How To Refresh Window 10 Update

How to fix a stuck Windows update

From launching in safe mode to going dorsum in time with organisation restore, here's how to fix a stuck Windows update to become yous support and running

Trying to figure out how to set a stuck Windows update? It's one of those things y'all don't need to know....until you exercise! Most of the time, Windows 10 ticks forth beautifully, seamlessly updating what needs to be updated without requiring any help from u.s.a. users.

But, ever and then occasionally, all that hard work behind the scenes gets a little chock-full upwardly and i of those updates gets stuck. Not to worry though, information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel enough to sort out, and in fact, by the time yous get to the end of this piece, you'll have those stuck updates sorted in no time.

We know that operating systems can be a real chore - it'due south kind of like the figurer equivalent of doing your taxes, right? They are, however, a necessary evil when information technology comes to keeping your PC or laptop humming forth smoothly. After all, information technology'south easier to fix a stuck Windows 10 update than it is to accept to buy a new computer because your current 1 has crashed.

Unremarkably, a stuck update is the event of a software conflict or a preexisting issue that causes the screen to freeze and even the all-time Windows laptops can experience these problems from time to time. If you're a fan of the best MacBooks and Macs and take installed Windows onto ane of those, yous may likewise observe your updates get stuck from fourth dimension to time.

Even though Microsoft's launch of Windows 11 is another instance of how the company are trying to continue to make the process of updates every bit hurting-gratis every bit possible, simply installing updates doesn't always run equally smoothly as we like. That being said, even when things do go stuck, there's most ever a fix.

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

How to fix a stuck Windows 10 update

Make sure the updates really are stuck
Turn information technology off and on over again
Bank check the Windows Update utility
Run Microsoft's troubleshooter program
Launch Windows in Safe Mode
Get back in fourth dimension with Arrangement Restore
Delete the Windows Update file cache yourself
Launch a thorough virus scan
Run a full Windows reset

ane. Make sure the updates actually are stuck

We're going to cover a lot of ground 1 how to fix a stuck Windows update for several versions of Windows and a multifariousness of 'stuck' scenarios, so you may have to tweak some of these steps to suit your situation and software.

The start point to make is that interfering with updates that aren't actually stuck can crusade a host of problems, and so you want to brand sure they really are stuck.

If yous've got the time, and the patience, nosotros'd recommend waiting a couple of hours, especially with slower machines – go and cut the grass or watch a movie. It may seem extreme, but yous don't want to beginning meddling with these cardinal processes unless you lot really have to.

two. Turn information technology off and on once again

Do you know why "have you tried turning it off and on once again" is such an IT support cliché? Because when it comes to being able to quickly fix a stuck Windows update, it and so often works. There'due south no magic trick to this – it simply clears out your computer'southward temporary retentiveness (including any stalled files or processes), and lets Windows showtime again from scratch with everything on the system.

If your updates are stuck in the background while you lot still have access to Windows, yous tin restart as normal; if they're stuck earlier or after the Os loads, y'all're going to accept to concord down the power push button and practise a hard reset. This tin cause issues itself, so make sure your updates definitely aren't progressing at all.

3. Bank check the Windows Update utility

In Windows x you tin find the Windows Update page past launching the Settings app from the Outset menu and clicking Update & Security – if there's something wrong and Windows knows what it is then you should find details here. Sometimes you'll but become a message telling you lot to try the update once more at a different time.

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

four. Run Microsoft's troubleshooter plan

Microsoft feels your pain: it knows the update process tin can crusade problems every now and once more, which is why it's developed a troubleshooter program (opens in new tab) specifically to help you fix 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 7 and 8 also, but if not you tin become at information technology on the web (opens in new tab) as well. That said, if yous haven't yet upgraded to Microsoft's latest and greatest operating system then it's probably all the same worth your while, as it's more than probable to solve your update problems at the aforementioned time.

5. Launch Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Manner is like a restart with extras – only the very basic apps and code that Windows needs to run are loaded into memory, so there's fifty-fifty less risk of a rogue, damaged file interfering with the update. In Windows 10, hold downwardly the Shift key and so choose Power and Restart from the Windows sign-in screen.

On the side by side screen you come across pick Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, Startup Settings and Restart, and you should so encounter the Prophylactic Fashion option appear: try running through the update procedure again if you can. A quick search online will give you lot Safe Style instructions for older versions of Windows.

6. Become back in time with Organisation Restore

System Restore has been helpful for solving Windows problems for many a year now, only information technology happens to exist quite well subconscious in Windows 10. Get to Control Panel, System, Arrangement Protection and then click Arrangement Restore. Go through the magician, and so cull 'Show more restore points' to come across all your available options.

Selection a fourth dimension and date, and so complete the wizard to go back to how Windows was configured at that point (and hopefully solve your update issues at the same time). The process doesn't touch your personal files or programs, but information technology may not be available to you lot depending on how Windows was originally set up upwardly.

vii. Delete the Windows Update file cache yourself, part 1

If Windows' own troubleshooter doesn't work (see step 4) then you can try and carry out the same process yourself manually: stopping the Windows Update service, deleting the temporary files information technology's created, so starting Windows Update over again. It's a little more involved, but it'south not difficult to do.

First, kicking upwards into Condom Way (encounter step 5), then access to the command prompt, the well-nigh bones of Windows interfaces: right-click on the Beginning menu, choose Control Prompt (Admin), and a text box should appear. Type "net cease wuauserv" and hit Enter, then follow that with "internet stop $.25" and hit Enter again.

eight. Delete the Windows Update file cache yourself, function 2

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

With that done, go back to your command prompt window and type "net start wuauserv" (Enter) then "net start bits" (Enter) to go Windows Update and its related background services up and running again; hopefully this trick should be enough to boot-start the update that was previously stuck.

nine. Launch a thorough virus scan

One 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 can often exist squashed by Windows security updates, which is why they try and terminate the latest patches from being installed on your motorcar.

Try running a full and thorough virus scan using any security software you have installed (you practice have some installed, right?). If you remember your antivirus software has too been compromised you can download some on-demand scanners, like this one (opens in new tab) from Microsoft or this one from Dr. Web.

x. Run a full Windows reset

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 system files back to their manufacturing plant country without touching your personal files along the way (although you can choose to wipe your bulldoze completely if yous want).

You lot can detect the option via the Recovery tab on the Update & Security page in the Settings app – notation that third-party apps are removed too, so these volition need installing again. Windows eight offers both 'refresh' and 'reset' options (opens in new tab), while on Windows seven the reset selection will typically have been provided by the PC'south manufacturer (opens in new tab).

Dave is a freelance tech announcer who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business organisation over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, too equally beingness many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

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

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