What is Microsoft Update Catalog?
The Microsoft Update Catalog is an online portal provided by Microsoft that gives users access to Windows updates, drivers, and other software updates that have been released by Microsoft. It serves as an archive and catalog of all updates that have been made available through Windows Update.
Some key features of the Microsoft Update Catalog include:
- Ability to manually download Windows updates, drivers, and software updates without using Windows Update built into Windows.
- Search for updates by knowledge base article ID, product, classification, and more.
- Works for all supported versions of Windows.
- Provides direct download links for update .msu or .cab files.
- Updates available go back several years.
- Useful for IT professionals and advanced users to test or distribute updates within their organizations.
The Microsoft Update Catalog is beneficial for administrators who want more control and flexibility in managing and deploying Windows updates. It can also assist with troubleshooting update issues. By providing a catalog of all releases updates in one searchable site, it makes finding, testing, and distributing updates easier compared to relying solely on Windows Update.