How to Fix Stuck Windows Updates
Solutions for Windows updates that hang or fail during installation.
Wait Before Acting:
Large updates can take hours. Wait at least an hour before considering an update stuck. Don't interrupt unless absolutely necessary.
Run Update Troubleshooter:
Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update. Microsoft's tool resolves common update problems automatically.
Reset Update Components:
Stop services: wuauserv, bits, cryptsvc. Delete SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folder contents. Restart services and try again.
Clear Windows Update Cache:
Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload. Delete all contents. This forces re-download of update files.
Free Up Disk Space:
Updates require significant free space. Clear temporary files, empty Recycle Bin. At least 20GB free is recommended.
Manually Download Updates:
Find the KB number in Update History. Download from Microsoft Update Catalog. Install manually to bypass issues.
Conclusion:
The troubleshooter resolves most issues. Resetting components works for persistent problems. Manual installation is a reliable fallback.