How to Fix Stuck Windows 10 Update

By: Waseem Patwegar

If your Computer is stuck, frozen and struggling to install a Windows Update, you
will find the steps to fix Stuck Windows 10 Update on your computer.

Fix Stuck Windows 10 Update

Stuck Windows 10 Update

Ideally, your computer should be downloading and installing Updates silently in the
background, allowing you to use your computer without any interruption.

However, this may not always happen and many frustrated users have reported about
Windows Update being stuck forever at Working on updates, Don�t Turn off your
computer message.

In such cases, Windows update can get stuck at 0%, anywhere from 55% to 99% and
sometimes it can it shows as being stuck at 105%!
1. Force Shut Down and Restart

Major Windows Updates are can be quite large in size and and it takes a long time
to download and install major Windows updates on your computer.

Hence, it is always a good idea to be patient and give your computer enough time to
download and install the updates.

However, if your computer is stuck forever at �Working on updates� message, it is

time to Force Shut down your Computer by pressing and holding the Power button.

Restart the computer after 10 minutes and see if it boots up as usual to the Login
screen. If it does, you can follow the methods as listed below.

If your computer does not go to the Login screen and starts updating again, you
will have to boot your computer in Safe Mode and try to fix the problem.
2. Check For Updates

After restarting the computer, go to Settings > Update & Security > and click on
Check For Updates.

Check For Updates Option in Windows 10

Hopefully, this time your computer should be able to Install the update.
3. Use The Troubleshooter

Follow the steps below to fix Update problems on your computer using the built-in
Troubleshooter as available on your computer.

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security

2. Next, click on Troubleshoot > Windows Update > Run Troubleshooter.

Troubleshoot Windows Update Problems

3. If prompted, enter your Admin Password.

4. Wait for Windows to find and fix problems related to Windows Update on your
computer.
Most of the times the Troubleshooter is able to identify and fix Windows Update
problems.
4. Delete Windows Update Cache File

It is possible that Windows Update problem on your computer is due to Windows

Update Cache folder being filled with old update files.

This issue can be fixed by going to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and deleting

all the Files and Folders in this location.

1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin).

Open Command Prompt Admin in Windows 10

2. In the Command Prompt Window, type net stop wuauserv and press the Enter key.
This command will stop the Windows Update Service on your computer.

Stop Windows Update Service Using Command Prompt

Note: Do not close the Command Prompt Window, leave it open and move to step 3
below.

3. Next, right-click on the Start button and click on File Explorer

File Explorer Option in Windows 10

4. In the File Explorer window, navigate to This PC (Or Local Disk (C:)) > Windows
Folder.

Windows Folder in Local Disk of Windows 10 Computer

5. In the Windows Folder, open SoftwareDistribution Folder.

SoftwareDistribution Folder in Windows 10

Note: Just to be on the safe side, copy �SoftwareDistribution� folder to your

desktop as a backup

6. In SoftwareDistribution Folder, select and Delete all Files located in

SoftwareDistribution Folder.

Files located in Windows 10 SoftwareDistribution Folder

Note: These are just temporary files and Windows 10 will create them again from
scratch.

7. After deleting Files in SoftwareDistribution folder, restart Windows Update

service by typing net start wuauserv in the Command Prompt Window and pressing the
Enter Key.

Start Windows Update Service Using Command Prompt

After this go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on Check
for Updates button.

Check For Updates Option in Windows 10

Hopefully, this time you should be able to install Updates on your computer