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Stephennen's avatar
Stephennen
Bronze Contributor
Sep 16, 2025

How to force Windows 11 to update to the latest version?

I am trying to force my Windows 11 PC to update to the latest version (25H2) but am having no success. The Windows Update settings page simply says "Your device is up to date" with an older build num...
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Ushaojin's avatar
Ushaojin
Iron Contributor
Sep 16, 2025

Using DISM and SFC tools can be very helpful to ensure your Windows system files are healthy before attempting a major upgrade like moving to Windows 11.

How to use SFC and DISM to force Windows 11 to update to the latest version:
1. Run SFC
Purpose: Checks and repairs corrupted or missing system files.
Open Command Prompt as administrator
Press Windows + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Type: sfc /scannow
Press Enter.
Wait for the scan to complete. It might take some time.
If it finds issues, it will attempt to fix them automatically.

2. Run DISM
Purpose: Repairs the Windows image, especially useful if SFC reports it cannot fix some issues.
Still in Command Prompt (Admin), type:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Press Enter.
Wait for the process to complete; it can take several minutes.
Afterward, run SFC again: sfc /scannow

Using DISM and SFC for force Windows 11 to update to the latest version ensures your system files are in good shape, which can help make the Windows upgrade process smoother and reduce the risk of failures due to corrupted files.

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