How to Enable Microsoft Product Updates in Windows 11

How to enable updates via Settings

Enabling Microsoft product updates in Windows 11 lets you automatically receive the latest bug fixes and security patches for apps like Office and Visual Studio. You can turn on this feature directly within the main Windows Update settings menu without needing any advanced tools or commands.

The steps below take about a minute. You do not need to restart your PC after changing the switch. You can turn it off again at any time with the same steps.

1. Open the Windows Settings⚙️ app. You should see the main Settings window with a list of categories on the left.
2. Select Windows Update🔃 on the left menu. The right side now shows your update status and the Check for updates🔃 button.
3. Click on Advanced options on the right side. A new page opens with a list of update switches and settings.

Now turn the option on. Do this on the Advanced options page you just opened:

1. Scroll down the Advanced options screen to the setting labeled Receive updates for other Microsoft products. It is usually near the top, next to the other update switches.
2. Flip the switch to On to enable updates, or to Off if you wish to disable them. The label next to the switch changes to match.
3. Go back to Windows Update🔃 and select Check for updates🔃. Any pending Office or other Microsoft product updates will now appear in the list with the Windows updates.

If the switch is greyed out or missing, your PC is most likely managed by an organization, and a policy is controlling it. Contact your IT administrator in that case. Also note that this switch covers products that update through Microsoft Update, such as Office and Visual Studio. Microsoft Store apps still update through the Microsoft Store, and Edge also keeps itself current.

Understanding Windows Update Lifecycles and Channels

Windows 11 manages system stability by dividing updates into specific lifecycles and channels like standard consumer releases and enterprise builds. Knowing how these update paths work helps you control when new features and security patches install on your computer.

In practice, you will see two kinds of updates. Monthly quality updates carry security fixes and bug fixes, and they usually arrive on the second Tuesday of the month. Feature updates are larger and arrive about once a year. Each version has a support period. Home and Pro editions get 24 months of support, and Enterprise and Education editions get 36 months. Once your version passes its end date, it stops receiving security fixes. That is why it is worth checking which version you are running.

How to check your 🪟 Windows 11 version

To check your current build, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key.
2. Type winver and press Enter.
3. Read the About Windows window that opens. It shows your edition, version and OS build number.
4. Click OK to close the window.

Knowing your build number helps confirm you are running a supported version of Windows 11. You can see the same details in Settings › System › About, and you can copy them from there if you need to send them to support.

Manual Update Catalog Integration

If an update fails to install, download it manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Manual installation can sometimes overcome temporary update service issues. Here is how:

1. Find the KB number of the failed update. Open Settings › Windows Update🔃 › Update history, and look for the entry marked as failed.
2. Open the Microsoft Update Catalog and search for that KB (Knowledge Base, a library of help articles and patch documentation) article ID. The ID is a unique identifier for a specific patch.
3. Pick the result that matches your Windows 11 version and your system type, such as x64 or ARM64. If you are unsure, check Settings › System › About.
4. Click Download next to that result, then click the link in the window that opens to save the file.
5. Double-click the downloaded file to run it, and follow the prompts. Updates from the catalog are usually .msu files, which Windows installs for you.
6. Restart your🔄 PC if the installer asks you to.

If the same update keeps failing, note the error code shown in Update history. It will help you find the cause.

Managing updates using Terminal (Admin Required)

Managing Microsoft product updates using Terminal gives you advanced control over system software packages through administrative command lines. You can use PowerShell commands to check, install, or block specific updates when the standard Settings app does not give you enough options.

Use this method if you are scripting a setup or the Settings page is not behaving. For one-off changes, the Settings method above is simpler.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) to open the console with the necessary elevated permissions.
2. Click Yes if the User Account Control prompt appears.
3. Within the Terminal, select the PowerShell tab. If the window opens in a different shell, open a new PowerShell tab from the drop-down arrow in the tab bar.
4. Run the commands below to manage update settings.

To enable updates, run this command:

(New-Object -com "Microsoft.Update.ServiceManager").AddService2("7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d",7,"")

To disable updates, run this command:

(New-Object -com "Microsoft.Update.ServiceManager").RemoveService("7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d")

Summary

Keeping Microsoft product updates turned on in Windows 11 ensures your apps and system tools run securely and smoothly. You can easily manage these updates using either the standard Settings app or advanced Terminal commands depending on your preference. After running a command, open Settings › Windows Update › Advanced options to confirm the switch shows the state you expect.

• WhyUpdating Microsoft products keeps your system secure and improves overall performance.
• WhatEnabling these settings ensures your apps receive the latest fixes automatically, together with your regular Windows updates.
• SettingsUse the Windows Settings app for a simple toggle switch. It is under Windows Update › Advanced options.
• TerminalUse PowerShell commands, run as administrator, for quick, advanced control over your update preferences.
• ManualUse the Microsoft Update Catalog to install specific KB patches if automatic updates fail.