So that our Windows 10 computer always works in the most fluid and secure way, we have Windows Update, a tool through which it informs us every time a new update is available for us to install. For those who do not want to complicate their lives, it is the best option, since with the press of a button we will have our equipment always updated. But if you are one of those who prefer to have more control over these updates, you can use an application like PatchFluent.
Many users miss the ability to see and control each security patch that appeared in Windows updates, as it is becoming more and more complicated. The Microsoft operating system obliges us at all times to carry out automatic updates on a mandatory basis, without the possibility of excluding some specific updates. Fortunately, we have specific external tools that will help us to have more control over these updates.
PatchFluent is a free and open source program with which we can improve Windows 10 updates. This application will allow us to see and choose which update packages are available to download and install. This is something that we cannot achieve by default in Windows 10, since they are carried out automatically without us having any decision-making power over them.
In this way, we have a tool thanks to which we can decide which patches we want to install or not . Thus, we can turn the automatic process into a completely personalized task by the user. This is something that was already done previously in Windows and that even specified what each update package was for, being able to always be informed. That is why it is recommended to disable automatic updates, in order to have maximum control over the update process.
Install Windows 10 apps manually
As it is a portable program, we will only have to run its Patchfluent.exe file with administrator rights to launch the application. An extremely basic and intuitive interface will appear quickly. The pity is that it is not translated into Spanish, since it is only available in English. Once started, the program will carry out a search for updates immediately , and if it finds any available, it will show them to us on its interface.
We find a main menu with three columns, although the left column has no purpose other than offering a brief description of the program. At the top we find a box with the phrase “Click here to turn off automatic updates on this device”. If we mark it, it will help us to deactivate automatic Windows updates . This is something that, although it is not mandatory, it does help to make sense of the use of this program.
If the application has found a new available update, we will see it reflected at the bottom along with another box that we can check if we want to install it. In this case, the program has detected a security update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus KB2267602. If we click on it, in the left column we will see complete information about all its content , so that we can know what it is for and what it contains, in order to finally decide whether or not we want to install it.
If we agree to install the update, click on the box and then click on the “Install Updates” button to start the download and update process. As we can see, it is a very useful program for downloading and installing updates. But at the moment, we can’t use it to manage installed updates. This is something that the application has pending to improve in later versions.
Download PatchFluent for free
PatchFlunet is an open source and completely free program for Windows, which we can download from GitHub in its version 0.12.2 . This version has been available for twelve days, which demonstrates the developer’s commitment to maintaining and supporting it. From GitHub we download a zip file that barely occupies 162 kbs and that we will have to unzip. Once the zip file is unzipped, we will obtain the Patchfluent.exe file that we will execute. As it is a portable tool, it does not require any type of installation and, in addition, it allows us to run it from any external storage device. So we can run it from a hard drive, a pendrive or a memory card.
Alternatives to PatchFluent
If you are looking for a tool with which to control the automatic updates of Windows 10 but PatchFluent does not quite convince you, we propose a couple of alternatives that are worth trying:
ABC-Update
It is advanced and secure software. It aims to help us with Microsoft updates, so that we can manage them to our liking and not install them when the system indicates it. In this way we can have full control over our PC and avoid being forced to update when we do not need or do not want to. You can download ABC-Update completely free of charge from its website .
Windows 10 Manual Update
It is a free and open source application with which you can install Windows 10 updates manually. In this way, we will be the ones who decide which updates to install and when to install them. Each update found has a check box, as well as a description of it so that we know exactly what we are going to download. You can download Windows 10 Manual Update directly from GitHub .