Computers & Windows

Windows Update Stuck or Failing – What to Do

Failed or endlessly running Windows updates are common and usually have harmless causes such as interrupted downloads or corrupted update files. First, wait 30 minutes, as some updates take a long time in the background – then restart the PC, since many updates only finish installing on reboot. Next, run the built-in troubleshooter: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update > 'Run the troubleshooter'. If that doesn't help, clear the update cache: Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Windows key, search for 'cmd', right-click > 'Run as administrator') and enter the following commands one at a time: 'net stop wuauserv', then 'ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old', then 'net start wuauserv'. After that, check for updates again – in most cases it will work now.

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