Windows Update service: guide and versions history

Windows Update, a service offered by Microsoft, provides updates for Windows components.

It can be replaced with Microsoft Update, an expanded version of the service which provides for other Microsoft software as well, such as Microsoft Office, Windows Live Essentials, and Microsoft Expression Studio.

Here you will see how to Check for Updates in Windows 10 and view the table for Windows 10 feature update version history.

The service provides different kinds of updates. Security updates or critical updates protect against vulnerabilities to malware and security exploits.

In its long history, Microsoft provided updates in different ways for different operating systems. The general categories of updates are:

• Critical Update
• Definition Update
• Update
• Driver Updates
• Tool Updates
• Security Updates
• Feature Pack Updates
• Monthly Rollup
• Service Pack
• Full updates
• Express updates
• Delta updates
• Update rollup
• Security Quality Update
• Security Monthly Quality Rollup
• Preview of Monthly Quality Rollup
• Service Stack Updates

So, other updates correct errors unrelated to security or enhance functionality.

Windows Update clients normally download updates over an Internet connection, although Microsoft makes provision for installing updates on computers without an Internet connection and a range of alternative methods and programs also exist to install updates.

How to Check for Updates in Windows 10

By default, Windows 10 will download the missing updates in the background, but you can always check for updates on your own. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by using Windows Key + I shortcut.
2. Once the Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & Security section.
   
3. Click Check for updates button.
   

Windows will now check for new updates and download them in the background.

Windows 10 feature update version history

Windows 10 has received several feature updates so far, as you can see in the table below and starting with version 1607 each update has a marketing name: