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There are a few important differences between an update and an upgrade. While an upgrade primarily stands for improvement, an update often simply updates something.
The differences between an update and an upgrade
Updates and upgrades are often confused with one another. However, the differences are easy to explain.
- An update is usually a free upgrade to a program. It fixes bugs and problems as well as issues from previous versions. The version number of the product usually only changes in the decimal places when an update is installed. If a security vulnerability is used in software, for example, manufacturers usually provide an update relatively quickly to fix it.
- An upgrade usually brings major new features and fundamental enhancements that increase the program’s functionality. If you switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11, for example, this is called an upgrade.
- Upgrades are not limited to software and hardware. For example, an airline may upgrade your ticket to business class even though you booked economy class – if economy is overbooked but there are still seats available in a higher class.
