical pops that affects me, I will then allow my main systems to resume updates.

Of course, another method would be to trigger my daily disk image backup just before installing updates. That way, I can throw caution to the wind and install the updates knowing I can easily revert back should I need to do so.

Bree · Jun 25, 2024

andrew129260 said:
I never had an update break windows from booting or anything catastrophic.

hsehestedt said:
I also have never had a catastrophic event as a result of Windows updates. I have had one or two minor issues, but all were easy to work around.

My strategy is usually to set Windows to delay updates for a few weeks just prior to patch Tuesday on my most important machines.....

Of course, another method would be to trigger my daily disk image backup just before installing updates. That way, I can throw caution to the wind and install the updates knowing I can easily revert back should I need to do so.

My strategy is to throw caution to the wind, knowing I have a good backup I could restore. Never yet needed to...

andrew129260 · Jun 25, 2024

Bree said:
My strategy is to throw caution to the wind, knowing I have a good backup I could restore. Never yet needed to...

plus you own multiple systems haha like me so it helps

Bree · Jun 25, 2024

andrew129260 said:
plus you own multiple systems haha like me so it helps

I did once have just the one system. When that had a comprehensive hardware failure I had to replace it in a hurry. I swore then than I'd never have less than two working systems. I think I may have over-compensated just a little bit..... :lmao:

Wisewiz · Jun 25, 2024

I have no idea how any computer "enthusiast" can survive without at least two computers. The number of times I've needed to get something from the other system, needed to check something on the other system, or needed to use the other system to find a remedy for something gone wrong on the primary system is legion. Sure, one system is a test machine, but it's still a reliable, secure backup for system number one. Problem? Help lies just across the office floor.

Ghot · Jun 25, 2024

hsehestedt said:
LOL, I had my eyes on the clock as well, but I've noticed that the preview updates seem to not be on as strict a timeline recently. Usually I think of those as being released on the 4th Tuesday of the month, but sometimes they have been released later in the day or even on Wed or Thur.

Well, it seems that this one was released... later in the day. LOL

hsehestedt · Jun 25, 2024

Bree said:
I think I may have over-compensated just a little bit.....

Amen to that! This computer stuff is an expensive habit. As far as I know, there is no pill for this yet.

hsehestedt · Jun 25, 2024

Ghot said:
Well, it seems that this one was released... later in the day. LOL

View attachment 99993

Thanks for the update. Downloading it now.

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