How to Enable Microsoft Product Updates in Windows 11

Written byRichardTech Writer, IT Professional

Mar 8, 2022 Updated Apr 15, 2026 2 min read

This guide explains how to manage updates for your Microsoft programs on Windows 11. Keeping your software current is essential for a healthy computer.

Why should you update your software?

Programs like Microsoft Office or other tools need regular updates to fix bugs and close security holes. When you turn on updates for these products, Windows handles the work for you. This keeps your computer running smoothly and protects your data from threats.

What happens when you enable this?

Once enabled, your computer will automatically check for and install updates for your installed Microsoft apps whenever it checks for general Windows updates. This ensures you always have the latest features and security patches without having to update each app manually.

How to enable updates via Settings

By default, Windows Updates is turned on. You can change this setting by following these steps:

1. Open the Windows Settings app.
2. Select Windows Update on the left menu.
3. Click on Advanced options on the right side.

On the Advanced options screen, look for the section labeled Receive updates for other Microsoft products. Toggle the switch to On to enable updates, or Off to disable them.

Close the Settings app when you are finished.

How to manage updates using Terminal

You can also use the Windows Terminal to control these settings. Note that this method requires admin privileges.

Open the Terminal as an administrator and use the PowerShell tab to run these commands:

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

• Why: Updating Microsoft products keeps your system secure and improves overall performance.
• What: Enabling these settings ensures your apps receive the latest fixes automatically.
• Settings: Use the Windows Settings app for a simple toggle switch.
• Terminal: Use PowerShell commands for quick, advanced control over your update preferences.