Windows Update

Windows Update is a free updating service by Microsoft that regularly give updates to Windows and other Microsoft products, sometimes also for drivers. It is used to keep Microsoft apps and the Windows operating systems updated and often protected from malware and ransomware.

Location

 * In Windows 98 through to XP, it is located in Internet Explorer.
 * In Windows Vista through to 8.1, it is located in the Control Panel.
 * In Windows 10 through to 11, it is located in the Settings app.

Patch Tuesday
Patch Tuesday is a day where Microsoft releases patches and security updates for Windows routinely, usually being the second Tuesday of every month. However, Microsoft still releases urgent updates on most other days.

Automatic Updates
Formerly known as the Windows Critical Update Notification Tool in Windows 98 and 2000, this tool runs in the background and notifies the user when a critical update is available. In Windows Me (9x) and Windows XP / 2000 SP3 (NT), this tool was replaced with Automatic Updates. Automatic Updates will not require a web browser, and checks updates less routinely than the Critical Update Notification Tool.

Filetypes
On XP and earlier, updates were either packed in executables or in cabinet archives. Windows Vista uses    and   file extensions on the updates. Also, standalone updates are now packed in  archives, which are opened by. These archives still have updates packed in cabinet archives. Windows 11 additionally uses  files.

Windows 10 and 11 Feature Updates

 * See Microsoft Windows and Windows 11 updates for the subsequent feature updates released for Windows 10.