Microsoft regularly releases major updates to its Windows operating systems.
Formerly, those updates pushed through comprehensive service packs, but more often these days, they’re semi-regular and significant updates through Windows Update.
In fact, beginning in Windows 8, the service pack, as we know it from previous versions of Windows, is essentially a dead idea. Much like updates on your smartphone, Microsoft is continually adding major features through automatic patching.
Latest Major Updates to Windows 11
As of January 2023, the latest major update to Windows 11 is Windows 11 Version 22H2, referred to as the Windows 11 2022 Update. Updating is automatic through Windows Update.
You can read more about the individual fixes and improvements on Microsoft’s Windows 11 Release Information page.
Latest Major Updates to Windows 10
As of January 2023, the latest major update to Windows 10 is Windows 10 Version 22H2, referred to as the Windows 10 2022 Update. Updating, like in Windows 11, is automatic through Windows Update.
See more about the individual fixes and improvements on Microsoft’s What’s New in Windows 10 Version 22H2 page.
Latest Major Updates to Windows 8
The last major update for Windows 8 is the confusingly named Windows 8.1 Update.
If you’ve already updated to Windows 8.1, the easiest way to update to Windows 8.1 Update is through Windows Update. See instructions for manually installing Windows 8.1 Update in the Download Windows 8.1 Update section of our Windows 8.1 Update piece.
If you’re not already running Windows 8.1, see How to Update to Windows 8.1 for detailed instructions on applying the Windows 8.1 update. When that’s done, update to Windows 8.1 Update through Windows Update.
Microsoft isn’t planning another big update to Windows 8, like a Windows 8.2 or Windows 8.1 Update 2. New features, if available, will instead be pushed through updates on Patch Tuesday.
Latest Microsoft Windows Service Packs (Windows 7, Vista, XP)
The last Windows 7 service pack is SP1, but a Convenience Rollup for Windows 7 SP1 (basically an otherwise-named Windows 7 SP2) is also available which installs all patches between the release of SP1 (February 22, 2011) through April 12, 2016.
The last service packs for other versions of Windows include Windows Vista SP2, Windows XP SP3, and Windows 2000 SP4.
In the table below are links that take you directly to the latest Microsoft Windows service packs and major updates for each operating system. These updates are free.
The easiest way to install the latest Windows service pack or update is to run Windows Update.
[1] Beginning in Windows 8, Microsoft began releasing regular, major updates to Windows 8. Service packs will not be released.[2] Windows 7 SP1 and the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update both must be installed prior to installing the Convenience Rollup.[3] Windows Vista SP2 can only be installed if you already have Windows Vista SP1 installed, which you can download here for both 32-bit 64-bit version.[4] Windows XP SP3 can only be installed if you already have Windows XP SP1a or Windows XP SP2 installed. If you do not have one or the other of those service packs installed, install SP1, available here, before trying to install Windows XP SP3.[5] Windows XP Professional is the only 64-bit version of Windows XP and the latest service pack released for the operating system is SP2.
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