How to Choose Which Windows Updates You Should Actually Install
Not all Windows updates are created equal. Here's how to identify which updates are critical, which are optional, and how to make informed decisions.
What's Happening
Windows presents you with a list of available updates, and it's not always clear which ones you actually need to install. Some are critical security patches, others are optional feature updates, some are driver updates that might break things, and some are preview updates that aren't even finished yet. You want to keep your system secure and stable, but you also don't want to install updates that cause problems or waste time.
Understanding the different types of Windows updates helps you make smart decisions about what to install and what to skip or delay.
Quick Checks
Before making update decisions:
- Check what's available - Go to Settings > Windows Update and click "Check for updates" to see everything available
- Read the descriptions - Click on individual updates to see what they contain
- Research major updates - Search online for "[Update name] problems" before installing major feature updates to see if there are widespread issues
- Back up important data - Before any significant update, back up critical files just in case
Understanding Update Types
Security Updates (Quality Updates)
What they are: Monthly patches that fix security vulnerabilities, stability issues, and bugs. These usually have KB numbers like "KB5034441."
Should you install them? Yes, always. These are critical for protecting your computer from malware, hackers, and exploits. Install these as soon as they're available.
Frequency: Released on "Patch Tuesday" (second Tuesday of each month), with occasional emergency patches.
Feature Updates (Major Version Updates)
What they are: Big updates that add new features and major changes, like upgrading from Windows 10 21H2 to 22H2, or from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Should you install them? Usually yes, but you can wait. Wait a few weeks after release to let Microsoft work out bugs that early adopters find. If your system is working perfectly and you don't need new features, you can delay these for months.
Frequency: Once or twice a year.
How to decide:
- If you're more than one version behind, consider updating for security and compatibility
- If you rely on your computer for critical work, wait 2-4 weeks after release
- Research known issues before upgrading
- Make sure your important software is compatible with the new version
Optional Updates (Drivers and Non-Security)
What they are: Updates for hardware drivers, firmware, and non-essential features. Found under Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.
Should you install them? It depends.
- Install if: You're having problems with a specific device and see a driver update for it
- Skip if: Everything is working fine. There's an old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Driver updates can sometimes cause more problems than they solve.
- Be cautious with: Graphics card driver updates from Windows Update—it's often better to get these directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel
Preview and Beta Updates
What they are: Updates marked as "Preview" or available through the Windows Insider Program. These are pre-release versions for testing.
Should you install them? No, unless you're a tester. These updates can contain bugs and are not fully stable. Only install preview updates on non-critical computers if you want to test new features early.
Step-by-Step: How to Review and Choose Updates
Step 1: Check Available Updates
- Open Settings > Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Review the list of available updates
Step 2: Identify Critical vs. Optional
- Security and quality updates (KB numbers) = Install immediately
- Feature updates (version numbers like 23H2) = Research first, then decide
- Click Advanced options > Optional updates to see driver and non-security updates
- Review each optional update individually
Step 3: Install Selectively
- Let Windows automatically install security updates
- For optional updates, check the boxes next to only the ones you want
- Click Download & install
- For feature updates, you can click "Pause updates" to delay them while you research
Step 4: Monitor for Issues
- After installing updates, pay attention to whether things work correctly
- If you experience new problems, you can uninstall recent updates:
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates
- Select the problematic update and click Uninstall
If You're Unsure About a Specific Update
When you're on the fence about installing an update:
- Search for it online - Type the KB number or update name into Google along with "problems" or "issues" to see if others are reporting trouble
- Check Microsoft's release notes - Microsoft publishes detailed notes about what each update contains and fixes
- Ask in tech communities - Reddit's r/Windows10 or r/Windows11 communities often have discussions about recent updates
- Wait a week - If an update has major issues, they usually surface within the first week of release
When to Call a Pro
Seek professional advice if:
- You're managing updates for a business and need a policy framework
- You need to test updates in a controlled environment before deploying them across multiple computers
- You're unsure which updates are compatible with critical business software
- You want to set up WSUS or another enterprise update management system
- An update caused problems and you need expert help rolling back or fixing issues
A technician can help you develop an update strategy that balances security with stability, test updates before full deployment, configure group policies for update management, and troubleshoot issues caused by problematic updates.
Need Professional Help?
If you're in the Tampa Bay area and need hands-on assistance, Geeks in Sneaks provides friendly, on-site tech support in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Dunedin.
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