Microsoft rolling out 34 unscheduled patches for Windows today
The company is shifting gears from its usual Patch Tuesday to push out optional patches. But why now, and for what reason?
Microsoft is making a rare move by rolling out a second batch of software patches in April.
A Microsoft support page lists 34 patches in total for today. All of them are optional, which means they don't address critical security problems, and won't be installed automatically. To grab them, you'll have to go to the Windows Update screen and install them manually.
Most of the patches are aimed at Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, but a few also mention Windows 7.
Microsoft typically releases a regular series of bug fixes, security updates and other patches on Patch Tuesday, which occurs the second Tuesday of each month. The software giant already unleashed a string of patches on April 14, in line with its usual schedule. So why is the company rolling out a second set this week?
The support page doesn't provide much explanation except to say that these updates resolve issues in Windows. Each update does point to a Microsoft knowledge base article that provides more details. For example, one update resolves an issue with error messages concerning accounts on Windows domains. Another deals with Wi-Fi connectivity issues in Windows 8.1.
Microsoft said the patches are part of its continual updating of Windows.
Update, 5:40 a.m. PT April 22: A comment from Microsoft was added.