Direct and install Windows 8.1 Update, 32-bit and 64-bit, individually if you are unable to download and install it via Microsoft Store or Windows Update. In such a situation too, you might want to manually download and install updates. While Windows Update is the primary service for update redistribution, there is a special web site which hosts update packages. It is called the 'Microsoft Update Catalog'. It is useful to grab update packages manually. This gives your phone the go-head that you’re ‘allowed’ to download Windows Phone 8.1 early. Now leave the app and go to the phone’s Settings menu and select Phone Update. In such a situation too, you might want to manually download and install updates. While Windows Update is the primary service for update redistribution, there is a special web site which hosts update packages. It is called the 'Microsoft Update Catalog'. It is useful to grab update packages manually.
Downloading updates for Windows is a crucial step to maintaining your computer. Updates regularly contain patches for security vulnerabilities that could allow infections in your machine, bug fixes that resolve errors, and features that could make your operating system more useful. Though you should have automatic updates configured, that isn’t always the case. To keep your computer safe you’ll need to know how to manually trigger updates and change your update settings.
New and Improved PC Settings
The procedure for downloading updates in Windows 8.1 is very similar to the process in Windows 8. However, since 8.1 overhauled the PC Settings app, you’ll find the process is no longer broken between the modern app and the legacy Control Panel. Everything you need is in one place.
Open the Charms bar and click Settings to get started. Next, click Change PC Settings to launch the modern settings app. Choose Update and Recovery from the left pane of the window to get to the section you need. Click Windows Update from the left pane and you’re ready to go.
The Windows Update page gives you all the information you need to learn the state of your update settings including whether you are set up to download your updates automatically and whether or not there are updates currently ready for installation.
Manually Trigger Updates
To manually trigger an update, go ahead and click Check now. You’ll have to wait while Windows checks for any available updates. It should only take a few seconds, but that will vary based on your Internet connection speed. Once done, you’ll see a message letting you know if there are any updates available.
If there are critical updates available, you’ll be alerted. If not, you’ll see a message stating that there aren’t any updates to download but you can install other updates. Either way, click View details to see what’s available.
From this screen, you can see all of the updates that are available for your computer. You can select each update individually, or click Select all important updates to save time and install them all at once. Optional updates are also included in this view, so select any you want. Finally, click Install to finish the process.
Windows will download and install the updates you selected. Once that's done you’ll have to restart your computer to complete the configuration procedure. Click Restart nowwhen prompted or close the PC Settings app and restart when it’s convenient.
Change Automatic Update Settings
It's easy enough to manually trigger updates, but this method is not the best strategy for most users. The average person will simply forget to regularly check for updates, and their system will go unprotected missing out on critical security patches. To prevent this issue—and to ensure that your computer always has the latest updates installed—you should enable automatic updates.
As mentioned above, all the update functions of Windows are baked into the new and improved PC settings. There’s no need to bounce between PC settings and the Control Panel. To change how updates are installed on your computer, return to Settings > Change PC Settings > Update and Recovery > Windows Update.
The Windows Update page will show your current update settings. If you want to change them, you’ll find a link below the Check now button that says Choose how updates get installed.
Select that and then click the drop-down list to choose how Windows installs important updates. Your options are:
Install updates automatically.
Download updates but let me choose whether to install them.
Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.
Never check for updates.
We highly recommend that you set Windows to download and install updates automatically to provide the best protection for your computer.
Windows 8.1 Messenger
Next, you can select two additional options below the drop-down list.
How Do I Download Windows 8.1 Updates Manually
Give me the recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.
Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows.
To provide the best protection, select both. When you’ve made your choices, click Apply to finalize them. Provided you’ve selected automatic updates, you won’t have to worry about updates again. Windows will simply install them in the background and ask you to restart your computer when necessary. Though there may be times you want to hurry that process up with a manual check such as when a critical update patch is released.