Your Windows PC Needs a Security Check Before June. Here's How to Do It

Windows computers rely on digital security certificates to verify that websites and software are safe and legitimate. One of these critical certificates is set to expire in June. When it expires, your computer may have trouble connecting to secure websites, downloading updates, or verifying that apps are safe to use. This issue affects more than a billion Windows PCs worldwide.

If you use a Windows computer at home for banking, shopping, or schoolwork, you need to check if your system is ready. Some Linux computers are also affected by this same certificate expiration.

Here is what you should do right now. First, make sure Windows Update is turned on and your computer is fully updated. Go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update, and click Check for updates. Second, install all available updates, especially security updates. Restart your computer if prompted. Third, check again in a few days to make sure no new updates are waiting. To stay protected long term, always keep Windows Update turned on and let your computer install updates automatically. Set aside time each month to manually check for updates, especially if you sometimes delay or postpone them. Security certificates expire regularly, and updates are the primary way Microsoft keeps your system working properly and safely.