How to Fix Windows Update Stuck on Download after Windows 10 Upgrade

Rick Akura on
If your updates are stuck downloading (1% or 99%) you can use the methods in this article to fix the problem and download new Windows 10 updates.

If your updates are stuck downloading (1% or 99%) you can use the methods in this article to fix the problem and download new Windows 10 updates.

Windows 10 is a great operating system with many benefits, but Windows Update can be frustrating at times. Windows Update may get stuck downloading new Windows 10 updates after you upgrade to Windows 10. This issue is common and can be fixed by following the steps in this article.

If your Windows Updates are stuck downloading (for example, they're stuck on 1% or 99% and won’t move even after hours) then these techniques will help fix the problem and download new Windows 10 updates!

How to Fix Windows Update Stuck on Download after Windows 10 Upgrade

Table of Contents 

Fix Windows Update stuck on downloading in Windows 10

Find out how you can fix that annoying problem of Windows update getting stuck downloading updates. This is a common issue with the new operating system, and it can be fixed by following the steps below.

Method 1. Restart your device

Here's a quick fix to the most common computer issues: simply restarting your system. Here are simple instructions for how to do this on Windows 10.

  1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left of your screen to bring up the Start menu.
  2. Click on the Power option, and then choose Restart. This is going to close all of your open applications and completely restart your computer.
    restart yur device
  3. After your computer has restarted, see if you’re able to download any pending Windows 10 updates.

Make sure to give your computer some time after starting an update download process. Some updates take longer to download due to their size. You may also have turned on download limits — make sure to turn this off to remove the cap from your update download speed.

Method 2. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with a collection of troubleshooting tools designed to resolve issues without requiring an IT professional. While these are not perfect, they can help diagnose problems in your system.

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type Control Panel in the search box. When you see it in the results, click on it to launch the application.
    windows update troubleshooter
  3. Search for Troubleshoot using the input field on the top right, and then click on the Troubleshooting header from the search results.
    troubleshooter
  4. Click on the View all link in the left-side pane. This is going to take you to a new page with every available troubleshooter displayed.
    control panel
  5. Scroll down and locate the Windows Update troubleshooter. Click on it once, and then wait for the troubleshooter to launch in a different window.
    windows update
  6. Click Next to begin the Windows Update problem analysis. If the troubleshooter can diagnose any problem, it will then attempt to fix the issue.
    windows update
  7. You can see a full report at the end of the troubleshooting process.

Method 3. Reset Windows Update components

Sometimes Windows Update gets corrupted, which is why you need to reset it. You'll be able to install previously stuck updates without any problems after doing so!

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.
    command prompt
  3. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
  4. First, you need to stop 4 services that may be running on your device. To do this, input the commands below in the following order, pressing the Enter key on your keyboard after each line:
    net stop wuauserv
    net stop cryptSvcnet stop bits
    net stop msiserver
    command pro,pt
  5. After this, you need to rename 2 system folders. Renaming them creates a backup in case something goes wrong during the new folder generation. Similarly to the previous step, press Enter after inputting these commands:
    ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
    command prompt
  6. The last step is restarting all the services you turned off previously. This can be done from the Command Prompt as well, just press Enter after each command:
    net start wuauserv
    net start cryptSvc
    net start bits
    net start msiserver
  7. Close the Command Prompt interface and try to run a Windows Update. You may need to restart your computer before you’re able to get past the downloading stage.

Method 4. Restore corrupted system files

Corrupted systems files can cause massive problems with your operating system. One of the leading causes of Windows Update errors in file corruption. You can identify and repair faulty system files through the SFC scan and the DISM tool.

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool to help troubleshoot in Windows 10. It's able to automatically detect corrupted system files, and repair them to working order. You can use the SFC scan to potentially fix a variety of errors.

The DISM tool also allows you to identify and fix corruption issues with your system by simply running commands in the Command Prompt application. It checks for corruption system-wide and automatically attempts to restore damaged or missing files.

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.
    command prompt
  3. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
  4. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: sfc /scannow
    command prompt > Sfc/ scannow
  5. Wait for the System File Checker to finish scanning your computer. If any discrepancy is detected, the utility will restore the necessary system files and attempt to fix all errors related to them.
  6. Next, start the DISM scan. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
    dism
  7. Next, you need to execute a command to fix any issues found on your system. Simply type in the following line and press Enter again: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
    command prompt - DISM
  8. Wait for the process to finish. Upon completion, close the Command Prompt window and restart your device. 

The SFC scan and DISM tool may take some time to run through your system and identify any missing or corrupted system files. Even if the scans fail to find anything, some users have reported that their PC's functionality improved after running the commands above.

Method 5. Make a batch file to apply a quick fix

The following script is a quick way to run multiple commands in one go. How well it works depends on changes Windows has experienced from previous updates and what your computer's current condition is like. Use the batch file at your own risk!

  1. Download the batch file created by SoftwareKeep to easily be able to run it. This file is completely safe to download and contains no malware, so it’s safe to have on your disk even if you decide to skip this method.
  2. Alternatively, you can create the batch file manually. To do this, click here and copy the contents of the page first.
    batch file
  3. Open the Notepad application, and paste the contents you copied. You can do this by right-clicking on any empty space and choosing Paste from the context menu, or using the Ctrl + V shortcut.
    batch file
  4. Navigate to File → Save as. In the new window, erase the file name and type in UpdateFix.bat and then change the file type to All Files (*.*). Save the file somewhere you can easily access.
    batch file
  5. After saving the file, navigate to its location in File Explorer. Right-click on the UpdateFix.bat file (or the SoftwareKeepUpdateFix.bat file if you downloaded our premade one), and then choose Run as administrator from the context menu.
    batch file
  6. Wait for the batch file to finish running, and then test if you’re able to update Windows 10 without the download getting stuck.

Method 6. Use the System Restore tool

If you or your system created a restore point before the audio issues appear, you’ll be able to return your system to that state. This could fix errors with the Windows Update getting stuck in the download stage.

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type in System Restore and click on Recovery from the search results. This should be on the top, in the Best match category.
    system restore
  3. You’ll be taken to the Control Panel. Here, click on the Open System Restore link that can be seen in the Advanced recovery tools section.
    system restore
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore a past point in time. You can select a restore point yourself, or use the recommended one if Windows 10 shows the option. Don’t forget to check what files and applications will be affected!
    system restore
  5. After choosing the options you’re happy with, click on the Finish button and wait for Windows 10 to restore your computer.
  6. After the restoration process is complete, check if you’re able to download and install a new Windows 10 update.

Method 7. Reset or reinstall Windows 10

If nothing above worked, your issue may only be fixed if you reset or reinstall Windows 10. Depending on your preferences, you may reinstall the system without losing any personal files. Unfortunately, most of your applications and system configuration will be deleted to give your device a fresh start.

Check our How to Install Windows 10, 8.1, or 7 Using a Bootable USB guide for detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to install Windows 10. For refresh and reset instructions, head to the official Microsoft support page.

Final thoughts

Congratulations on upgrading to Windows 10 — don’t let this mishap hinder your experience. Every operating system has its errors and quirks, some of which cause updates to be stuck downloading. Luckily, we are always here to help you.

We hope that the methods above were able to guide you in successfully resolving this common problem, and prevent it from happening again in the future.

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Tags: Troubleshooting