Windows Update is Microsoft’s push
subscription service for system patches, device driver updates, device
support, and security fixes. In these days of zero-day exploits,
viruses, trojans, worms, and evolving hardware functionality, Windows
Update is the front-line component for managing your device.
Windows Update does the following things:
• Updates system software and components, including device drivers and hardware support
• Updates Microsoft software such as
Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Windows Live applications, and
some of Microsoft’s developer tools
• Performs security updates (usually
referred to as “patches”) on the second Tuesday of each month, or as
needed for more severe threats
You can choose to have Windows
Update download updates and await your approval for installation, you
can choose to have it automatically download and install updates, or
you can disable it completely.
To view Windows Update from the Start screen
1. Press 
+W and enter windows update in the Settings text box.
2. Tap or click the Windows Update button.
The Windows Update settings screen appears.
Windows Update settings screen
Windows Update is controlled more completely from inside its control panel app.
To change settings in the Windows Update control panel
1. Press +X or right-click the lower-left corner of the display, and select the Control Panel command from the Computer Management menu.
2. Tap or click the System and Security link, then tap or click the Windows Update link .
The System and Security control panel
The Windows Update control panel appears .
The Windows Update control panel
3. Tap or click the Change settings link. View and change the current settings via the drop-down menu .
The Windows Update Change Settings control panel
4. Tap or click OK to enforce your new settings.
Tip
Windows 8 lists updates that were applied by Windows Update in the Installed Updates control panel. Click the Installed Updates
link in the Windows Update control panel to access this feature. You
can remove a badly behaving update from that location, but the need to
do that is rare indeed.
Tip
It is recommended that you apply all updates
to your system as soon as they are available. A Windows 8 installation
is not considered complete until all updates are applied.
