How to Fix Windows Update Stuck on Windows
When an update freezes mid-download, hangs on "Installing," or loops on "Undoing changes," the pipeline is jammed — usually a corrupted cache or a stuck service. This guide unjams it: reset the update components, clear space, and if needed install the update manually to bypass the stuck queue entirely.
- ✓Resets the SoftwareDistribution/catroot2 cache so Windows rebuilds it cleanly
- ✓Restarts the BITS and Windows Update services that handle the download
- ✓Frees the disk space large feature updates need and can install the KB manually
Best for updates frozen at a percentage, stuck "Installing," or looping on "Undoing changes."
Main Troubleshooting Guide
How to Fix Windows Update Errors →Complete symptoms, causes, and step-by-step solutions
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Update stuck at 0%, 27%, 45%, or 99% for over an hour
- •Download progress bar not moving or resetting repeatedly
- •"Preparing to install" or "Installing" spinning for hours
- •Restart loop with "Undoing changes made to your computer"
- •Update history shows the same update failing repeatedly
- •"Pending restart" that never completes the installation
- •Windows Update settings page unresponsive or refuses to check for updates
Give a stuck update real time first — feature updates can genuinely sit at 0% or 99% for 30–60 minutes. If it has not moved in well over an hour, or it is looping on "Undoing changes," the pipeline is jammed and the fixes below apply.
What RescuePC checks for a stuck update
RescuePC runs the update-recovery sequence in order — services, cache, disk space, integrity — so you do not have to memorize the net stop/ren/net start commands.
- →Stops the update services and renames the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 caches
- →Restarts BITS, Windows Update, and Cryptographic Services in the correct order
- →Checks free disk space (feature updates need 20+ GB) and clears update leftovers
- →Runs DISM/SFC to repair the component store that installs updates
- →Surfaces the stuck KB number so you can install it manually from the catalog
This is most useful when an update has been frozen for well over an hour or repeatedly fails and rolls back.
When These Fixes Resolve It
- ✓An update has been frozen at a percentage for well over an hour
- ✓Windows loops on "Undoing changes" after a failed update
- ✓The same KB keeps failing or rolling back
- ✓The update pipeline is unresponsive or won't check for updates
These are cache, service, disk-space, and component-store faults — exactly what resetting the update components, restarting BITS, freeing space, and DISM/SFC repair.
When to Wait or Look Elsewhere
Not every "stuck" update is actually stuck:
- ⚠It has been under an hour — large feature updates legitimately sit at 0%/99%
- ⚠Disk activity is still high (the update is working, just slowly on an HDD)
- ⚠The PC repeatedly BSODs during the update (suspect drivers or hardware, not the update)
Common Causes
- ⚠Corrupted SoftwareDistribution or catroot2 cache
- ⚠Insufficient disk space on the system drive for large feature updates
- ⚠Third-party antivirus or firewall blocking update downloads
- ⚠Windows Update or BITS service stuck in a bad state
- ⚠Network interruption or metered connection throttling downloads
- ⚠Conflicting pending updates queued in wrong order
- ⚠Component store (WinSxS) corruption preventing installation
Solutions
Solution 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
- 1Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (Windows 11)
- 2Or Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot (Windows 10)
- 3Run "Windows Update" troubleshooter
- 4Apply any recommended fixes and restart
- 5Retry the update — troubleshooter fixes most service and cache issues automatically
Solution 2: Reset Windows Update Components
- 1Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- 2Stop services: net stop wuauserv && net stop cryptSvc && net stop bits && net stop msiserver
- 3Rename cache: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- 4Rename catroot: ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
- 5Restart services: net start wuauserv && net start cryptSvc && net start bits && net start msiserver
- 6Try the update again — this forces Windows Update to rebuild its cache from scratch
Solution 3: Manually Install the Stuck Update
- 1Note the KB number from the stuck update (e.g., KB5034441)
- 2Go to catalog.update.microsoft.com in your browser
- 3Search for the KB number
- 4Download the version matching your system (x64 for most modern PCs)
- 5Run the downloaded .msu file to install manually
- 6This bypasses the stuck Windows Update pipeline entirely
Solution 4: Free Up Disk Space
- 1Open Settings > System > Storage
- 2Run Storage Sense or click "Temporary files"
- 3Check "Windows Update Cleanup," "Temporary files," and "Previous Windows installations"
- 4Delete selected files — feature updates like 23H2/24H2 need 20+ GB free
- 5Also run Disk Cleanup > "Clean up system files" for deeper cleanup
- 6Retry the stuck update after freeing space
Solution 5: Restart BITS and Windows Update Services
- 1Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
- 2Find "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" — right-click > Restart
- 3Find "Windows Update" — right-click > Restart
- 4Find "Cryptographic Services" — right-click > Restart
- 5If any service won't start: right-click > Properties > set Startup type to Automatic, then reboot
- 6BITS handles the actual file downloads — if it's stuck, updates hang at 0%
Solution 6: Repair System Files with DISM
- 1Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- 2Run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- 3Wait for completion (may take 15-30 minutes)
- 4Run: sfc /scannow
- 5Restart and retry the update
- 6DISM repairs the component store that Windows Update depends on for installation
Fix a Windows Update stuck downloading or installing — the exact commands
When an update freezes at a percentage, the download cache is usually half-written and locked. This clears just the stuck download files and restarts the transfer services. Run elevated.
net stop wuauserv && net stop bitsStops the Windows Update and Background Intelligent Transfer services holding the frozen download.
del /f /s /q %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\*.*Deletes only the partially-downloaded, stuck update files (keeps your update history).
net start wuauserv && net start bitsRestarts the services so the update re-downloads cleanly from scratch.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthRepairs the component store in case the stuck update left it inconsistent.
Re-check Windows Update and let it re-download. If it sticks at the same point again, that is a component-store problem — the exact case RescuePC repairs and logs end to end.
Where Is the Update Stuck?
Frozen mid-download (0%, 27%, 99%) for over an hour
Likely cause: A corrupted cache or hung BITS service
Loops on "Undoing changes made to your computer"
Likely cause: A failing update or component-store corruption
"We couldn't complete the updates" / not enough space
Likely cause: Insufficient disk space for a feature update
One specific KB fails every time
Likely cause: A bad cached copy — install that KB manually
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Unjam the Update Pipeline
A stuck update is a jammed cache or service — resetting the components clears it without reinstalling Windows.
- →Frozen >1h = reset update components
- →"Undoing changes" loop = DISM/SFC + reset
- →Not enough space = free 20+ GB
- →One KB always fails = install it manually