Windows Update stuck or failing: a safe order of fixes

Follow the steps in order and try the update again after each one. None of them touch your documents, photos or apps. Allow about 12 minutes, plus time for downloads and repairs.

1. Give the update time to finish

   Large updates can sit on one percentage for a long time while they work in the background. A screen that says Working on updates is normal for an hour or two, and longer on an older PC with a hard disk. If it is a laptop, plug in the charger.

   If the update is stuck inside Settings rather than on a full screen, you can keep using the PC. Give it 30 minutes, then carry on with step 2.

2. Make sure there is enough free space

   Too little free space is one of the most common reasons an update fails. Monthly updates need a few gigabytes; a yearly feature update can need 20 GB or more while it installs.

   Go to Settings › System › Storage and check how much of the C: drive is free. If it is low, use Temporary files on that page, empty the Recycle Bin, and move large videos and photos to an external drive. The slow PC procedure covers this in more detail.

3. Restart, then check for updates again

   A restart completes work Windows has left pending and clears a download that has stalled.

   1. Unplug USB drives, memory cards and other accessories you do not need, since setup can trip over them.
   2. Select Start › Power › Restart. Use Restart rather than Shut down, which on most PCs does not fully reset Windows.
   3. Go to Settings › Windows Update (on Windows 10, Settings › Update & Security › Windows Update) and select Check for updates.

   If it fails again, open Update history on the same page and write down the error code, such as 0x80070002. You can search for it later on Microsoft Support.

4. Pause updates, then resume them

   Pausing and resuming makes Windows Update start again with a fresh check, which often frees a download stuck at the same percentage.

   1. In Windows Update, select Pause for 1 week (on Windows 10, Pause updates for 7 days).
   2. Wait a minute, then select Resume updates.
   3. Select Check for updates if it does not start on its own.

5. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

   The troubleshooter checks the update services and settings and repairs common faults for you.

   On Windows 11, go to Settings › System › Troubleshoot › Other troubleshooters and select Run next to Windows Update. On newer builds this opens the Get Help app, which runs similar checks and asks you to confirm each one. On Windows 10, go to Settings › Update & Security › Troubleshoot › Additional troubleshooters. The wording varies between versions; if your screens differ, search Settings for troubleshoot.

   Restart when it finishes, then check for updates again.

6. Reset the update components (advanced)

   This sets aside Windows Update’s download folder, called SoftwareDistribution, so Windows downloads fresh copies of any damaged files. Windows rebuilds the folder by itself.

   1. Select Start, type cmd, and select Run as administrator. Select Yes when Windows asks for permission.
   2. Type these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
      1. net stop wuauserv
      2. net stop bits
      3. ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
      4. net start bits
      5. net start wuauserv
   3. Restart the PC and check for updates again.

   If the rename fails because the folder is in use, run the two stop commands again, then retry it. If Windows says the name already exists, use SoftwareDistribution.old2 instead.

7. Repair system files with DISM and SFC

   If Windows’ own files are damaged, updates keep failing however often you retry. Two built-in tools check and repair them. Open an administrator Command Prompt as in step 6, stay connected to the internet, and run them in this order:

   1. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. It fetches clean copies of damaged components from Windows Update. It can take 10 to 30 minutes and may pause at one percentage for a while; let it finish.
   2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. It checks the protected system files and replaces any that are damaged.
   3. Restart, then check for updates again.

8. Reinstall Windows and keep your files

   Recent versions of Windows 11 can download and reinstall the current version of Windows over itself. It keeps your files, apps and most settings, and it often clears update faults that nothing else will.

   1. Go to Settings › System › Recovery.
   2. Next to Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now, and follow the prompts.

   Plug a laptop into power and allow an hour or more. Back up your important files first, as a precaution with any reinstall.

   Windows 10 does not have this option. Windows 10 reached the end of support in October 2025, so most home Windows 10 PCs no longer receive monthly updates. If yours meets the requirements, moving to Windows 11 is the lasting fix.