How to add Windows Updates to Context Menu in Windows 11/10

Windows is not a product; it is a service. Being delivered as a service (WaaS) you cannot opt-out of receiving Windows Updates. And geeks like me enjoy getting and installing new updates. You usually keep getting updates for your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. Every other day, you get Windows Defender updates, every patch Tuesday you get Cumulative Updates for the supported version of Windows 11/10 and more.

While Windows 11/10 updates your OS for you automatically, should you wish to check manually, it can sometimes be tedious to navigate to Settings App > Update and Security > Check for Updates inside the Windows Updates menu. Today, I will be guiding how to get that option in the right-click context menu on your desktop.

Add Windows Updates to Context Menu

Before you begin, create a system restore point or backup the Registry first. Having done this, open the Run box, type regedit and press Enter and click on Yes on the UAC Prompt, to open the Registry Editor.

Now navigate to the following key:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell

Next, right-click on the Shell folder and then New > Key and rename the new folder to Check for Updates.

Now, right-click on the Check for Updates folder and then New > Key and rename the new folder to command.

Again right-click on the Command folder New > String Value and rename the string value to DelegateExecute.

Double click on the DelegateExecute string and in the value field, enter:

{556FF0D6-A1EE-49E5-9FA4-90AE116AD744}

Now we have to add an icon. To do this, go back and again right-click on the Check for Updates folder, New > String Value and rename it to SettingsURl.

Double-click on the SettingsURl string and type the following in the value field:

ms-settings:windowsupdate-action

Right-click on the Check for Updates folder, New > String Value and rename it to Icon

Double click on the Icon string and type the following in the value field:

%SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-47

Your registry folders’ hierarchy will now look similar to this :

Check for Updates will look like this:

The command folder will look like this:

Now just Restart your PC for the changes to take place. You can now see the item in the desktop context menu.

Or, Alternatively use Ultimate Windows Tweaker

If you think that these ten steps are confusing or may take time, you can just download and click on this registry file to add it to your Registry and restart your PC or Tablet to see the new Check for updates button in the context menu on your desktop. You could also use our Ultimate Windows Tweaker. Apart from Check for Windows Updates, it lets you add many other useful items to your context menu.