September 6, 2017

Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

Users are reporting an issue where the Windows Update is stuck downloading the updates, or the update is frozen as there is no progress seen. Even if you leave your system downloading updates for the whole day, it will still stay stuck, and you won’t be able to update your Windows. There are many reasons as to why you are not able to download the updates, and we will try to tackle each one of them in the below fix.

Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

The installation of one or more Windows updates is probably stuck or frozen if you see one of the following messages persist for a long time:

Preparing to configure Windows.
Do not turn off your computer.

Configuring Windows updates
20% complete
Do not turn off your computer.

Please do not power off or unplug your machine.
Installing update 3 of 4…

Working on updates
0% complete
Don’t turn off your computer

Keep your PC on until this is done
Installing update 2 of 4…

Getting Windows ready
Don’t turn off your computer

Windows update is an essential feature that makes sure Windows receives critical security updates to protect your Computer from security breach such as recent WannaCrypt, Ransomware etc. And if you don’t keep your PC up to date, you risk being vulnerable to such attacks. So without wasting any time let’s see how to actually Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen issue while downloading updates with the help of below-listed troubleshooting guide.

Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Open Control Panel and search for the Troubleshoot in the search bar on the left side and click on it to open the Troubleshoot.

Search Troubleshoot and click on Troubleshooting

2. Next, from the left window, pane select View all.

Click on View all in the left pane | Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

3. Then from the Troubleshoot computer problems list select Windows Update.

select windows update from troubleshoot computer problems | Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

4. Follow on-screen instruction and let the Windows Update Troubleshoot run.

Windows Update Troubleshooter

5. Restart your PC and see if you can Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen issue.

Method 2: Make sure Windows update services are running

1. Press Windows Key + R then type “services.msc” (without quotes) and hit Enter.

services windows

2. Locate the following services:

Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
Cryptographic Service
Windows Update
MSI Installer

3. Double click on each of them and make sure their Startup type is set to Automatic.

make sure their Startup type is set to Automatic. | Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

4. Now if any of the above services are stopped, make sure to click on Start under Service Status.

5. Next, right-click on Windows Update service and select Restart.

Right-click on Windows Update Service and select Restart

6. Click Apply, followed by OK and then reboot your PC to save changes.

This step is essential as it helps to Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen issue but if you are still unable to download or install updates, then continue to the next method.

Method 3: Run System Restore

1. Press Windows Key + R and type sysdm.cpl then hit enter.

system properties sysdm

2. Select the System Protection tab and choose System Restore.

system restore in system properties

3. Click Next and choose the desired System Restore point.

system-restore | Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

4. Follow the on-screen instruction to complete system restore.

5. After reboot, you may be able to Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen issue.

Method 4: Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder

1. Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

2. Now type the following commands to stop Windows Update Services and then hit Enter after each one:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

Stop Windows update services wuauserv cryptSvc bits msiserver | Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

3. Next, type the following command to rename SoftwareDistribution Folder and then hit Enter:

ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 catroot2.old

Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder

4. Finally, type the following command to start Windows Update Services and hit Enter after each one:

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Start Windows update services wuauserv cryptSvc bits msiserver

5. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 5: Run System File Checker (SFC) and Check Disk (CHKDSK)

1. Press Windows Key + X then click on Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt with admin rights

2. Now type the following in the cmd and hit enter:

Sfc /scannow
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c: /offwindir=c:windows

SFC scan now command prompt | Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

3. Wait for the above process to finish and once done, restart your PC.

4. Next, run CHKDSK to Fix File System Errors.

5. Let the above process complete and again reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 6: Run Microsoft Fixit

If none of the above steps helped troubleshoot Windows Update stuck problem then as a last resort, you could try to run Microsoft Fixit which seems to help fix the issue.

1. Go here and then scroll down till you find “Fix Windows Update errors.

2. Click on it to download the Microsoft Fixit or else you can directly download from here.

3. Once download, double-click the file to run the Troubleshooter.

4. Make sure to click Advanced and then click “Run as administrator” option.

make sure to click Run as administrator in Windows Update Troubleshooter

5. Once the Troubleshooter will have administrator privileges; it will again open, then click on advanced and select “Apply repairs automatically.

If problem is found with Windows Update then click Apply this fix

6. Follow the on-screen instruction to complete the process, and it will automatically Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen issue.

Method 7: Perform Clean Boot

Sometimes 3rd party software can conflict with Windows Update and cause Windows Update to be Stuck or Frozen. To fix this issue, you need to perform a clean boot in your PC and diagnose the issue step by step.

Under the General tab, enable Selective startup by clicking on the radio button next to it | Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen

Method 8: Update BIOS

Sometimes updating your system BIOS can fix this error. To update your BIOS, go to your motherboard manufacturer website and download the latest BIOS version and install it.

What is BIOS and how to update BIOS

If you have tried everything but still stuck at USB device not recognized problem, see this guide: How to Fix USB Device not recognized by Windows.

Finally, I hope you have Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen issue, but if you have any questions, please ask them in the comment section.

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That’s if you have successfully Fix Windows Update Stuck or Frozen while downloading updates but if you still have any queries regarding this post feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.