What Is a Windows Cumulative Update
Why it includes the whole history and why you never need to install them one by one in order.
If you see "cumulative update" in the Windows Update notice and wonder what exactly that word means, it's simpler than it sounds.
Simple explanation
"Cumulative" means each monthly update includes everything released up to that point — not just what's new, but also everything before it. Thanks to this, you never have to install dozens of separate updates in order: with the most recent one, you're already fully up to date in one go.
Before this system existed, installing Windows from scratch meant downloading and installing hundreds of separate updates, one by one, in the correct order. Cumulative updates eliminated that problem completely.
Why they keep getting bigger
Since each one includes the whole history, the download size keeps growing month after month, within the same Windows version. This is normal and expected — it doesn't mean anything is misconfigured on your machine.
Do I need to install them all in order?
No. Installing the most recent one already includes everything before it — there's no need (and it isn't even possible) to install them one by one separately.
Tip: if you want to go deeper into the different types of updates you can see in Windows Update, our guide on the difference between quality and feature updates explains it in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip a cumulative update and just install the most recent one?
Yes, that's the normal approach — being cumulative, the most recent one already includes everything released before, so there's no need to install the ones in between separately.
Why do cumulative updates keep getting bigger?
Because each one includes the complete history since that Windows version's release, not just the new changes. This is normal behaviour, not a problem with your machine.
Is it the same as a feature update?
No. Cumulative updates are maintenance updates (security and bug fixes) and arrive every month. Feature updates bring visible new features and arrive much less often, usually once a year.