uup

Unified Update Platform (UUP) is a Windows software update delivery framework developed by Microsoft. It is designed to streamline the distribution of Windows updates by packaging updates as a modular set of components and delivering only the parts that have changed, rather than sending complete update payloads. The approach aims to reduce download sizes, speed up installations, and lower bandwidth usage across diverse networks and devices.

How it works: For a given Windows release, Microsoft generates a catalog of update packages, including security fixes, feature updates, drivers, and language packs. The client can receive express updates, which transmit only the changed blocks, while language packs and other optional components can be fetched on demand. The servicing stack coordinates the assembly and installation of the final update on the device, resulting in a smaller, more flexible update delivery.

History and scope: UUP was introduced during the evolution of Windows 10 and has since been used to deliver updates for Windows client and server editions. It replaced broader, monolithic updates with a modular model designed to improve reliability and efficiency, particularly in enterprise networks and on devices with limited bandwidth or storage.

Related and community use: While UUP is an official Microsoft technology, third-party projects exist that repack the underlying update packages for offline installation or offline ISO creation. Notable examples include websites that extract UUP data to assemble Windows images; these projects are community efforts and are not substitutes for standard Windows Update.