As an operating system, Windows is huge. It has gone through several iterations, some of which have been very well-received. Others will go down as the subject of jokes in the technology space.
Despite this, Windows has been leading the OS space since the mid-80s, with no other OS, mobile or desktop, taking the crown from it ever since (though Android is getting close). Today, Windows still holds nearly three-quarters of the desktop OS market. As a result of this market dominance, when people have issues with Windows, they have those issues en masse.
For instance, the issue of updates. It’s funny how many people complain that Windows downloads updates on its own. No matter how hard they try to stop it from doing that and disable updates forever.
The truth is that there’s a new, upgraded Windows version that your PC won’t download. That’s why all PC users must learn how to force Windows 10 to update. You don’t need to read through complicated guides to understand this process. Below, we’ll discuss the simplest ways to force windows 10 updates. Before that, let’s learn what happens when you force Windows updates & why these updates are so important.
Do you have a particular question about forcing updates on Windows 10? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Why Force Update Your Windows 10 PC?
With every new Windows update, Microsoft adds new features & bug corrections to the operating system. So, regularly updating your Windows means you’ll have consistently good user experiences. Typically, the Windows Update feature is automatic. Your PC will automatically ask you to download & install the latest updates as and when they’re available. But, this auto-update feature doesn’t always work as it should.
Sometimes, users need help getting their Windows Update features to work. Instead of updating the OS, Windows sends users error messages such as:
- Windows Update is not working
- Windows Update is frozen
- Windows Update gets stuck on restarting
- Windows Update stuck at a random percentage (anywhere between 0 to 99%)
When errors like this happen, users need to force install Windows updates. There are several ways of doing this. Let’s explore some of the least complicated ways to activate Windows 10 force updates.
Why does Windows force updates?
If there’s one thing that frustrates me about Windows 10 as much as it frustrates numerous other people, it has to be the fact that Windows 10 forces updates. As users, we don’t understand why they need to do this, and it gets extremely annoying to deal with.
However, in their defense, forcing Windows updates is mainly done to protect us as consumers from cyberspace threats and nefarious individuals.
The updates that Windows forces you to install aren’t about aesthetics or bringing in new features. The main reason for a Windows 10 forced update is security. Most of these updates help patch up vulnerabilities that have been discovered to protect you as a user of the platform.
This explains why even if you can stop an update, you can only defer it for a definite period before the OS will update Windows 10.
How to force Windows 10 to update?
In some cases, you may want to force Windows 10 updates, either to make sure your computer is up-to-date or that your sensitive data is not in any form of danger.
There are a few ways that you can get a forced Windows update done. I will show you a couple of these.
Solution #1: Windows 10 Force Update via Wu-Install
Windows users can gain full control over the updating process by learning how to force Windows updates using command lines. Wu-Install is the go-to command line tool for Windows users. It allows them to install Windows Updates on demand. The tool also allows users to decide what update patches should or shouldn’t be applied when and on which machines. Overall, Wu-Install can make the updating process more measured and user-friendly.
Here’s how you can force run Windows update from command line tool Wu-Install:
- Download & install Wu-Install (here’s a download link)
- Visit the link, share your info (email ID, name, etc.), & then sign-up for a 30-day free trial
- Once you sign up for the tool, you’ll receive a confirmation mail in your inbox
- Click on the link in that main to download & install the Wu-Install command line tool
- Once Wu-Install is downloaded on your Windows 10 PC, type “cmd” in the search box
- Press right-click on Command Prompt
- Select the option “Run as Administrator” to make the Wu-Install command line tool a temporary admin on your PC
- Type the following commands in the search bar: wuinstall/search, wuinstall/download, wuinstall/install; press “Enter” after typing in each command
- Once you confirm each of these commands Wu-Install will be installed & activated on your PC
Now, you must wait for the tool to force update Windows 10. All the latest updates should be downloaded to your PC once complete. If you want to download a specific Windows update (not all the latest updates), you can use Wu-Install to do that as well. Here’s a helpful video guide on how to do that:
Solution #2: Use a Run Command to Force Windows Updates
Is there a run command for Windows updates? Yes, there is:
- Run Command Prompt as your PC’s administrator (do it via the search box)
- Type wuauclt.exe/updatenow on the Run Command Prompt & press Enter
- This command stands for “Windows Update Automatic Update Client;” it forces Windows to check for the latest updates
- Open Settings (Shortcut: Press Windows and I keys simultaneously)
- Go to the section titled “Update & Security”
- Click on the option titled “Windows Update”
- In the following menu, click on the option titled, “Check for updates”
Here, you’ll notice the all-important “Check for updates” message. Now your PC is alert to the latest updates it needs to make. All you need to do now is follow the on-screen instructions. The update installation process will be activated. Restart your PC once this process is complete. This technique is by far, the easiest Windows 10 force update install process. To make this process simpler, we suggest you check out this video guide on the same technique:
Solution#3: Windows 10 update with Windows Update Assistant
The Windows 10 Update Assistant is a very useful tool because it can not only help you force Windows 10 updates. But it will also make sure that your CPU, RAM, and storage space are all compatible with the new version.
Here are the steps to follow to use the Windows Update Assistant to update your Windows 10 OS:
- Click on this link to go to the download page for the Windows 10 operating system.
- Click on the button that says “Update now.”
- This will download the setup file for the Windows Update Assistant. When it has downloaded completely, install and launch the program.
- Click on the button that says “Update now.”
- After checking your PC hardware specifications and checking compatibility, the program will go ahead with the update if everything checks out.
This is the easiest way to force an update on Windows 10. Note that the full download may take some time, depending on your computer and your internet speed.
Solution #4: Force Windows 10 Upgrade via Microsoft
Windows forcing updates doesn’t necessarily mean that the updates are going to be downloaded & installed without any problems. Sometimes, your update may fail & you may receive bugs or error codes like “error code 0x80070643.” What to do when that happens? Force Windows 10 upgrade via the official Microsoft website. Here’s how:
- Go to the Microsoft website’s official OS updates page (here’s the link)
- Select “Update now”
- Download the latest version of the Windows 10 OS
- Open the file on your PC & install it
- Once you kickstart the installation process, a Windows 10 “Update Assistant” will pop up
- Follow the on-screen instructions from the Update Assistant
By taking these steps, you can force update Windows 10 manually. After the update, restart your PC. Then, check if everything is up to date.
What if I Lose Data After Forcing Windows 10 Updates?
Try any of the three solutions mentioned above. One of them will surely work & your Windows 10 PC will be ‘force updated.’ But can you lose data after you force Windows 10 update? Yes, there is a possibility of that happening. To ensure you don’t lose any files, create backups before kickstarting the force updating process. Then, get an external drive, copy all of your files on that memory device, & only then update your PC.
Once the update is complete, restore all the files. Microsoft has an easy guide on how to complete this process. Hopefully, after reading & applying our solutions, you won’t have to worry about not having the latest Windows 10 updates anymore!
Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.
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