How to install optional updates on Windows 10

Microsoft moved the update functionality from the Control Panel to the Settings application in Windows 10.

If you compare the functionality, you may notice that Windows 10 lacks options to display or install optional updates.

Optional updates can be Microsoft updates, products or third-party products or updates. A check on a Windows 10 Professional system returned various Intel driver updates as well as Microsoft Silverlight as optional updates or installations.

While you may be able to install these updates using other methods, for instance, by downloading the programs or updates directly, it was always convenient to install updates this way.

Find out which optional updates are available on Windows 10

The first thing that you may want to do is find out which updates are available. The Windows Update Settings lack functionality to list updates which means that you need to look elsewhere for that.

One option that you have is to download and run the "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter that Microsoft offers on this Support page.

Run the troubleshooter after download and list the available updates. You should get driver updates and other products or updates. These are listed even if you run a check for updates in the Settings prior to that.

You cannot use the program to install these updates, however.

One of the better options is to use the Windows Update MiniTool for that. It is a third-party program for Windows that you may run to list all updates that are not installed on the Windows device you run it on.

You may run the program without installation. I suggest you check the "include drivers" checkbox before you activate the refresh icon in the sidebar.

Windows Update MiniTool

Windows Update MiniTool checks for available updates using Microsoft Update and lists all updates that it finds in its interface. You should get the same listing that Microsoft's "hide and show updates" tool listed.

The application divides drivers and updates into groups for improved accessibility. I recommended that you check installed drivers and programs before you select any for download or installation.

While you can use the program to download and install updates, you may also use the Device Manager to install these updates once you identified them.

Device Manager

This may not work all the time though but it may be an option if you prefer to update directly and not by using third-party tools.