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FIX: Windows 10/11 update hangs

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

In order to keep your system stable and protected,Windows 10automatically performs all the necessary updates in the background.

DownloadingWindows Updatesis rather important, but many users reported thatWindows 10Update hangs for some strange reason.

This seems like a big problem, but fortunately, there are several ways to fix it.

What can I do if Windows 10 update hangs?

Table of contents:

1. Stop Windows Update services and delete SoftwareDistribution folder

Now you need to navigate toC:WindowsSoftwareDistributionfolder. After you enterSoftwareDistributionfolder, select all files and folders and move them to a safe location, for example to your Desktop.

In case some of these files are still in use, just restart your device and repeat all the steps again.

After you’ve managed to move all the files and folder fromSoftwareDistributionfolder you need to restart your computer once again and check if the Windows update still hangs.

Here is everything you need to know about Update Settings in Windows 10.

2. Be patient and wait for the update to finish

Sometimes these updates can take a long time to download, and Windows Update might seem stuck to you, but it’s actually working slowly in the background.

IfWindows 10Update hangs, leave your computer running over the night, and if everything is working correctly there should be some progress by the morning.

If the issue still persists, you might want to try some of our other solutions.

Why is Windows update taking so long? Maybe there’s a problem! Check these solutions!

3. Use Windows Update troubleshooter

After running Windows Update troubleshooter, check if Windows Update still hangs on Windows 10.

4. Restart your network connection

After you’ve enabled your network connection again, the issue should be resolved. In addition, you could try unplugging your Ethernet cable or try restarting your computer a few times.

In most cases, Windows Update isn’t actually stuck, it’s just working slowly, so ifWindows 10Update hangs on your computer, maybe it’s best for you to be patient and wait for it to download all the necessary components.

If you’re certain that update process is stuck, you could try restarting the Windows Update service and delete its cache files.

5. Run the SFC scan

Epic guide alert! Everything you need to know about System File Checker is right here!

6. Run DISM

Check out this guide and learn to work in DISM like a real technician!

7. Disable your antivirus

Third-party antivirus programs don’t go along withWindows updates(and otherWindows 10features). So, it’s quite possible that your antivirus is actually blocking the update.

To see if that’s indeed the case, disable your antivirus for a couple of minutes. If the update finishes installing, your problem is solved.

Delete the update and try again

After doing that, check if the Windows 10 update still hangs.

Need more information on how to delete the Windows update? Check out this guide!

9. Restart Windows Update service

And finally, if none of the previous solutions worked, let’s restart the Windows Update service. Here’s how to do that:

In addition to this problem, many users reported thatWindows Update isn’t working on Windows 10, and if you have that problem, you might want to check some of our other articles.

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FIX: Windows 10/11 update hangs#

What can I do if Windows 10 update hangs?#

1. Stop Windows Update services and delete SoftwareDistribution folder#

2. Be patient and wait for the update to finish#

3. Use Windows Update troubleshooter#

4. Restart your network connection#

5. Run the SFC scan#

6. Run DISM#

7. Disable your antivirus#

9. Restart Windows Update service#