Update Windows 10 using an external hard drive?

Anonymous
2017-10-20T15:56:25+00:00

So I was told that I can use the storage on an external hard drive to update Windows 10, which would make sense. I even saw on other Windows Community Forums that it is possible, however there aren't any tutorials or anything online that I could find. I've tried but the update page tells me I need more space, I really hope I didn't waste money on an external hard drive, it would have taken 3 weeks for an internal. So if it is possible to use the space on the hard drive to update Windows please guide me through.

Thank you.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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Anonymous
2017-10-21T06:12:09+00:00

Hi Adam,

There will be an option to use an external drive to temporarily extend the storage space of your computer while the update is being installed if your device doesn't have enough space for the update. We recommend that you check this article as a guide on how to use an external storage device to install updates for your Windows 10.

Let us know whenever you need further assistance.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-06T22:01:37+00:00

    There is not an option on my update to use an external drive; when the update opens it says there is not enough storage space, but does not allow me to choose to use the external drive anywhere within the application. How might I fix this?

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-18T21:34:07+00:00

    I am having the same problem, but when I click on the screen to free up space I don't get the screen you refer to . I get a box to run the disk cleaner app. I have tried to use the media creator app to write to a USB but it does not work either. I am having the same problem as Mikael who has also posted.

    Bob

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-23T21:08:38+00:00

    I managed to speak to a microsoft advisor online yesterday. They told me that because my windows software is on the OS drive that I wouldn't be able to use an external hard drive for the update. Their only suggestion was that I contact Asus to upgrade the hard drive! Considering it's a cheap notebook that is not really worth it, so I've decided just to live without the updates!

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-03-20T03:55:48+00:00

    I believe I have exactly the same problem. Here is the screenshot for my case which lead me to Disk Clean up after clicking 'Create space now'. I believe these screenshots should be more or less the same with other users having this Windows Update problem in March 2018. Please provide us a solid solution because this problem has been bothering for awhile. 

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