Windows Update Stuck? How to fix it
Due to Microsoft’s attempts to keep our products as safe as possible, Windows 10 receives updates constantly. These attempts from Microsoft sometimes cause problems because some users may get stuck in any of the updates. In this tutorial, we’ll help you troubleshoot and fix Windows update stuck issues and problems.
Sometimes the process freezes and people don’t know what they could do to resume it. If you are one of these people, we bring a solution for you. In this article, we will explain the process to solve your problem if you are stuck.
The Problem: Stuck in the Windows update progress bar
Sometimes you may think you are stuck, but the update is really solving some problems and you will be jumping from 17% to 38% instantaneously after 30 minutes. For this reason, it is necessary to wait between 2 and 3 hours before knowing that you are really stuck. If you don’t see any changes on your screen after 3 hours, you can assume that your update is stuck and you can proceed with the process to repair it
Another way to know if the update is stuck is to check if there is an activity in the use of the CPU, RAM, and the network.
To do this, you must press the Ctrl + Shift + ESC buttons, in doing so, the task manager will appear. You must click More Details if you don’t see the large panel.
After this, go to the performance tab and observe the activity of the CPU, memory, disk, and internet connection. When a lot of activity appears it can mean that there is not a jam in the update process and that progress is occurring that you cannot observe.
Once you’re sure you’re stuck, you should restart your computer.
Try the normal restart
If your computer is stuck and you cannot click the start button to restart, just press Ctrl + Alt + Delete. After this, you must choose Restart from the power option in the lower right corner.
Second problem: Stuck on the blue screen
If this is your current situation, you must force the computer to shut down and then restart it. But before resorting to this option you must be totally sure that the computer is stuck. We recommend that you wait at least 3 hours to make sure it is stuck.
To force the computer, you must keep pressing the power button until it is completely off, after this you can turn it on manually.
When you turn it on again manually, it may take some time to turn on because it was forced to shut off, but don’t worry, you just have to wait a few minutes for it to be fully turned on.
Once your computer is restarted, you should do some checks and fixes to make sure that the update does not cause any kind of problem next time.
Step 1: Use the update problem solver to solve your update configuration
You must write “Troubleshooting” in the start menu, after that, you must select “Troubleshooting”.
After this, you must choose Windows Update and click Run the problem solver.
If necessary, click Try to solve problems as an administrator.
Following the process, you must choose to Apply this correction.
Finally, close the problem solver.
Step 2: Cleaning the update cache
On some occasions, the problem solver fails in the process of clearing the cache memory. To avoid this, the cache memory can be deleted in safe mode. Next, we will explain to you how to do it.
First, you must restart the computer in safe mode from System Configuration.
For this, you must write System Configuration in the start menu, once you find it, click on it.
After this, you must open the home tab and check the Minimum safe mode checkbox. Once this is done, you must click on accept.
To finish this process, choose Restart to restart your computer.
If it’s impossible to access the system configuration menu because your computer is completely stuck, then follow this process.
To start, you must interrupt the boot process three times in a row, don’t worry, this will not cause any damage to your computer. You must press and hold the power button just as you see the Windows logo, which appears after the computer manufacturer’s logo. At this time the computer will turn off, you must turn it on again and repeat the process 3 times.
After you make the interruption three times, turn on the computer without interruptions, by doing so, a message will appear below the Windows logo which says “Preparing the automatic repair”
After this, another message will appear that says “Diagnosis of your PC“, at this moment you should wait a few minutes.
At the end of the diagnosis, a screen with several options will appear; there you must choose Advanced options.
Once there, you must select Troubleshoot.
Then, go back to advanced options and select Start Settings
To finish, click on Restart.
Once this process is done, you only have to press F4 or F5 when a list of options to restart appears. Pressing F4 will restart your computer in safe mode.
If you press F5, then you will start in safe mode with a network connection.
Once you enter in safe mode, you can continue with the repair.
To continue with this process, you must type cmd in the start menu, after that, press right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator. You must click Yes to grant permission.
Once this is done, you must write some commands for the Windows Update service to stop (press Enter after each command)
- net stop wuauserv
- stop bits net
After you enter these commands, you must go to C: \ Windows \ SoftwareDistribution and delete all the folders and files that are there. You don’t have to worry, once Windows Update executes these folders and files will be created again but with less probability of causing an error.
Step 3: Still stuck in the updates? Restore the system
When the system is restored, your computer will return to a previous state. With this, you will have a new opportunity to make sure that the update works correctly avoiding any errors that may have occurred.
First, you must enter the Control Panel, when you are there, look for recovery and select restore an open system.
Click next and choose a previous restore point with which you feel safe and click on next again.
Now all you have to do is click on end and check for updates again.
Step 4: Above processes Don’t work for you? Reinstall Windows 10
If you try all the previous steps and none of them works, your last option is to reinstall Windows 10. Installing a new copy is always an excellent option and it is important for Windows Update to work without any problem.