Tuesday Tip: The Difference Between System Updates and Software Updates

Screen with Software Update and Systems Update language.

System Updates:

  • An update to any piece of software that came preinstalled on your device which you have no control over.
  • Updates applied to a device’s operating system and any underlying software that supports it (drivers, for example).
  • When a PC installs Windows Updates; a Mac, iPhone, or iPad installs iOS Updates; or an Android device installs an Android Update, those are System Updates.

Software Updates:

  • Refers to any updates made to programs or apps installed after you purchased your device.

Some types of software can get both System Updates and Software Updates:

  • On a Windows PC, Microsoft’s Edge browser is a component of Windows, and it comes pre-installed.
  • Microsoft Edge updates initiate in the browser, like the updates for Firefox, Opera, and other third-party browsers. The browser updates install separately from Windows Updates “pushed out” to Windows machines, making them Software Updates instead of System Updates.
  • Other updates to Edge distributed and installed along with Windows Update releases are System Updates.
  • Microsoft allows you to install the Edge browser on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices as third-party apps. When Edge apps update, the updates are Software updates, not System Updates.

To recap, System Updates refer to updates to your device’s operating system and the underlying pre-installed support software.  Software Updates apply to user-installed programs and apps. Make sure you install all updates to keep your computer up to date!

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Kristen Todd: In her role as Client Manager II with Network 1, Kristen is the liaison and main point of contact for clients in both the medical and financial professions. She is skilled at listening to her clients’ needs and acting as a liaison between them and the field engineers and support team.

Network 1 designs, builds and supports the IT you need to run your business more securely, productively and successfully. Whether you want to outsource all of your IT needs to a reliable, responsive, service-oriented company, or need to supplement the work of your internal IT staff, we will carefully evaluate where you are now, discuss where you want to go and implement and support a plan to get you there with as little interruption as possible.

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