How to Get Official Outlook Updates
Just because Microsoft Outlook has been around a while, that doesn’t mean Microsoft isn’t updating it. In fact, there’s a fairly steady stream of Outlook updates coming out of Microsoft labs in Redmond, Washington. One thing they have been effective with is making fixes and modification to supported versions of Outlook. These correct bugs and protect you against the latest email marketing scams and other junk mail. The only problem with this is that you need to keep installing them if you want to reap the benefits of Microsoft’s diligence. Keep reading to see how to check for and install updates, as well as find links to more extensive resources online.
Microsoft has put a lot of time and effort into making the update process as painless as possible. Unfortunately, it can still be confusing. Conceptually, the process is easy. You tell Outlook to check for updates, then download and install any of the available updates that you want. Right here is one place where people get confused.
You don’t have to install all the updates Microsoft offers you. For example, if you see updates dealing with languages you don’t speak, you could choose to skip those. However, the best answer is to just install every update that comes along. It simplifies your life by eliminating the need to evaluate each update that comes along and decide whether you want it or not.
My suggestion is that you check for updates about once a week. Patches normally come out only once a month, but if there is an emergency release, you won’t want to be without it for long. It only takes a moment to do if there aren’t updates available. If there are updates available, you want to get them installed as soon as possible. Setting up a recurring task is the best way to remember to do this.
NOTE: Your company may have a policy about doing software updates that conflicts with the advice here. If your company does have such a policy, you should always follow company guidelines instead of general suggestions like these.
While incorporating a continual stream of Outlook updates may be a pain in the neck, if you incorporate the updatesover time you will gain a better-running program and less junk mail than you would otherwise have to deal with. The reduced amount of junk mail (from improved junk mail filters that Microsoft sends as part of updates) alone makes keeping Outlook updated a net time saver.
To check for Outlook updates, go to the Microsoft Office Downloads home page. Once there, find the link that lets scan your computer to figure out which updates you need. Then select the updates you want to install. Finally, download and install them. Once you’ve done it a few times, this process becomes quick and easy.
To get step-by-step instructions, go to:
http://www.living-with-outlook.com/microsoft-outlook-updates.html