How to Download and Install Windows 10 21H2 Update Manually

Do you want to jump the queue and manually download and install Windows 10 21H2 update? This guide offers you two methods to install Windows 10 21H2 update manually.

Option 1: Install Windows 10 21H2 with Update Assistant

As I mentioned in my introduction, only use this method if you’re installing Windows 10 update 21H2 before Microsoft releases the next update (around November 2022).

If Microsoft has released another update, when you use the steps below, you’ll be installing the latest Windows 10 update.

To install Windows 10 21H2 (after November 2022), use the second method in this guide.

Follow the steps below to install the latest Windows 10 update.

Before you install the latest Windows 10 update, you need to check that you have enough space in your Windows 10 install drive. Use the first sub-section below to check the space on your PC’s OS drive.

Step 1: Check the Free Space on the OS Install Drive

1. First of all, you need to determine the drive Windows 10 is installed on your computer. To do this, enter %SystemDrive% in the Windows 10 search box. Then, from the search results, click %SystemDrive%.

2. The previous step will open te drive you installed Windows 10 on your computer. In my case, it is drive C (1). To check the free space on then drive, on the Quick access pane, right-click the drive (2) and select Properties (3).

3. Finally, on the drive Properties, check that the free space is over 10 GB. If the free space is less than 10 GB, free up some space before proceeding to the next section.

Step 2: Install Windows Update with Update Assistant

Once you’ve confirmed that you have enough free space on your Windows 10 installation drive, follow the steps below to install the latest Windows 10 update manually.

1. Open the Windows 10 update page – Microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 (link will open in a new browser tab).
2. Then, click the Update now button below Windows 10 November 2021 Update. Your browser will download Windows 10 Update Assistant file to your computer.

3. If you use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser, the browser will display Windows 10 Update Assistant file at the bottom left. To initiate the install of Windows 10 21H2 update manually, click the file.

4. Then, on the buttom right of the first page of the Windows 10 Update Assistant, click the Update Now button. The Windows 10 Update Assistant will run a pre-installation check.

5. If your PC meets the requirement to install Windows 10 21H2 Update, the Next button will be available. To proceed, on the bottom right, click Next.

Wait for the installation to reach 100%. Then, proceed to the next step. During this process, you can minimize the Update Assistant and continue working on your PC as normal.

6. When Windows 10 Update Assistant finishes installing Windows 10 21H2 Update, a 30-minute restart count-down screen will display. To restart immediately, click Restart now on the bottom right of the screen.

7. Finally, when Windows 10 Update Assistant finishes installing Windows 10 21H2 update, Windows 10 will display a login screen. Log in with your normal user name and password. After you sign in to Windows 10, it will perform the final stages of the update.
8. To confirm that Windows 10 21H2 Update was installed manually, enter winver into Windows 10 search. Then, open the app – it should display that your Windows 10 is now version 21H2.

Option 2: Install from Microsoft’s Updates Catalog

I have said this several times, but I’ll say it again because it is important. If you use this method after Microsoft has released an update newer than 21H2, you will be installing 21H2 and NOT the latest update.

So, only use the steps in this section if you want to install 21H2, not the latest Windows 10 update.

Step 1: Check Your PC’s Processor Architecture

1. Enter cmd on the search box at the bottom left of your Windows 10 search box. Then, from the search results, click Command Prompt.

2. Then, when the Command Prompt opens, enter the command below, and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

systeminfo | find "System Type"

The above command will return your Windows 10 PC’s architecture. Note this information as you’ll need it to download the right version of the Windows 10 21H2 update.

Step 2: Download and Install Windows 10 21H2 Update

1. Click Microsoft Update Catalog to open the Windows updates catalog page.
2. Then, locate the Windows 10 21H2 update for your PC’s version and click the Download button on the far right.

3. When you click the Download button, a pop-out window will be displayed on the top left of the page. To start downloading Windows 10 21H2 update manually, click the link.

4. When your browser finishes downloading the file, click on it to start installing Windows 10 21H2 update manually.

I received the error message below because my PC already installed update 21H2. You may also receive this error message if you downloaded the wrong update for your PC’s architecture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

You can Install Windows 10 21H2 update manually now without having to wait for the update to become available via Windows update.

However, I strongly recommend you check that you have enough free space (at least 10 GB) on the Windows 10 install drive. Once you confirm you have enough free space, follow the steps in section 2 of this guide to install Windows 10 21H2 update.

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Finally, for more Windows 10 Itechguides, visit our Windows 10 How-to page. You may also find our Work from Home page very helpful.