What to Do When Windows Update Gets Stuck or Fails

Quick answer

When Windows Update is stuck, the safest first move is to wait, because large updates can take a long time and often look frozen. If nothing changes for a long while, restart the PC, make sure there is enough free disk space and a working internet connection, and run the Windows Update troubleshooter. This guide is for Windows 11 users, with notes where Windows 10 differs.

Before you start

Updates touch important system files, so a little care now saves trouble later.

• Plug in your laptop. Running out of battery in the middle of an update is one of the main ways things go wrong.
• Check what “stuck” looks like. Is it a download that won’t move in Settings, or a blue screen saying “Working on updates” or “Don’t turn off your computer” during a restart? The advice differs.
• Back up your files if you can still sign in. Copy important documents and photos to an external drive or cloud storage.
• Check your internet. Open a website. If pages won’t load, fix the connection first; see Connected to Wi-Fi but No Internet: How to Fix It.
• Keep your security on. Windows Security doesn’t need to be switched off for updates to work.

If the update screen seems frozen during a restart

Messages like “Working on updates” or “Undoing changes made to your computer” can stay on screen for a long time, especially on older PCs with spinning hard drives.

1. Wait at least an hour, or longer for a large feature update. Leave the computer alone and plugged in.
2. Look for signs of activity: a drive light that flickers, dots that keep spinning, or a number that changes now and then.
3. If several hours pass with no change at all, press and hold the power button until the PC turns off.
4. Wait a few seconds, then turn it on again. Windows usually finishes the update or rolls it back automatically.
5. If Windows won’t start normally after a few tries, it should open the recovery screen (Windows Recovery Environment). Choose Startup Repair first. Microsoft’s recovery guide in the sources covers the other options.

Forcing the PC off is a last resort during an update, not a first step. It works out fine most of the time, but not always, which is why waiting comes first.

Fix Windows Update stuck downloading or failing

Use these steps when you can sign in, but the update in Settings won’t download, won’t install, or keeps failing with an error.

Restart and try again

1. Save your work and choose Start, then Power, then Restart. Use Restart, not Shut down, because it fully reloads Windows.
2. Open Settings, then Windows Update, and select Check for updates.
3. If an update shows an error code, write it down. You can search for it on Microsoft’s support site, which explains official error codes.

On Windows 10, Windows Update is under Settings, then Update & Security.

Make room on the drive

Updates need space to download and unpack. If your C: drive is nearly full, they may fail without a clear message.

1. Open Settings, then System, then Storage.
2. Check how much free space the main drive has.
3. Use Cleanup recommendations or Temporary files to remove files you don’t need.

For a full walkthrough, see How to Free Up Storage Space on a Windows PC.

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

The troubleshooter is a built-in tool that checks for common update problems and fixes some automatically.

1. On Windows 11, open Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters.
2. Next to Windows Update, select Run and follow the prompts.
3. Restart and check for updates again.

On Windows 10, the troubleshooter is in Settings, then Update & Security, then Troubleshoot, then Additional troubleshooters. In newer versions of Windows, troubleshooters may open in the Get Help app instead.

Disconnect extras and pause briefly

1. Unplug external drives, docks and other USB devices you don’t need, then try again.
2. If an update keeps failing and you need the PC today, select Pause updates in Windows Update for a short time. Come back to it soon, because updates include security fixes.

If this does not work

Try these next, from easiest to hardest:

1. Install updates one at a time. Select Download & install on a single update instead of all of them, starting with security updates.
2. Update other software. Some updates need newer drivers (the small programs that let Windows talk to hardware). Get them through Windows Update’s optional updates or the PC manufacturer’s official support site, never from third-party apps that promise to update all your drivers.
3. Remove a problem update. If problems started right after an update, open Settings, then Windows Update, then Update history, then Uninstall updates, and remove the most recent one.
4. Repair Windows. In recent versions of Windows 11, Settings, then System, then Recovery offers a way to reinstall the current version of Windows using Windows Update while keeping your files and apps. Back up first.
5. Reset this PC. This is the last resort and reinstalls Windows. Follow Microsoft’s recovery guide carefully and back up everything first.

When to get professional help

Contact your PC manufacturer’s support, Microsoft Support, or a qualified technician if:

• The PC won’t start at all after an update, and Startup Repair doesn’t help.
• The same update fails again and again after you have tried every step above.
• You see warnings about drive errors, or the PC makes clicking noises.
• You need to recover files from a PC that no longer starts.

Be careful with phone calls, pop-ups or emails saying your Windows update failed and asking you to call a number or allow remote access. Microsoft doesn’t contact people that way. Never share your Microsoft account password or recovery codes.

FAQ

How long should a Windows update take?

Small monthly updates often finish within minutes, plus a restart. Larger feature updates can take much longer, especially on older PCs. If the screen hasn’t changed for several hours, it is probably stuck.

Is it safe to turn off my computer during an update?

It is best to avoid it. Windows usually recovers if you have to, by finishing or undoing the update on the next start. Only force it off after waiting a long time with no sign of progress.

Why does Windows keep saying “Undoing changes”?

An update failed to install, so Windows is putting things back the way they were. Once it finishes, check free space, run the troubleshooter and try the update again.

Can I stop Windows from updating?

You can pause updates for a while in Settings, but you shouldn’t stop them for good. Updates fix security problems that protect your files and accounts.

Will updating Windows delete my files?

Normal updates keep your files and apps. Still, back up regularly, because any major change to a computer carries a small risk.