Windows, Microsoft and Lenovo System Updates

Owned by Milan Stanic
Last updated: Mar 04, 2024 by Christine Sandella
4 min read

Windows Updates

Windows Update is a free Microsoft service that allows you to search for, download, and install the latest updates to the Windows Operating System, as well as other Microsoft products and services. These updates include full feature updates, cumulative updates, patches, and Windows Security Protection updates. It is important to make sure to run Windows Update to confirm all available updates are installed on a regular basis. It is a great idea to get in a routine to run Windows Update to keep your laptop secure and up to date. It only involves a few steps, and will get you the latest Operating System, as well as driver and security updates released by Microsoft.

  1. To run Windows Update, click on the magnifying glass in your taskbar and type Check for Updates.

  2. Click on the Check for Updates in the results, then click the blue Check for Updates button on the screen. Windows will provide a list of available updates.

    Windows update screen with the blue check for updates button.

     

  3. Download and install any updates found.

  4. Once updates are found and installed, reboot your machine to apply the new updates. After a reboot, check for updates again and continue steps 1 and 2 until you see the green check mark notifying you that your system is up to date.

Note: this process should be completed once per week.

Microsoft 365 Updates

Microsoft 365 is the suite of apps that contain commonly used programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Because it is cloud based, the apps should update automatically. To manually check for updates:

  1. Open any Microsoft 365 application on your laptop. (Outlook, Word, Excel).

  2. Go to File > Account. Then, choose Update Now from the Update Options dropdown menu. If any updates are found, they automatically download and install. If no updates are found, a pop-up window will appear indicating that you are running the latest version of Microsoft 365.

    The account settings interface when clicking on Account in Microsoft Word.

     

  3. If updates are found, you will see a status bar during the installation process. To complete the update, please exit out of any open Microsoft 365 apps.  The only window that should remain open is the status bar window.

Microsoft Teams Updates

  1. Open Microsoft Teams.

  2. Click on the three horizontal dots located in the top-right, next to your avatar.

  3. Click Check for updates on the dropdown menu.

     

  4. Teams will check and install updates automatically, as indicated in the message that appears at the top of your screen. Once installed, you will see a different message to indicate that you are running the most up-to-date version of Teams.

Lenovo System Update

Lenovo System Update allows you to search for, download, and install the latest drivers directly from Lenovo. Drivers may include display, network, audio, or BIOS. Keeping drivers up to date is very important.

  1. To run Lenovo System Update, click on the magnifying glass in your taskbar and type System Update. Then, open the System Update app that will display in your search results.

     

  2. When the System Update window opens, click the Next button in the lower right corner. This will prompt a scan of your laptop to find any available updates. 

  3. Once the scan is completed, you may see available updates in one or all of the three tabs at the top of the System Update window: Critical updates, Recommended updates, and Optional updates. Select all updates found within all 3 tabs.

     

  4. Click Next, then Download to begin the update installation.

  5. When installation is complete, reboot your machine to apply the new updates.

This process should be completed once per month. Once the update process has begun, do not turn off your laptop. Allow the installation to complete. Make sure your laptop is plugged into its power source.