The next step depends on which Windows 10 version you're running.įor version 1909 or earlier, click Advanced options and set your deferral periods for monthly quality updates.

Next, on the Windows Update page in Settings, click Change active hours to specify your normal work hours (a window of up to 18 hours), when you don't want to be interrupted by updates. Install any available updates, including updated drivers. With those business editions, you can defer updates by up to 30 days.Īfter you complete a Windows 10 upgrade, the first thing you should do is go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. If you'd rather let the rest of the world test each month's security and reliability updates before you OK the install, you should be running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, not Home. On Windows 10 Pro version 1909 and earlier, you can defer both types of updates from Settings. And make sure you save a copy (or two) of your BitLocker recovery key. This option protects the contents of the system drive but does not allow encryption of any secondary drives.įor step-by-step instructions that explain how to turn on BitLocker Drive Encryption, see: Windows 10 tip: Use BitLocker to encrypt your system drive. On modern portable PCs running Windows 10 Home, you can enable device encryption if you're signed in with a Microsoft account. With encryption, getting to your data requires an encryption key that is effectively uncrackable.įull-strength BitLocker encryption requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip and a business edition of Windows. Without encryption, anyone who steals that device can mount the drive in an operating system of their choosing and siphon the data away with ease. Turn on BitLocker drive encryptionĮncrypting every drive that contains personal data is a crucial security step.

The options for facial recognition and fingerprint identification are available under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options. Finally, if you have the hardware to support it, turn on Windows Hello.

Windows 7 update