Welcome to Windows Update Restored!

Windows Update Restored is a community based project aimed at restoring the old Windows Update websites for Windows 95, NT4, 98, Me, 2000 and XP. We actively update the project & website with new available updates and pages, which can be read in the news section at the bottom of this page.

Ever since 2011 when Microsoft pulled the plug on nearly all the Windows Update websites (except v6 and the Microsoft Update website), the Windows Update feature for older Windows operating systems was no longer functional. The only way to install updates after that point was through external third-party installers, which didn't cover all the updates that the operating system would fully support and need. So, with this project, you can now update operating systems as old as Windows 95 all the way through Windows XP like you could back in the day!

The original Windows Update websites provided users with security (critical) updates, optional software updates, driver updates, and other types of software for your operating system. Windows Update Restored has revived all of these features, as well as the Automatic Updates feature and the Critical Update Notification Tool (Windows 98 to Windows XP). Want to learn more about what is available on Windows Update Restored? Read the Frequently Asked Questions!

This website is best viewed with a resolution of 800x600 pixels and required a minimum of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 to properly be displayed. Though, we recommend the use of Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5. To download various versions of Internet Explorer, visit the Internet Explorer Downloads page.

Where Do You Want to Go Today?

Windows Update v2

Feeling like using the earliest available version of the Windows Update website? Then try Windows Update Restored v2!
Compatible with Windows 95, NT 4.0, 98 First Edition (All require Internet Explorer 4.0)!

Windows Update v3.1

Want to go classic and experience Windows Update like it's 1999? Then try Windows Update Restored v3.1!
Compatible with Windows 95, NT 4.0, 98 First Edition & Second Edition, Millennium Edition, and 2000 (SP2 and below)!

Windows Update v4

Want to relive the early 2000s Windows Update experience with the look and feel of Windows XP? Then try Windows Update Restored v4!
Compatible with Windows 98 First & Second Edition, Millennium Edition, 2000, XP (SP2 x86 & x64 and below), and Server 2003 (SP1 x86 & x64 and below)!

Windows Update v5

Didn't get the chance to try Windows Update v5 back in 2004? Now you can with Windows Update Restored v5!
Compatible with Windows 2000 (SP3+), XP, and Server 2003 (x86 and x64 included)!
Warning! System modifications are required for Windows Update Restored v5 to work on your system. Visit our prerequisites page for more info.

Screenshots Gallery

Screenshot of Windows Update Restored v2 running in Internet Explorer 4 on Windows 98 First Edition.    Screenshot of Windows Update Restored v3.1 running in Internet Explorer 5 on Windows 98 Second Edition.   Screenshot of Windows Update Restored v4 running in Internet Explorer 6 SP1 on Windows 98 Second Edition.   Screenshot of Windows Update Restored v5 running in Internet Explorer 6 SP1 on Windows XP Professional.

Community Links

MSFN Forum

Want to visit the forum where Windows Update Restored began? Check out our MSFN Forum!
Check out our MSFN Forum by clicking here.

Discord Server

Want to view what's new with Windows Update Restored and or get live assistance from the Windows Update Restored Team? Join our Discord Server!
Join our Discord server by clicking here.

Disclaimer

This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation. This software is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind. We don't believe anything should go wrong, but please ensure you have backups of any important data anyway. The Windows Update websites offered here are unofficial. This project is for archival purposes only. Read the legal information page to learn more.

The use of Windows Update Restored doesn't mean that you should keep using older unsupported versions of Windows. Getting security updates for those old operating systems may not protect you in today's online world and against modern viruses. There are plenty of security holes in these operating systems and there's a reason why Microsoft took down the Windows Update websites for them. You should use a modern supported operating system like Windows 10, Windows 11, or even a Linux distribution. For further information, read the Frequently Asked Questions.

The Windows Update Restored Team

@WULover, @WinFX, @TecAdam, @ByQuadCore (pause), @maile3241, @EZUser, @dtm22, @milleniumtech_it, @Lewis the dog, @gmkid, @ward201185 (inactive), @WInUpdateFanv3, @Dusan Vicic, @Ryujin, @theonegoofali

Other credits: Daniel Mysilvets (Windows Update Restored logo designer - v3.1 style), Signé JARB (Provided us with some Windows Service Packs)
 

All of this wouldn't be possible without The Wayback Machine, which preserved those old files, websites, and information that would otherwise be lost forever.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed towards this amazing project on MSFN, Discord, and more! Thank you for all the time spent getting each and every bit of this to work!

Windows Update Restored News

     New! Windows Update Restored now uses HTTPS & HTTP!

After a very long time, we are no longer using just the old HTTP encryption on our website. We are now using HTTPS alongside HTTP! Now your ISP's shouldn't flag this website as dangerous and block access our website. If you are still running into this issue where your ISP is flagging our website as dangerous and blocking access to our website, you can visit our Windows Update Restored is blocked by your ISP Knowledge Base article in our Help & Support Center that should help you temporarily fix this issue.
 

      The Windows Update Restored Knowledge Base is here!

The Windows Update Restored website now has a Knowledge Base, listing every Support topics we published. If we see that one or more issues are frequent and we're able to fix them, we will add Support topics in the Knowledge Base regarding those issues.
 

      The Windows Update Restored v5 Prerequisites Installer is here!

Now that Windows Update Restored v5 no longer requires the use of a proxy, it is way easier to automate the installation of every prerequisites. That's why this installer is for! You no longer need to install everything manually, and get a headache when it does not work. Everything is now being installed with an automated process, compatible with every officially supported operating systems. Download this tool now to get Windows Update Restored v5 working again!