Windows · System
Fine-tune update delivery behavior
Centralizes advanced Windows Update controls, including updating other Microsoft products alongside Windows, restart notifications, metered connection behavior, and download prioritization.
How to open Windows Update Advanced Options
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options
- Toggle 'Receive updates for other Microsoft products' as desired
- Enable restart notification preferences
- Adjust metered connection and download prioritization toggles
What you should know
- Enable updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows
- Get notified when a restart is required to finish updating
- Control whether updates download over metered connections
- Enable download prioritization for faster foreground app updates
Why it matters
This page consolidates several update behavior toggles that individually seem minor but collectively shape how disruptive or seamless the update experience feels day to day. Enabling updates for other Microsoft products ensures Office and other Microsoft apps stay current alongside Windows itself through a single update mechanism, reducing the number of separate update prompts you have to manage. For users on limited or metered data plans, controlling whether updates download automatically over such connections can prevent unexpected data usage or overage charges.
Best practices
- Enable 'Receive updates for other Microsoft products' to keep Office and other Microsoft apps current automatically
- Turn on restart notifications so you're never caught off guard by a pending restart
- Disable update downloads over metered connections if you have a limited data plan
- Review these options after a major Windows feature update, since defaults can occasionally reset
Common problems and fixes
- Office or other Microsoft apps aren't updating automatically
- Enable 'Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows' on this page.
- Updates are consuming mobile hotspot data unexpectedly
- Mark the connection as metered in Network settings and disable update downloads over metered connections here.
- No restart notification appeared before an automatic restart
- Enable the 'notify me' toggle for restarts on this page to get advance warning next time.
Tips and tricks
- Combine metered connection restrictions with a mobile hotspot to avoid accidental large downloads while traveling
- Check this page if updates seem to behave unexpectedly after a Windows feature update, since some options can reset
Frequently asked questions
Does this control feature update deferral?
Feature update deferral options may appear here on some editions, particularly Pro and Enterprise, alongside other advanced controls.
What products are covered by 'other Microsoft products'?
This mainly includes Microsoft Office and certain other first-party Microsoft applications.
Is this different from Delivery Optimization?
Yes, Delivery Optimization is specifically about peer-to-peer update sharing, while this page covers broader update behavior settings.
Related settings
- Windows UpdateWindows Update allows you to download and install the latest security patches, feature updates, and performance improvements. Keeping your system updated helps protect against vulnerabilities and ensures optimal performance.
- Delivery OptimizationConfigures Delivery Optimization, which lets your PC download Windows Update and app files from other PCs on your network or the internet in addition to Microsoft's servers, and optionally share your own downloaded updates with others.
- Default AppsDefault Apps settings let you choose which application opens specific file types and links by default, such as your browser, email client, photo viewer, or music player.
More System guides for Windows
- Power & SleepPower & Sleep settings let you control when your screen turns off and when your device goes to sleep while idle. Adjusting these settings can help balance battery life and performance.
- Windows Insider ProgramLets you enroll this PC in the Windows Insider Program to receive pre-release Windows builds ahead of general availability, choosing a channel that matches your appetite for new features versus stability.
- Update HistoryShows a chronological list of every update installed on this PC, including quality updates, feature updates, and driver updates, with the ability to uninstall problematic recent updates.
- Active HoursLets you define a time window during which Windows will avoid automatically restarting the PC to install updates, ensuring you're not interrupted during typical working or usage hours.
- Pause UpdatesLets you temporarily halt the download and installation of Windows updates for a set period, useful when you need a stable, unchanged system for a presentation, event, or compatibility testing.
- Optional Updates & Driver UpdatesLists optional updates not automatically installed, including driver updates from hardware manufacturers, feature previews, and monthly non-security quality updates you can choose to install manually.