Windows Update Stuck? How to Fix It

Updated March 2026 · Windows 10 & 11 · 10 min read

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Windows Update getting stuck is one of the most common Windows headaches. Whether it's frozen at 0%, creeping past 35%, or locked at 100% for hours, this guide has the fix.

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter (Fastest Fix)

The built-in troubleshooter fixes the most common Update service issues automatically.

Windows 11

  1. Open Settings → System → Troubleshoot.
  2. Click Other troubleshooters.
  3. Find Windows Update and click Run.
  4. Follow the prompts and apply any recommended fixes.
  5. Restart your PC and try updating again.

Command Line Method (PowerShell):

Get-WindowsUpdateLog -FilePath C:\WindowsUpdate.log
Start-MpWDOScan -ScanType UpdateTroubleshooter

Windows 10

  1. Open Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot.
  2. Click Additional troubleshooters.
  3. Select Windows Update → Run the troubleshooter.
  4. Apply fixes, then restart and retry.

Alternative via Control Panel:

2. Restart the Windows Update Service

Steps

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
  2. Scroll down and find Windows Update.
  3. Right-click it → Stop. Wait 10 seconds.
  4. Right-click again → Start.
  5. Also check Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) — start it if it's stopped.
  6. Return to Settings → Windows Update and try again.

Command Line Service Management:

# Stop Update services
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptSvc
net stop msiserver

# Start Update services  
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptSvc
net start msiserver

# Check service status
sc query wuauserv
sc query bits

3. Clear the Windows Update Cache

Corrupted downloaded update files are a top cause of stuck updates. Clearing the cache forces Windows to re-download clean files.

Steps (Admin required)

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (right-click Start → Windows Terminal (Admin)).
  2. Stop the Update service:
    net stop wuauserv
  3. Stop BITS:
    net stop bits
  4. Navigate to the SoftwareDistribution folder and delete its contents:
    del /f /s /q C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\*
  5. Restart the services:
    net start wuauserv
    net start bits
  6. Return to Windows Update and try again.

4. Reset Windows Update Components (Advanced)

If clearing the cache doesn't help, reset all Update components at once using Command Prompt:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Tip: After running these commands, restart your PC before checking for updates again.

5. Registry Fixes for Update Issues

Critical Registry Tweaks (Run as Administrator)

Warning: Backup registry first with reg export HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate C:\regbackup.reg

# Reset Windows Update registry keys
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v AccountDomainSid /f
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v PingID /f
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v SusClientId /f

# Fix Windows Update authentication
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v DisableWindowsUpdateAccess /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

# Enable Windows Update logs
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v EnableLogging /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

# Reset Windows Update policies
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /f
reg delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate" /f

6. Boot into Safe Mode for Stuck Updates

Safe Mode Methods for Windows 10/11

Use Safe Mode when updates freeze during installation or system won't boot:

  1. From Login Screen: Hold Shift + click Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Restart → Press 4 (Safe Mode)
  2. From Recovery: Force shutdown 3 times during boot → Automatic Repair → Advanced Options → Startup Settings
  3. Command Line (if system boots): Open CMD as Admin → bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal → Restart

In Safe Mode:

7. Fix Common Windows Update Error Codes

0x80070005 – Access Denied

  1. Make sure you're signed in with an administrator account.
  2. Temporarily disable antivirus/security software and try again.
  3. Run the troubleshooter (Step 1) to fix permission issues automatically.

0x800705b4 – Timeout Error

  1. Check your internet connection.
  2. Disable VPN or proxy if active.
  3. Reset the Update cache (Step 3) and try again.

0x80073712 – Missing File

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Run: sfc /scannow — this scans and repairs corrupted system files.
  3. Then run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  4. Restart and try Windows Update again.

8. Stuck at 100% or "Configuring Windows Update"

This screen appears during the final installation phase and can take 30–60 minutes normally. If it's been over 2 hours:

  1. Wait — if your hard drive LED is still blinking, the update is still working.
  2. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to check if TiWorker.exe is using CPU/disk — if so, it's still active.
  3. If truly frozen (no disk activity for 2+ hours): hold the power button for 10 seconds, restart. Windows will automatically roll back the failed update.
Warning: Only force-restart when genuinely stuck. Interrupting an active update can corrupt system files. Always confirm the update is frozen before cutting power.

9. Manually Download and Install Updates

If Windows Update can't download files, get them directly from Microsoft:

  1. Go to Settings → Windows Update → View Update History to find the KB number of the stuck update (e.g., KB5034441).
  2. Visit catalog.update.microsoft.com.
  3. Search for the KB number and download the appropriate version for your system (x64 for most modern PCs).
  4. Run the downloaded .msu file and follow the installation wizard.
  5. Restart your PC when prompted.

10. When to Reset or Reinstall Windows

Consider Windows Reset When:

Reset Options (Windows 10/11):

  1. Keep my files: Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC
  2. Cloud download: Downloads fresh Windows files from Microsoft (Windows 10 2004+)
  3. Local reinstall: Uses existing Windows files (faster but may carry corruption)

Complete Clean Install (Advanced):

Command Line Reset Options:

# Windows 10/11 Reset command
systemreset --factoryreset

# Windows 10 Fresh Start (keeps personal files, removes bloatware)
# Available in Security → Device performance & health

# Use Windows Recovery Environment
reagentc /boottore

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Windows Update stuck at 0% or 100%?

Updates that show no progress for hours are usually frozen because of a stuck service, full disk space, or a corrupted download cache. Run the troubleshooter, restart the Windows Update and BITS services, and clear the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. If the disk is below 10% free, free some space first.

How do I restart the Windows Update service manually?

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Find Windows Update, right-click it, and choose Stop. Wait 10 seconds, then right-click and choose Start. Do the same for Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). Close Services and try updating again.

What is the Windows Update Troubleshooter and how do I run it?

The troubleshooter is a built-in tool that detects and fixes common update service problems. On Windows 11, go to Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Windows Update → Run. On Windows 10, go to Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters → Windows Update.

Should I delete the SoftwareDistribution folder?

Yes — this is safe and often fixes stuck updates. Stop the Windows Update service first, then rename or delete C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution to SoftwareDistribution.old. Restart the service and Windows Update will create a fresh folder. Your installed updates are not affected.

Why does Windows Update fail with an error code like 0x800f081f?

Error codes usually point to a specific cause. 0x800f081f means a required component is missing, 0x80070005 is a permissions issue, and 0x80240034 means the update was superseded. Search the exact code on Microsoft Support for the matching fix, or use the Windows Update Assistant for that build.

How do I install a Windows update manually?

Visit the Microsoft Software Download page, pick your Windows version, and download the latest cumulative update as an MSU file. Double-click it to install. The manual installer is useful when the standard updater is broken or stuck in a loop.

Will resetting Windows fix update problems?

Usually yes, but it is a last resort. Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Keep my files resets Windows components while keeping your personal data. It can take 30-90 minutes. Try all the other fixes in this guide first, and back up important files before resetting.

How long should a Windows Update take?

A typical cumulative update takes 15-45 minutes on a healthy PC. Feature updates (Windows 10 → 11 or major version jumps) can take 1-3 hours. If you have been stuck at the same percentage for more than two hours with no disk or network activity, the update is almost certainly frozen and safe to interrupt.