Learn how to check for and download optional updates, including feature and driver updates, in Windows 11.
By default, Windows 11 automatically checks, downloads, and installs the latest updates. These often include updates to your drivers and feature updates. In addition to these regular updates, Microsoft also provides optional updates, including feature, quality, and driver updates, that you may download as and when necessary. These optional updates are not downloaded automatically. For example, if a driver is not installed automatically or you are having problems with a specific driver, you can check for an optional alternative driver and download & install it directly using the Optional Updates feature in Windows 11. The same applies to feature and quality updates.
In this quick and easy guide, I’ll show you how to check for and install optional updates in Windows 11. Let’s get started.
Steps to Check and Install Optional Updates in Windows 11
- Open Settings using “Windows key + I”.
- Go to the “Windows Update” page.
- Click the “Check for updates” button.
- Once the update check is complete, click the “Advanced Options” page.
- Click “Optional Updates“.
- Select the updates you want to install.
- Click the “Download & install” button.
- With that, you’ve checked and installed optional updates in Windows 11.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
You can check and install optional updates just like normal updates, i.e., using the Settings app. So, to start off, press the “Windows key + I” shortcut or click the “Settings” icon in the Start menu to open the Settings app.
Go to the “Windows Update” tab on the sidebar and then click the “Check for updates” button on the right panel. As soon as you click the button, Windows 11 checks for available updates. Let it complete.
Once the update check is complete, click “Advanced Options“. This page lets you manage several update features, such as delivery optimization and recovery.
On this page, scroll down to the Additional Options section and click the “Optional Updates” option.
This page shows all the optional updates available for your computer, categorized by driver updates and other updates. The other updates will include both optional feature and quality updates. Here, select the checkboxes for the updates you want to install, then click the “Download & install” button.
As soon as you click the button, Windows 11 automatically downloads and installs the selected optional updates in the background. You can close the Settings app. The next time you restart, these updates are automatically applied to your PC.
That’s it. It is that simple to check, download, and install optional updates in Windows 11. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
