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What to Erase in the History for Updated Software to Run Again

How to fix a stuck Windows update

From launching in safety manner to going back in fourth dimension with system restore, here's how to fix a stuck Windows update to go you back upwardly and running

How to fix a stuck Windows update

Trying to figure out how to set up a stuck Windows update? It'south one of those things you don't need to know....until you do! Well-nigh of the time, Windows 10 ticks forth beautifully, seamlessly updating what needs to be updated without requiring any assistance from u.s. users.

Only, always and so occasionally, all that hard piece of work backside the scenes gets a little clogged up and i of those updates gets stuck. Not to worry though, it'south easy plenty to sort out, and in fact, by the time you lot become to the end of this slice, you'll have those stuck updates sorted in no time.

Nosotros know that operating systems can be a real task - it's kind of like the calculator equivalent of doing your taxes, correct? They are, however, a necessary evil when it comes to keeping your PC or laptop humming along smoothly. Subsequently all, information technology's easier to fix a stuck Windows x update than it is to have to buy a new computer because your electric current 1 has crashed.

Usually, a stuck update is the result of a software disharmonize or a preexisting issue that causes the screen to freeze and even the best Windows laptops can feel these issues from time to time. If you're a fan of the best MacBooks and Macs and have installed Windows onto one of those, you may also notice your updates get stuck from time to fourth dimension.

Even though Microsoft'southward launch of Windows 11 is another example of how the company are trying to go along to make the procedure of updates equally hurting-free as possible, but installing updates doesn't always run as smoothly as we like. That being said, even when things do get stuck, there'south almost always a prepare.

So don't panic and read on. Nosotros've got you covered. Although we're largely looking at Windows 10, you'll detect many of the tips and tricks equally applicable to older versions of Windows. Without further ado, here are a few great means that yous can prepare a stuck Windows update...

How to ready a stuck Windows 10 update

  1. Brand sure the updates really are stuck
  2. Turn it off and on again
  3. Check the Windows Update utility
  4. Run Microsoft's troubleshooter program
  5. Launch Windows in Safety Style
  6. Go back in time with System Restore
  7. Delete the Windows Update file cache yourself
  8. Launch a thorough virus scan
  9. Run a total Windows reset

ane. Brand certain the updates really are stuck

Windows update screen

We're going to encompass a lot of ground one how to fix a stuck Windows update for several versions of Windows and a diversity of 'stuck' scenarios, then you may accept to tweak some of these steps to conform your situation and software.

The first point to brand is that interfering with updates that aren't actually stuck can cause a host of issues, so y'all want to make sure they really are stuck.

If y'all've got the time, and the patience, we'd recommend waiting a couple of hours, especially with slower machines – go and cut the grass or picket a motion-picture show. Information technology may seem farthermost, but yous don't want to get-go meddling with these fundamental processes unless y'all really accept to.

two. Plow it off and on once again

Windows screen

Exercise you know why "take you tried turning it off and on again" is such an IT support cliche? Because when it comes to being able to apace fix a stuck Windows update, it so often works. At that place's no magic trick to this – information technology merely clears out your computer's temporary memory (including whatever stalled files or processes), and lets Windows start once more from scratch with everything on the organisation.

If your updates are stuck in the background while you still have admission to Windows, you lot can restart as normal; if they're stuck earlier or after the Os loads, y'all're going to have to hold down the ability push and do a hard reset. This can cause issues itself, then make certain your updates definitely aren't progressing at all.

3. Check the Windows Update utility

Update and security screen

In Windows 10 yous can find the Windows Update folio by launching the Settings app from the Start menu and clicking Update & Security – if there's something incorrect and Windows knows what it is then y'all should observe details here. Sometimes you'll simply get a message telling you to try the update again at a unlike time.

If y'all click 'Advanced options' so 'View your update history', you tin see recently installed updates that were successful, and uninstall some or all of them – again, this can be a handy troubleshooting option. Windows 10 has actually streamlined the update process, and then y'all should be seeing fewer errors.

four. Run Microsoft'southward troubleshooter program

Troubleshooting screen

Microsoft feels your pain: it knows the update process tin cause problems every now and again, which is why it's developed a troubleshooter program (opens in new tab) specifically to assist y'all set a stuck Windows update – search the old Control Panel for "troubleshooting", then select 'Fix problems with Windows Update' from the list on-screen.

The link should be available in Windows vii and 8 also, just if non you can become at it on the web (opens in new tab) as well. That said, if you haven't yet upgraded to Microsoft's latest and greatest operating system then it's probably still worth your while, as it's more likely to solve your update problems at the aforementioned time.

5. Launch Windows in Prophylactic Manner

Startup settings screen

Safe Mode is like a restart with extras – merely the very basic apps and lawmaking that Windows needs to run are loaded into retentiveness, so in that location's fifty-fifty less chance of a rogue, damaged file interfering with the update. In Windows x, hold down the Shift central then choose Ability and Restart from the Windows sign-in screen.

On the side by side screen y'all come across selection Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, Startup Settings and Restart, and you should and so see the Prophylactic Fashion choice appear: attempt running through the update process once more if you tin. A quick search online volition requite you Rubber Mode instructions for older versions of Windows.

6. Become back in time with System Restore

System restore screen

Arrangement Restore has been helpful for solving Windows problems for many a year now, but it happens to be quite well hidden in Windows 10. Get to Control Panel, Arrangement, System Protection and then click Organisation Restore. Go through the wizard, and then choose 'Show more restore points' to see all your available options.

Pick a time and date, so complete the wizard to get back to how Windows was configured at that point (and hopefully solve your update issues at the same time). The process doesn't affect your personal files or programs, but it may not be bachelor to you depending on how Windows was originally set up.

vii. Delete the Windows Update file enshroud yourself, part ane

Administrator command prompt screen

If Windows' own troubleshooter doesn't work (run across footstep four) then you can try and acquit out the same process yourself manually: stopping the Windows Update service, deleting the temporary files it's created, so starting Windows Update again. It's a little more involved, simply information technology's non hard to do.

First, kicking up into Safety Mode (see step v), then access to the control prompt, the most basic of Windows interfaces: right-click on the Start menu, cull Command Prompt (Admin), and a text box should appear. Blazon "net stop wuauserv" and hitting Enter, then follow that with "internet stop bits" and hit Enter again.

8. Delete the Windows Update file cache yourself, part 2

Software distribution screen

Dorsum in Windows proper, navigate to the C:\ Windows\ SoftwareDistribution folder, and delete everything you detect therein. Y'all're not going to break anything by doing this – these are just temporary files Windows creates so it knows where it's up to, and Windows Update will create them again from scratch.

With that washed, go dorsum to your command prompt window and type "net start wuauserv" (Enter) then "internet start $.25" (Enter) to get Windows Update and its related background services upwardly and running again; hopefully this trick should be enough to kick-offset the update that was previously stuck.

9. Launch a thorough virus browse

Microsoft safety scanner screen

I of the more obscure reasons why a Windows update might not be installing is because a virus or some kind of spyware is blocking it: malicious apps like these tin can often be squashed by Windows security updates, which is why they endeavour and stop the latest patches from beingness installed on your machine.

Try running a full and thorough virus scan using whatever security software yous have installed (yous practise have some installed, right?). If you think your antivirus software has as well been compromised you can download some on-demand scanners, like this 1 (opens in new tab) from Microsoft or this 1 from Dr. Spider web.

10. Run a full Windows reset

Choose an option screen

Restoring key Windows files and Os options is a lot easier than it used to be, and 'resetting' Windows 10 basically means putting all the organisation files back to their factory country without touching your personal files along the manner (although yous tin can choose to wipe your bulldoze completely if you want).

Yous can find the choice via the Recovery tab on the Update & Security page in the Settings app – note that third-party apps are removed too, so these will demand installing once again. Windows 8 offers both 'refresh' and 'reset' options (opens in new tab), while on Windows 7 the reset choice will typically have been provided by the PC'southward manufacturer (opens in new tab).

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing almost gadgets, apps and the web for more two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you lot'll find him roofing news, features and reviews, peculiarly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the all-time in the concern over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places as well, as well as beingness many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

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Source: https://www.techradar.com/how-to/software/operating-systems/how-to-fix-a-stuck-windows-update-1326307

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