Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 11 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

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The recommended (and easiest) way to get SP1 is to turn on automatic updating in Windows Update in Control Panel and wait for Windows聽7 to notify you that SP1 is ready to install. It takes about 30 minutes to install, and you'll need to restart your computer about halfway through the installation.

To check if Windows聽7聽SP1 is already installed on your PC, select the Start button, right-click Computer, and then select Properties.

If Service Pack 1 is listed under Windows edition, SP1 is already installed on your PC.

You鈥檒l need to know if your PC is running a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) version of Windows聽7. Select the Start button, right-click Computer, and then select Properties. The version of Windows聽7聽is displayed next to System type.

Check to make sure your PC has enough free disk space to install SP1.

Installation method

Estimated amount of free disk space needed

Windows update

x86-based (32-bit): 750 MB

x64-based (64-bit): 1050 MB

Downloading SP1 from the Microsoft website

x86-based (32-bit): 4100 MB

x64-based (64-bit): 7400 MB

It鈥檚 a good idea to back up your important files, photos, and videos to an external hard disk, USB flash drive, or the cloud before installing the update.

Make sure your PC is plugged in to power and you鈥檙e connected to the Internet.

Some antivirus software might prevent SP1 from installing or slow down the installation. You can temporarily disable your antivirus software before the installation. If you do so, make sure you鈥檙e aware of the risks that might be involved and re-enable the antivirus software as soon as SP1 is done installing.

If your PC is set to automatically install updates, you鈥檒l be prompted by Windows Update to install SP1. Follow the instructions to install the update.

To manually install SP1 from Windows Update:

Select the Start button > All programs > Windows Update.

In the left pane, select Check for updates.

If any important updates are found, select the link to view available updates. In the list of updates, select Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) and then select OK.

Note:聽If SP1 isn鈥檛 listed, you might need to install some other updates before installing SP1. Install any important updates and then follow these steps again to check for SP1.

Select Install updates. 聽You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Follow the instructions to install SP1.

After SP1 is installed, sign in to your PC. You might see a notification indicating whether the update was successful. If you disabled your antivirus software before the installation, make sure you turn it back on.

If you鈥檙e unable to install SP1 from Windows Update, you can download the installation package from the Microsoft Update Catalog and then install SP1 manually.

Go to the Windows聽7 Service Pack 1 download page on the Microsoft website.

Select the Download link that corresponds to your version of Windows 7.

Select each of the download links and save them to your PC.聽 When you're ready to install SP1, run the .exe file you downloaded from the site.聽 Then follow the instructions to install SP1. Your PC might restart a few times during the installation.

After SP1 is installed, sign in to your PC. You might see a notification indicating whether the update was successful. If you disabled your antivirus software before the installation, make sure you turn it back on.

If you try to install SP1 and see an error message that the installation wasn鈥檛 successful, this might be because there鈥檚 a problem with the Windows Servicing Store that is used to install updates or because your antivirus software is preventing the update from being installed.

To try and fix the problem, follow these steps and then try to install SP1 again.

If your PC isn鈥檛 able to find or install updates, the Windows Update troubleshooter might be able to fix the problem.

Select the Start button, and then select Control Panel.

In the search box, enter troubleshooter and then select Troubleshooting from the list of results.

Under System and Security, select Fix problems with Windows Update and then follow the instructions.

After the troubleshooter is done, try installing the service pack again.