Enabling and Downloading Security Updates on Windows

Windows Update should be enabled by default on any device with Windows 10. All college-owned computers are updated weekly. The remaining information here is for non-college-owned devices having trouble connecting to the network.

With the release of Windows 11, ITS recommends that you not upgrade to this new operating system until ITS has had the chance to test it thoroughly and ensure that it will work on the network. Look to the ITS blog for future posts when this testing is complete.

If you’re having trouble connecting to the Etown network, or you’ve been notified by ITS that you are missing important updates, you should check your computer for any uninstalled security updates that may be available for download.

To check for what Windows considers “optional updates”, search for “Windows Update Settings” from your Start menu and select either “Check for updates” or “Windows Update Settings” (both lead to the same page).

If there are any available optional updates, they may show up on this screen above a “Download and install” button. Just click the button to download the update, which may require a computer restart. 

To check for any updates not currently shown, click the “Check for updates” button and wait for the search to finish. If any show up, just click “Download and install” to install them.

If you are not sure whether or not an update listed is considered a security update, ITS recommends that you install it in order to best keep your PC up to date.

For any further questions or if you experience trouble with any part of this process, please contact the Help Desk.