当您的 PC 在线时，Windows会自动检查重要更新并使用Windows 更新(Windows Update)服务安装它们，具体取决于其配置方式。与Windows操作系统一样，Windows Update有一组默认(default set)的工作方式设置，您可以自定义它们。在本指南中，我们将分享如何查找Windows 更新(Windows Update)服务的所有可用设置以及如何自定义它们以使其按您想要的方式工作。
在哪里可以找到Windows 更新的(Windows Update)设置(Settings)
首先，打开Windows 更新(Windows Update)窗口。如果您不知道在哪里可以找到它，请阅读我们的指南检查(Check)Windows 更新(Windows Updates)，了解(Learn)它们的功能并阻止(Block)您不需要的更新。接下来(Next)，单击或点击左侧窗格中的(click or tap) 更改设置(Change Settings)。
您现在将看到一个包含所有可用Windows 更新(Windows Update)设置的列表。在Windows 8.1中，设置分为三类：重要更新(Important updates)、推荐更新(Recommended updates)和Microsoft 更新(Microsoft Update)。
在Windows 7中，情况有些不同。还有两个附加部分：“谁可以安装更新”("Who can install updates")和“软件通知”("Software notifications")。
如何配置Windows 更新(Windows Update)设置
首先是“重要更新(Important updates)”部分，您可以从中选择几种计算机安装重要更新的方式。首先(First)，有“自动安装更新”("Install updates automatically")。如果您选择此选项，Windows将在计算机连接到Internet时自动下载并安装更新。
其他选项是：“下载更新但让我选择是否安装”("Download updates but let me choose whether to install them")、“检查更新但让我选择是否下载和安装”("Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them")和“从不检查更新”("Never check for updates")。Microsoft和我们的团队都建议您使用第一个选项，以便您始终了解最新的修复程序。
如果您选择了“自动安装更新”("Install updates automatically")，您还可以选择设置安装这些更新的时间。为此，请单击或点击(click or tap) “更新将在维护窗口期间自动安装”("Updates will be automatically installed during the maintenance window")。
现在，自动维护(Automatic Maintenance)窗口将打开。当您不使用计算机时，Windows 8.1 会自动按每日计划运行定期维护。这些任务包括软件更新、安全扫描和系统诊断。最好的选择是在您不使用计算机但计算机已打开时选择一个小时。如果需要，您可以选中“允许计划维护在计划时间唤醒我的计算机”("Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time")复选框，这样即使计算机处于睡眠(Sleep)模式，您的计算机也会运行日常任务。设置完所有内容后，单击或点击(click or tap) OK。
此功能的Windows 7版本非常相似，不同之处在于您可以在不打开自动维护(Automatic Maintenance)窗口的情况下设置何时安装更新。建议您将安装设置为每天进行，当您不使用计算机但计算机已打开时。
在推荐更新(Recommended updates)部分，您可以选择是否要将推荐更新与重要更新一起安装。有关推荐更新和重要更新之间区别的更多信息，请查看本指南：检查Windows 更新(Windows Updates)、了解(Learn)它们的功能并阻止(Block)不需要的更新。
仅当您安装了其他Microsoft 软件(Microsoft software)（例如Microsoft Office、Windows Essentials、Silverlight等）时，才能使用名为Microsoft Update的部分。如果启用此部分的复选框，Windows Update将自动检查您正在使用的Microsoft应用程序的可用更新。(Microsoft)这也适用于 Windows 7。
接下来，我们将重点介绍Windows 7特有的两个附加功能。首先，有“谁可以安装更新”("Who can install updates")。如果未选中该框，则仅当您使用管理员帐户(administrator account)登录时才能安装更新。如果您选中“允许所有用户在此计算机上安装更新”("Allow all users to install updates on this computer")框，您将允许您计算机上的其他用户安装更新，即使他们可能不是管理员。建议您选中此框并启用此设置。
在软件通知(Software notifications)部分，您可以设置当Microsoft有新软件可用时，Windows Update是否会通知您。根据需要配置此设置。
完成所有配置后，不要忘记单击或点击确定(OK)以保存所做的所有更改。
结论
如您所见，配置Windows Update服务的设置相对简单，只需几分钟即可完成。如果您在此过程中遇到任何问题或有其他问题，请随时使用下面的表格给我们写信。
Configure How Windows Update Works In Windows 7 & Windows 8.1
When your PC is online, Windows automaticаlly chеcks for important updates and installѕ them using the Windows Update service, depending on the way it is configured. As always with Windows operating systems, Windows Update has a default set of settings for the way it works and you can customize them. In this guide we will share how to find all the available settings for the Windows Update service and how to customize them so that it works the way you want to.
Where To Find The Settings For Windows Update
First, open the Windows Update window. If you don't know where to find it, please, read our guide Check for Windows Updates, Learn What They Do & Block Those You Don't Need. Next, click or tap Change Settings from the left pane.
You will now see a list with all the available Windows Update settings. In Windows 8.1, the settings are split into three categories: Important updates, Recommended updates, and Microsoft Update.
In Windows 7 things are a little bit different. There are two additional sections: "Who can install updates" and "Software notifications".
How To Configure Windows Update Settings
First there's the Important updates section which allows you to choose among several alternatives for how your computer gets important updates installed. First, there's "Install updates automatically". If you choose this option, Windows will automatically download and install updates when the computer is connected to the Internet.
The other options are: "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them", "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them" and "Never check for updates". Both Microsoft and our team recommend you to go with the first option so that you are always up to date with the latest fixes.
If you have selected "Install updates automatically", you will also have the option to set when these updates get installed. To do that, click or tap "Updates will be automatically installed during the maintenance window".
Now, the Automatic Maintenance window will open. Windows 8.1 automatically runs scheduled maintenance on a daily schedule when you are not using the computer. These tasks include software updates, security scans and system diagnostic. The best option is to choose an hour when you're not using your computer but the computer is turned on. If you want, you can check the box "Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time", so your computer will run the daily task even if the computer is in Sleep mode. After you set everything, click or tap OK.
The Windows 7 version of this feature is quite similar, except for the fact that you can set when you want to install updates without opening the Automatic Maintenance window. It's recommended that you set the installation to occur everyday, when you are not using your computer but the computer is turned on.
In the Recommended updates section you can select if you want recommended updates to be installed together with the important ones. For more information about the difference between recommended and important updates, check this guide: Check for Windows Updates, Learn What They Do & Block Those You Don't Need.
The section called Microsoft Update is available only if you have other Microsoft software installed, such as Microsoft Office, Windows Essentials, Silverlight and so on. If the check-box from this section is enabled, Windows Update will automatically check for updates available for the Microsoft applications that you are using. This applies to Windows 7 too.
Next, we will focus on the two additional features that are specific to Windows 7. First, there's "Who can install updates". If the the box isn't checked, you can install updates only if you are logged in with an administrator account. If you check the "Allow all users to install updates on this computer" box, you will allow other users on your computer to install updates, even if they might not be administrators. It's recommended that you check this box and enable this setting.
In the Software notifications section you can set whether Windows Update will notify you when new software is available from Microsoft. Configure this setting as you prefer.
When you are done configuring everything, don't forget to click or tap OK to save all the changes that you have made.
Conclusion
As you can see, configuring the settings for the Windows Update service is relatively simple and you can be done with it in only a few minutes. If you encounter any problems during this procedure or you have some additional questions don't hesitate to write to us using the form below.
