Windows Update exists to keep Windows and other Microsoft software up to date, usually with little intervention from us. This includes security updates, which are released on Patch Tuesday.

Unfortunately, it is possible that one or more of these patches will cause a problem. These can range from serious problems, such as error messages that prevent Windows from starting or the update process from getting stuck, to less serious problems, such as video or audio problems.

If you're certain that the problem you're experiencing only started after one or more Windows updates, whether manual, automatic, on Patch Tuesday, or otherwise, read on for help on what to do next. This might also be a good time to check out our Windows Updates & Patch Tuesday FAQ page if you haven't already.

Normally we don't explain how to use a troubleshooting guide, but since you're lucky enough to have a theory about the cause of your problem, the help we provide below is structured a little differently than other tutorials we've created where you tackle a different problem with a completely unknown cause.