How to configure Windows Update Settings in Windows 8

So, you’ve installed a version of Windows 8 and you’d like to configure how the Windows updates will be downloaded and installed. Changing these settings is important if you want to keep the operating system updated with the latest service packs and patches.

The first time you turned on your Windows 8 computer after the installation of the OS, you were asked several questions related to the way Windows Update will work. The Windows Updates were configured according to the answers you gave then.

If you’d like to change those settings, you should know that you can do that anytime. It takes just a few minutes and it’s nothing complicated at all. So, here’s what you have to do in order to change the

Windows Update Settings:

1. You will have to bring up the Run box by pressing Win+R. Now, type “control” (quotes excluded) in the Run box and then click Ok. This will take you to Control Panel.

2. Once you get here, you should see the System and Security link. Click on it and a new window will open. Find the Windows Update link and just click on it. A new “Choose your Windows Update settings“ window will then open.

3. You have two options here. You can either choose for the updates to be installed completely automatically or you can simply opt for the update not to be downloaded and installed without your permission.

4. So, check the “Install updates automatically” option and thus fully enable automatic updates. Once you go for this option, you won’t have to do anything else because Windows will be kept updated with the latest patches.

5. If you want to completely disable updates downloads and installations, just opt for the “Never check for updates”. Click OK and there you go.

Tips

You can also go for the “Download updates but let me choose whether to install them” option and Windows will only check for new updates and download them without installing them. You will be the one to choose to install the updates or not.

And then there’s the “Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them” option which gives you, even more, control over Windows Updates. Windows will check for new updates and will let you know about that through a notification.

The updates won’t be downloaded and installed. This way you’ll be informed of all the new updates leaving you the freedom to download and install them or not.