June 5, 2017

Windows Update stuck downloading updates [SOLVED]

Troubleshoot Windows Update stuck downloading updates: It’s possible that there are available updates on your PC and as soon as you start downloading the updates they are stuck at 0%, 20% or 99% etc. Every time you try to download the updates you will stuck at different figure than the previous one and even if you leave it for 4-5 hours they will remain stuck or frozen on the same particular percentage.

Troubleshoot Windows Update stuck downloading updates

Windows update is very important in order to protect your PC from security breach such as recent WannaCrypt, Ransomware etc. And if you don’t keep your PC up to date then you risk being vulnerable to such attacks. Hence, it very important to fix Windows Update is waiting for install problem, so without wasting any time let’s see how to do that.

Windows Update stuck downloading updates [SOLVED]

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

Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

1.Type “troubleshooting” in Windows Search bar and click on Troubleshooting.

troubleshooting control panel

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

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

select windows update from troubleshoot computer problems

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

Windows Update Troubleshooter

5.Restart your PC and again try to install Updates which were stuck.

Method 2: Ensure that all services related to Windows Update 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.Right-click on each of them and make sure their Startup type is set to Automatic.

make sure their Startup type is set to Automatic.

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

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

This step is essential as it helps to Troubleshoot Windows Update stuck downloading updates issue but if you still unable to download updates then continue to the next method.

Method 3: Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder

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

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

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 folowing 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 4: Disable all Non-Microsoft services (Clean boot)

1.Press the Windows Key + R button, then type ‘msconfig’ and click OK.

msconfig

2.Under General tab under, make sure ‘Selective startup’ is checked.

3.Uncheck ‘Load startup items‘ under selective startup.

Perform Clean boot in Windows. Selective startup in system configuration

4.Select Service tab and check the box ‘Hide all Microsoft services.’

5.Now click ‘Disable all’to disable all the unnecessary services which might cause conflict.

hide all microsoft services in system configuration

6.On Startup tab, click ‘Open Task Manager.’

startup open task manager

7.Now in Startup tab (Inside Task Manager) disable all the startup items which are enabled.

disable startup items

8.Click OK and then Restart. Now again try to Update Windows and this time you will be able to successfully update your Windows.

9.Again press the Windows key + R button and type ‘msconfig’ and click OK.

10.On the General tab, select the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.

system configuration enable normal startup

11.When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart. This would definitely help you Fix Windows Update stuck downloading updates problem.

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

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

4.Next, run CHKDSK from here Fix File System Errors with Check Disk Utility(CHKDSK).

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 were helpful in troubleshooting Windows Update stuck download updates problem then as a last resort you can try to run Microsoft Fixit which seems to helpful in fixing 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 troubleshoot all the issues with Windows Updates & will fix them.

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