It goes without saying that keeping a Windows PC up-to-date is crucial. Windows is probably the most targeted platform for cyberattacks, for the simple reason that it’s the most widespread. On top of that, though, Windows apps are some of the most advanced, and are frequently running on cutting-edge hardware. If you don’t keep apps and drivers current, you may be missing out not just on bugfixes, but on added features and increased performance.
Something that occurred to me recently is that Windows 11 doesn’t do a good job of streamlining updates. We’ve all been spoiled by our iPhones, iPads, and Android tablets, which are so automated that it’s almost difficult to end up out-of-date. If you want your PC to keep up, you may have to be a little more proactive.
How to make your PC’s updates bulletproof
There’s no one-stop shop
If you were to ask the average Windows user, they’d probably point to Windows Update as their focal point for updates, and that should be your thinking as well. It’s not just where Microsoft updates Windows as a whole. The company regularly issues updates to individual OS components this way, most importantly ones linked to security. For that reason, you should be opening Windows Update at least once a week. While Windows Security automatically downloads new malware definitions on its own as long as it’s active, some security patches require more changes, and you can force them to install faster if you open Windows Update and trigger them.
On top of this, a lot of hardware drivers are delivered through Windows Update. Some of these are installed automatically too. If, however, you’re having trouble with things like sound, wireless, battery performance, or USB ports, you may want to check not just for scheduled downloads, but what Microsoft deems “optional” drivers. Head to Settings -> Windows Update -> Advanced options -> Optional updates, then click on Driver updates. You might be surprised by what’s considered non-essential in Microsoft’s books.
As for the “preview” updates Microsoft recommends, install these at your own risk. Usually they’re beneficial, or at least harmless — but there is a risk of instability, or UI changes that might disrupt your workflow. The company is hellbent on shoving its Copilot AI into places where it’s unwanted. Before installing any preview code, then, you should probably check out what other users are saying first.
Until recently, something I didn’t pursue much was scanning the Microsoft Store. Most of you ignore that app, I imagine, unless you’re looking to install software that’s linked to Microsoft, or simply isn’t provided anywhere else. You actually should be opening it as often as Windows Update, though.
Now I’m wondering how many people are dealing with a subpar Windows experience because the only use they have for the Microsoft Store is installing iCloud or the Minecraft Launcher.
Why? The Store can be set to update apps automatically (click on your profile icon, then Store settings) — but it does a spectacularly bad job, as I regularly discover long queues waiting to be processed. More importantly, Microsoft doesn’t warn you that the Store is handling a lot more than just apps. As I write this, clicking on the Downloads tab shows updates for not just Notepad, Xbox, WhatsApp, and Lenovo Vantage, but basic OS components like Phone Link, and a related one called the “Cross Device Experience Host.” You’d reasonably assume those would be handled by Windows Update, yet you’d be wrong. Now I’m wondering how many people are dealing with a subpar Windows experience because the only use they have for the Microsoft Store is installing iCloud or the Minecraft Launcher.
If you use specialized hardware, neither Windows Update nor the Microsoft Store are going to be enough. A lot of peripherals depend on custom apps, drivers, and firmware, and nothing exemplifies this more than dedicated graphics cards. You can, if you like, relegate GPU driver downloads to Windows Update. It’s slow to recommend them, though, and it can only ever provide core drivers. Getting the most out of an AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce card requires not just the newest drivers, optimized for the latest games (and other apps), but supporting software that lets you tweak features like Nvidia’s DLSS scaling, and AMD’s equivalent, FSR. If you don’t know what those are, chances are your PC isn’t handling graphics nearly as well as it could be.
You should always, always use AMD or Nvidia’s apps to install graphics drivers. In fact if you’ve just downloaded a new game, it’s smart to check for new drivers before playing — they can smooth out any performance or compatibility problems before you run into them.
Even simpler peripherals can benefit from this system. Razer, for example, relies on its Synapse software to configure and update its mice, keyboards, and docks. You can plug a mouse like the Viper V4 Pro into a Windows PC and start using it immediately — but without Synapse, you’ll probably never experience its full sensitivity options.
Some software developers insist on their own update frameworks, whether for practical reasons or just to avoid sharing any money with Microsoft. One example is Adobe, which uses its Creative Cloud app to manage everything from Acrobat to Photoshop and Premiere. The company refuses to offer its apps outside a subscription anymore, so it’s no surprise that it’s doing what it can not just to maximize that revenue, but to lock down update control in a way that makes piracy difficult.
It’s often less critical to update third-party apps, but you should still make it a point to check what’s available once a month, if not every week. You might not care so much about optimization or new features — but like Microsoft, app developers are concerned with security, and the last thing anyone needs is a trusted app accidentally becoming a Trojan horse. You’d feel incredibly embarrassed if the threat was dealt with a few months ago.
How careful do you need to be, really?
A matter of use cases
If your PC is mostly just a tool for browsing the web, checking email, and maybe chatting and watching movies, you should still be checking Windows Update every week or so, and updating individual apps whenever you remember. Email and the web are probably the two most common vectors for attacks. Keeping Windows well-armed provides a baseline of defense, and you’ll do better if your browser and/or email client are closing security vulnerabilities while flagging the latest phishing scams.
To keep things airtight, check for updates to Windows and critical apps every day or two, and install them quickly as long as you have permission and they appear safe.
Some of you are probably working in fields where privacy and security are paramount. In that case, assuming your PC isn’t already remotely managed, you may need to be even more aggressive than I’ve been suggesting. To keep things airtight, check for updates to Windows and critical apps every day or two, and install them quickly as long as you have permission and they appear safe. It’s that second point that’s sometimes tricky, since there may not be a lot of corporate or online chatter, and there’s no way to test things yourself without downloading. Thankfully, while broken updates do happen, they tend to be rare, and you can always run a backup first.
Somewhere in between the users above are students, other professionals, and hobbyists. I’d recommend all of those groups follow the tips in the last section, but lean towards aggressive updates if it comes down to it. Given the odds, you’re more likely to end up with a PC firing on all cylinders than one with glitches or unwanted features.
