Windows Update freezing is a common problem for many users, causing wasted time and work disruptions. If you are experiencing this issue, please refer to the quick and effective solutions below.
Windows Update can freeze for hours or fail to complete, preventing your computer from updating. This article guides you on how to fix this using the Troubleshooter tool and manual methods.
Reasons why Windows Update freezes
- Insufficient storage space on the computer
- Unstable internet connection
- System error due to corrupted update file
- Antivirus software or firewall blocking the update
How to fix Windows update errors
Method 1: Use the Windows Update troubleshooter.
Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select Control Panel .
Step 2: In the Control Panel window, select View by Category. Under System & Security, select Find and Fix problems.
Step 3: In the next window, select Fix problems with Windows Update .
Step 4: In the new window, select Advanced.
If you haven't already run the troubleshooter with administrator privileges, click " Run as administrator" . If you don't see this option, it means you've already run it with administrator privileges, and you can proceed to the next step.
Step 5: Check that the " Apply repairs automatically" box is checked . Then click Next.
Step 6: Windows will perform a system check and fix all errors related to Windows Update on your computer. Then click Close.
Method 2: Manually fix the error.
Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin).
Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type `net stop wuauserv` and press Enter. This command will stop Windows Update on your device. Leave the window open and proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Right-click the Start button and open File Explorer.
Step 4: Follow this path: C: drive > Windows > Software Distribution.
To be sure, you can copy the Software Distribution folder to another location on your computer to prevent errors from occurring.
Step 5: Go to the Software Distribution folder and delete all the data in this folder. Don't worry, these are just temporary files and Windows can recover them.
Step 6: After deleting all data in the Software Distribution folder, return to the Command Prompt window from step 2. Type `net start wuauserv` and press Enter.
After completion, check if you can download Windows updates for your computer again. If you don't know how to check for Windows updates, follow these steps.
How to check for Windows updates
Step 1: Click the Start button, then select the gear icon on the left to access Settings.
Step 2: In the Settings window, select Update & Security
Step 3: In the next window, select Check for updates.
Windows Update sometimes freezes or hangs, interrupting your work for hours. If this happens, you can apply the troubleshooting steps above to continue updating your operating system smoothly.
Additionally, the Windows 10 update process may encounter some common errors such as 0xC1900107 . When you encounter these errors, please refer to the troubleshooting guide from Tai Mien Phi to continue updating to the latest version.