Optional updates in Windows 11 provide access to advanced software for firmware and drivers. These can significantly improve your system’s performance and security. Unlike critical updates, optional updates are not automatically installed. Users have the choice to apply them. In this guide, you’ll learn what optional updates are, why they matter, and how to manage them effectively.
This post is a follow-up to our previous article from 2022, which provided an introduction to Windows optional updates. You can check out the original post, “What are Window Optional Updates (Win10) ” to see how the topic has evolved and why it remains relevant today.
What Does “Optional” Mean in This Context?
Optional updates are non-critical updates that address performance improvements, new features, and advanced fixes for issues not covered by standard security updates. They include updates for firmware and drivers. Firmware updates help manage hardware components, such as the motherboard, graphics card, and other essential hardware. On the other hand, driver updates act as a bridge between your operating system and hardware devices, ensuring they can communicate effectively. Updated drivers can resolve compatibility issues or enhance hardware performance. These updates are not installed automatically, allowing users to review and select which to apply.
What are Firmware and Drivers?
Imagine your computer as a busy city, with countless vehicles (data signals) traveling on its streets. The firmware acts as the traffic cop stationed at critical intersections, ensuring that the flow of traffic (data) moves smoothly and without collisions. Just as the cop directs cars to their destinations—like buses to terminals, trucks to loading docks, and emergency vehicles to hospitals—the firmware guides data signals to the right hardware components, such as the motherboard or graphics card, so they can perform their tasks efficiently. In short, firmware keeps everything moving in harmony, ensuring your computer operates smoothly, just as a traffic cop keeps the city streets organized and flowing.
Think of your operating system as one side of a vast river and your hardware devices—like printers, keyboards, or graphics cards—on the other. Drivers are the bridges that span this river, enabling the operating system to send instructions to hardware and receive feedback in return.
Without these bridges, the operating system and hardware would be isolated, and unable to interact. Drivers ensure that every “vehicle” of communication—whether it’s a printing command, a keystroke, or a display adjustment—crosses the river smoothly to reach its destination. Updating your drivers is like upgrading a bridge. It can add new lanes to handle more traffic, fix structural issues that could cause delays, and ensure that all vehicles (data signals) can cross efficiently, even if the roads or vehicles (OS or hardware) on either side have changed. Unlike automatic updates, optional updates allow you to decide when and how to upgrade these bridges, giving you control over what changes to make. This way, you ensure compatibility and optimal performance without unnecessary updates.
Why Are Optional Updates Important?
Optional updates are not be mandatory, but they do offer essential benefits that should not be overlooked. A key advantage is improved hardware compatibility. New driver updates ensure your hardware is compatible with the latest applications and games, reducing the risk of errors or glitches. They also offer performance boosts by including optimizations that enhance the speed and efficiency of your system’s hardware. Another crucial benefit is bug fixes. Occasionally, optional firmware updates resolve specific issues that could be causing system instability or device glitches. In some cases, these updates may introduce new features for existing hardware, such as additional functionalities for touchpads, keyboards, or other connected devices.
How to Check for Optional Updates in Windows 11
To check for and install optional updates, start by opening the Windows Settings. You can do this by clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings, which is represented by a gear icon. Alternatively, you can press Win + I on your keyboard to open the Settings window directly.
Once inside the Settings menu, locate the Update & Security option and click on it. This section contains all Windows Update options and settings. Look for the option labeled View optional updates, which will be located under the Windows Update tab. Clicking this option will take you to a new page where all available optional updates are displayed
On the Optional Updates page, you will see categories such as Driver Updates, Feature Updates, Windows updates, and Other Updates. Click on each category shown to review the list of available updates. In our example, we only have the “Windows 11 version 24h2” optional update, so we will skip it this time. If you see updates relevant to your system, you can select them by checking the box next to each update. Once you have selected the updates you wish to install, click Download and Install to begin the update process. After the updates have been applied, you may be prompted to restart your computer to complete the installation.
Should You Install All Optional Updates?
Deciding whether to install all optional updates requires a bit of judgment. Not all updates are essential, so it is wise to review each update’s relevance to your system. Some updates, such as new drivers for critical devices like graphics cards or network adapters, can offer significant performance improvements, i.e. resolving a bad WiFi connection if a network interface card needs an update, or resolving compatibility issues. On the other hand, optional updates for features or hardware you don’t use can be skipped without consequence. As shown above, we didn’t require anything from the newest Windows feature update so we skipped it for now.
If your system runs smoothly without any performance issues or hardware conflicts, you may not need to install every optional update as soon as it comes out. However, if you are experiencing issues, it can be a good idea to check if a relevant update is available. Windows provides a short description for each update, so you can make an informed decision. In most cases, it’s best to focus on updates for essential components like graphics drivers, network adapters, and major system features.
How to Roll Back an Optional Update
Occasionally, an optional update may cause unexpected issues with your system. If this happens, you have the option to roll back the update. To do this, you’ll need to access Device Manager, which allows you to control hardware devices and their associated drivers.
To begin, right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the list. This will open a window displaying a list of hardware components. Find the device whose driver you want to roll back. For example, if a graphics card update caused problems, look under Display Adapters. Right-click the specific device name and choose Properties. In the Properties window, click on the Driver tab. You’ll see the option to Roll Back Driver. Clicking this button will start the rollback process, which restores the previously installed version of the driver. Follow the prompts to complete the rollback, and restart your computer if necessary. This process is useful if you encounter performance
Tips for Managing Optional Updates
It’s a good idea to be proactive when it comes to optional updates. Check for optional updates regularly, especially if you’re looking to resolve a hardware issue or improve system performance. While not all optional updates are necessary, some can provide noticeable improvements. Generally, they should all be updated, but not necessarily as soon as they come out.
Before installing large system updates or major driver updates, it’s a good idea to back up your system. Creating a system restore point allows you to revert to a previous state if something goes wrong. To create a restore point, type “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar, select it from the list, and follow the on-screen instructions, best practice is to name the restore point descriptively with a date or event. This precaution can save you time and frustration if you must undo changes later.
Final Thoughts
Optional updates in Windows provide necessary software for firmware and drivers, offering significant benefits like better hardware compatibility, improved performance, and new features. While not all optional updates are essential, understanding which ones to install and when to install them can enhance your computer’s performance and stability. By learning how to check for, install, and manage these updates, you can take full control of your Windows system. Don’t forget to create system restore points and use the rollback option if you encounter issues. Take charge of your updates to keep your computer running smoothly
Links
Optional Updates in Windows 11, PC World
Check for and Install Optional Updates, Windows 11 Forum
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