What Is an “Optional Quality Update” on Windows 10? - How-To Geek

On Windows 10, Windows Update may sometimes offer you an “Optional Quality Update.” Unlike other updates, Windows won’t automatically install these—so what exactly are they?

An “optional quality update” is a Windows update that you don’t have to install immediately.

One of the most common optional quality updates is a “cumulative update preview.” Microsoft releases cumulative updates once a month on Patch Tuesday, which is the second Tuesday of each month.

Near the end of most months, Microsoft offers a “cumulative update preview” in Windows Update. (Microsoft generally skips late December’s cumulative update preview.) These preview updates include all the fixes that will be released to everyone in non-optional form on the next Patch Tuesday.

For example, in November of 2020, Microsoft released the 2020-11 Cumulative Update Preview on November 30, 2020?

By the way, if you’re familiar with Windows update terminology, you may know these preview cumulative updates by a different name. Microsoft calls these “C” and “D” updates, depending on whether they’re released in the third or fourth week of every month.

The final stable cumulative update released the next month is known as a “B” update.

To check for optional quality updates, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Windows will install any mandatory updates (including security updates and non-optional cumulative updates) automatically.

If you experience a problem with an update, you can head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View Update History > Uninstall Updates to remove the update from your Windows 10 PC