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Windows Update vs. Microsoft Store Updates: What Each One Protects

Windows Update covers Windows security and quality fixes; Microsoft Store updates apply to Store apps and games. Apps from other publishers may need separate updates.
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Windows Update protects and maintains Windows itself; Microsoft Store updates maintain apps and games installed through the Store. Neither replaces the other. Some apps use their publisher’s own updater, so keeping Windows and the Store current may still leave those apps needing separate updates.

What Windows Update protects

Windows Update delivers updates to the Windows operating system. These include security patches and quality updates, which Microsoft says mainly contain smaller fixes and security updates. Feature updates also arrive through Windows Update. An update can include both security fixes and other improvements; not every Windows update is exclusively a security patch.

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For example, Microsoft described the February 10, 2026 cumulative update KB5077181 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 as including the latest security fixes and improvements. That is an example of one release, not a description of every Windows update. See Microsoft’s KB5077181 release notes.

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Check Windows Update

  1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
  2. Review the update status, or select Check for updates.
  3. Download and install available updates. A restart may be required.

Microsoft’s Windows Update FAQ explains how to check whether a device is up to date.

What Microsoft Store updates protect

Microsoft Store updates apply to apps and games obtained through the Store. An app update may deliver security patches or new features for that app. It does not update Windows itself.

Check for Store app updates

  1. Open Microsoft Store.
  2. Select Check for Updates.

To allow automatic updates, open Microsoft Store, select your profile or account picture, choose Store Settings, and turn on App updates. Microsoft says app updates are intended to keep apps current with security patches and features. Microsoft’s Store update instructions also describe checking for updates manually and pausing app updates if needed.

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Are the update channels interchangeable?

No. Microsoft’s Windows 11 update release documentation states, “Windows Updates do not include updates for Microsoft Store apps.” That distinction is about what each channel updates, even though both contribute to maintaining a PC. Microsoft’s KB5077181 documentation makes the boundary explicit.

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An up-to-date Store app does not mean Windows is up to date, and installing Windows updates does not update a Store app’s package. The delivery mechanism does not change that: Microsoft says Delivery Optimization can download both Windows updates and Store apps, but shared delivery infrastructure does not make their update catalogs the same. Learn about Delivery Optimization.

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What if an app did not come from Microsoft Store?

Microsoft Store is not a universal updater for Windows software. Some app publishers manage updates through their own app, and Microsoft advises checking the publisher’s website for an app that was not downloaded from the Store. Update that app through its publisher’s mechanism while continuing to keep Windows current. Microsoft’s app compatibility guidance covers checking with the publisher.

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Windows 10 support status matters

As of October 4, 2026, Microsoft says support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free standard software updates through Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. This does not mean a Windows 10 PC stops working, and the appropriate next step can depend on the device and any applicable support arrangement. Check Microsoft’s Windows 10 support end guidance for details.

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Which checks should you make?

  • Windows: Check Settings > Windows Update for operating-system updates.
  • Store apps and games: Open Microsoft Store and select Check for Updates; review whether App updates is enabled in Store Settings.
  • Other apps: Check the app’s built-in updater or its publisher’s website if it is not updated through Microsoft Store.
  • Windows 10: Check the device’s support status rather than assuming it still receives standard security fixes.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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