Latest Windows Updates and Service Packs overview
This guide provides you with information on the latest Windows updates and Service Packs, including where to download them and how to install them.
Microsoft released service packs traditionally for its operating systems, but switched to the new feature upgrade system with the release of Windows 8.
Service Packs are only available for Windows 7 and earlier operating systems on the client side, while Feature upgrades for Windows 8 and newer versions of Windows including Windows 10.
Windows Support
Microsoft supports the following client operating systems currently:
| Operating system | Latest Update | Support Phase | End of Support |
| Windows XP | Service Pack 3 | ended | ended |
| Windows Vista | Service Pack 2 | ended | ended |
| Windows 7 | Service Pack 1 | ended | ended |
| Windows 8 | Windows 8.1 | ended | ended |
| Windows 10 | 22H2 | extended support | October 13, 2025 |
| Windows 11 | 23H2 | mainstream support |
Windows 10 support can be extended by up to three years for a price. The price for consumers has not been announced yet.
Notes:
- Find Out Your Microsoft's Product Support Lifecycle
- What the end of Windows 7 Mainstream Support means
- Windows Vista Mainstream Support Ends Today
- Windows XP End-of-Support is not the End of the World
Major Windows Updates
Generally speaking, there won't be any new major updates for any version of Windows but Windows 10. Microsoft won't release Windows 8.2 for instance, and it won't release Service Packs anymore either.
Microsoft will release one feature update per year for Windows 10 starting with the Windows 10 version 21H2 update.
| Windows 10 version | Name | Release date |
| Windows 10 version 1507 | initial release | 29.07.2015 |
| Windows 10 version 1511 | November Update | 12.11.2016 |
| Windows 10 version 1607 | Anniversary Update | 2.08.2016 |
| Windows 10 version 1703 | Creators Update | April 2017 |
| Windows 10 version 1709 | Fall Creators Update | October 2017 |
| Windows 10 version 1803 | April 2018 Update | March 2018 |
| Windows 10 version 1809 | October 2018 Update | October 2018 |
| Windows 10 version 1903 | May 2019 Update | May 21, 2019 |
| Windows 10 version 1909 | November 2019 Update | November 12, 2019 |
| Windows 10 version 2004 | May 2019 Update | May 28, 2020 |
| Windows 10 version 2009 | 20H2 | October 20, 2020 |
| Windows 10 version 21H1 | May 2021 Update, 21H1 | May 18, 2021 |
| Windows 10 version 21H2 | November 2021 Update, 21H2 | November 16, 2021 |
| Windows 10 version 22H2 | 2022 Update | October 18, 2022 |
Windows 11
| Windows 11 version | Name | Release date |
| Windows 11 | support ended | |
| Windows 11 version 22H2 | 2022 Update | September 20, 2022 |
| Windows 11 version 23H2 | 2023 Update | October 2023 |
| Windows 11 version 24H3 | 2024 Update | not yet revealed |
Service Packs Downloads
The following table lists Windows client and server operating systems, and the most recent Service Pack or Feature upgrades for each.
Download links may point to the Microsoft Update Catalog for standalone downloads, to the Microsoft Download site, or tools that help you download these updates.
Please note that you may use Windows Update as well to download the latest updates, service packs and feature upgrades for the version of Windows that is installed on the computer.
| Windows Version | Architecture | Service Pack | Size | Download |
| Windows XP | 32-bit | Service Pack 2 | 266.0 MB | SP2 32-bit |
| Windows XP | 32-bit | Service Pack 3 | 316.4 MB | SP3 32-bit |
| Windows XP Pro | 64-bit | Service Pack 2 | 350.9 MB | SP2 64-bit |
| Windows Vista | 32-bit | Service Pack 1 | 544.3 MB | SP1 32-bit |
| Windows Vista | 64-bit | Service Pack 1 | 873.0 MB | SP1 64-bit |
| Windows Vista | 32-bit | Service Pack 2 | 475.5 MB | SP2 32-bit |
| Windows Vista | 64-bit | Service Pack 2 | 745.2 MB | SP2 64-bit |
| Windows 7 | 32-bit | Service Pack 1 | 537.8 MB | SP1 32-bit |
| Windows 7 | 64-bit | Service Pack 1 | 903.2 MB | SP1 64-bit |
| Windows 7 | 32-bit and 64-bit ISO | Service Pack 1 | 1.9 GB | SP1 ISO |
| Windows 7 | 32-bit | Convenience Rollup | 316.0 MB | CR 32-bit |
| Windows 7 | 64-bit | Convenience Rollup | 476.9 MB | CR 64-bit |
| Windows 8 | 32-bit | Windows 8.1 | 428.9 MB | W8.1 32-bit |
| Windows 8 | 64-bit | Windows 8.1 | 887.9 MB | W8.1 64-bit |
| Windows 10 | 32-bit and 64-bit | Anniversary Update | depends | W10 1611 |
| Windows Server 2003 | 32-bit | Service Pack 2 | 372.0 MB | SP2 32-bit |
| Windows Server 2003 | 64-bit | Service Pack 2 | 350.9 Mb | SP2 64-bit |
| Windows Server 2008 | 32-bit | Service Pack 2 | 475.5 MB | SP2 32-bit |
| Windows Server 2008 | 64-bit | Service Pack 2 | 745.2 MB | SP2 64-bit |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | 64-bit | Service Pack 1 | 912.4 MB | SP1 64-bit |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | 64-bit | Convenience Rollup | 476.9 MB | CR 64-bit |
Some notes:
- Service Pack updates are cumulative usually. This means that you only need to install the latest available Service Pack and not previously released ones. Exception: Windows Vista requires SP1 before you can install SP2. Windows XP requires SP1a or SP2 before you can install SP3.
- There is no Windows XP Pro 64-bit Service Pack 3.
- There is no 32-bit version of Windows Server 2008 R2.
- The Convenience Rollup update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 requires the April 2015 servicing stack update.
- Windows 10 feature upgrades are cumulative as well. You only need to install the latest to install all available feature upgrades.
- Check out our Windows Updates guide for additional information on updates for Windows.
Here’s the thing, which -totally- messes me up – whenever I look at manually running WU, lolz – BECAUSE Micro$oft has ensured that their Windows 7, Service Pack 1, OS (Retail and/or OEM) will no longer update itself – no matter WHAT we do; unless these procedures are followed, right. Aanyway, this page…
Some notes (which do not cover THIS):
6. Check out our Windows Updates guide for additional information on updates for Windows.
(https://www.ghacks.net/2010/12/20/microsoft-windows-update-overview-all-you-need-to-know/)
… This page takes us to the download @https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/search.aspx?q=kb3125574 (Around 500 MB)
HOWEVER, January 2017 comes along and we’ve got the SAME FILE – except, it is now -only- about 150 MB, https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/search.aspx?q=3212646
Soo, WTH are we supposed to do (dang it, hehe)?!?? I have: 1) installed (all) prerequisites (successfully!) for teh Internet Exploder 11 to run (and it does, all within Oracle’s VM VirtualBox, current version 5.1.14!) and 2) “downloaded the following patches from the Microsoft Update Catalog first”, as per https://www.ghacks.net/2016/11/02/checking-for-updates-slow-on-windows-7-here-is-the-fix/ and 3) now I do NOT have a CLUE whether the two Micro$oft Catalog files are cumulative, or not (makes no sense, that they would be, as they are 500 MB vs. 150 MB.
IDK., why must they make it so convoluted; when, it could’ve been all so simple (baby!) :)
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m148vZDwJA
Eight people in the world control half the world’s money? I did read that correctly? Bill Gates is one of the eight.
Just a thought that is mind-boggling–like Czarist Russia and Marx, Lenin and Engles and the reason for the Revolution.
Non-Windows user but this is a very useful and informative post! Bookmarked for future reference. The only question I had while reading this was answered: “you only need to install the latest available Service Pack and not previously released ones. Exception:…”
Isn’t the anniversary update build 1607?
You are right, thanks!
Wasn’t Windows 10 supposed to be the final destination (har har) for Windows? Ah well, it wouldn’t surprise me if in 2020 or so M$ will warn Windows 10 users that thay’re running an archaic and insecure OS and how much better Window 11 is.
+ IF their claims are correct, LTSB 1607 should have support at least until July 2026..
Hello,
Some typos happened:
Windows 10 version Name Release date
Windows 10 build 1507 initial release 29.07.2015
Windows 10 build 1511 November Update 12.11. 2 0 1 6
Windows 10 build 1 6 1 1 Anniversary Update 2.08.2016
Thank you for the post!