Your PC has been sitting on "Working on updates" for an hour. Or the download bar hasn't moved off 0%. Or Windows gave up and handed you a code like 0x800f0922. A Windows 11 update that's stuck or failing looks scary, but the cause is usually mundane: a nearly full drive, a damaged update cache, a service that got switched off, or a driver that doesn't like the new build.
The fixes below go from quick and harmless to more involved. Work down the list and stop as soon as the update goes through. Most steps follow Microsoft's own troubleshooting guide, with a few practical details it leaves out.
Which Kind of Stuck Do You Have?
Match what you see to the likeliest fix. If Windows shows an error code, jump to the error code table instead.
| What you see | Likely cause | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Download sits at 0% or "Pending download" | Connection, VPN or a damaged update cache | Fix 3, Fix 6 |
| Install stops somewhere between 1% and 99% | Slow disk, low space or a stalled service | Fix 1, Fix 2 |
| Stuck at 100% or "Working on updates" after a restart | Update still applying, or a file conflict | Fix 1, Fix 7 |
| "Checking for updates" never ends | Update service or clock problem | Fix 5, Fix 6 |
| "Undoing changes made to your computer" on a loop | Driver or software conflict | Fix 9, Fix 10 |
Start With the Error Code
Before you change anything, see what Windows recorded. Press Win + I, open Windows Update, then Update history. Failed updates list a KB number and an error code. Write both down. The code tells you which fix to try first, and you'll need the KB number if you end up installing the update by hand.
Quick Fixes (10 Minutes or Less)
Fix 1: Check That It's Really Stuck
If you can reach the desktop, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and look for Windows Modules Installer Worker (TiWorker.exe) in Task Manager. If it's using CPU or disk, the update is still working, just slowly. Leave it alone.
If you're stuck on the spinning dots before the desktop loads, go by time. An hour with no change on screen and no disk activity is your cue. Hold the power button for about ten seconds, wait a minute, then start the PC again. Windows usually finishes the update or rolls it back by itself. Once you're back at the desktop, run Windows Update again.
Fix 2: Free Up Disk Space
Low space is a common reason updates fail partway. Microsoft lists 20 GB free for a 64-bit upgrade. Monthly patches need less, but under 10 GB you're gambling.
- Open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files.
- Tick Windows Update Cleanup (if it's listed), Delivery Optimization Files and Temporary files. Leave Downloads unticked unless you've checked what's in that folder.
- Click Remove files.
Still tight? A disk analyzer shows what's eating the rest. WizTree reads the drive's file table directly, so it scans fast, and our list of free Windows software has more options.
Fix 3: Remove Whatever Is Getting in the Way
Unplug external drives, docks and printers, leaving only your mouse and keyboard. Turn off any VPN, since Microsoft names one as a cause of error 0x800f0922. If you run third-party antivirus, pause it, or uninstall it until the update finishes. Windows Security takes over while it's gone.
If the download still sits at 0%, check your connection. Our guide to the "No Internet, Secured" error covers that.
Fix 4: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Next to Windows Update, click Run and follow the prompts.
- Restart the PC, then check for updates again.
Microsoft now points Windows 11 users to a Get Help app version, but the Settings route is still in its guide. It won't fix everything, but it takes two minutes.
Repair Fixes (When the Quick Ones Fail)
Fix 5: Check the Clock and Update Services
A wrong date or time can block updates, because Windows checks digital certificates. Go to Settings > Time & language > Date & time, switch on Set time automatically, and press Sync now.
Next, press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter. Double-click Windows Update, Background Intelligent Transfer Service and Cryptographic Services in turn. None of them should be set to Disabled. Manual is normal for the first two, and Automatic for Cryptographic Services.
Tweak tools and debloat scripts sometimes switch these off. If the Microsoft Store won't download apps either, our Microsoft Store download fix covers the rest.
Fix 6: Reset the Windows Update Components
This throws away the cache Windows Update works from and forces a fresh one. It fixes many stubborn cases, and Microsoft lists it under advanced steps. Search for cmd in the Start menu, choose Run as administrator, then run these commands one at a time:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
net start bits
net start cryptSvc
net start wuauservRestart and check for updates. The first check takes longer while Windows rebuilds the cache, and your update history will look empty. That's expected. Once updates install normally, delete the two .bak folders to get the space back.
Rename, don't delete.
Renaming lets you undo the change if something goes wrong. Never run these commands while an update is actively installing.
Fix 7: Repair System Files With DISM and SFC
Damaged system files and a broken component store cause errors like 0x80073712 and 0x800f081f. Run these in an administrator Command Prompt, in this order:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannowDISM repairs the component store Windows draws its files from, then SFC uses it to fix system files. DISM can sit at one percentage for several minutes. Let it finish, restart, and retry the update.
Fix 8: Install the Update Manually
If Windows Update keeps failing on one specific update, skip it and grab the file yourself. Search for the KB number from Update history in the Microsoft Update Catalog, then download the version that matches your PC: x64 for most, ARM64 for Snapdragon laptops. Open the downloaded .msu file to install it.
Deep Fixes (Drivers and Repair Installs)
Fix 9: Update Drivers and Run a Clean Boot
Error 0xC1900101, or an update that ends in "Undoing changes made to your computer," usually means a driver or program clashed with the install. Get network and graphics drivers from your PC maker or the GPU vendor's site. Skip driver-updater tools, which often install the wrong package. Then try a clean boot so only Microsoft's own services run:
- Press Win + R, type
msconfigand press Enter. - On the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
- On the Startup tab, open Task Manager and disable every startup item.
- Click OK, restart, and run Windows Update.
- Once it installs, undo the changes in msconfig and Task Manager.
Fix 10: Repair-Install Windows 11 Without Losing Files
A repair install puts a fresh copy of Windows 11 over the existing one and keeps your files, apps and settings. Back up first, keep the PC plugged in, and stay online.
The easy route is built in. Open Settings > System > Recovery, find Fix problems using Windows Update and click Reinstall now. Microsoft explains the process in more detail.
If that option is greyed out, or Windows Update is too broken to run it, use Microsoft's installer instead: the Installation Assistant, or the ISO. With the ISO, mount it, run setup.exe and choose Keep personal files and apps. Match the language and edition you already have.
If setup itself fails, see our fix for Windows 11 installation error 0x8007025d. If even that goes nowhere, a clean install is the final option, and we've covered how to clean install Windows 11 without a USB drive.
Windows Update Error Codes and What to Try First
Most of these come from Microsoft's own list. A code is a clue, not a verdict, and one code can have several causes.
| Error code | Usual cause | Try first |
|---|---|---|
| 0x8007000d | Damaged update files or cache | Reset components (Fix 6) |
| 0x800705b4 | Update timed out or was interrupted | Check connection, pause antivirus (Fix 3) |
| 0x80240034 | Incomplete download or stalled update | Check services (Fix 5), run troubleshooter (Fix 4) |
| 0x800f0922 | Low space, VPN, a full system partition or .NET problems | Free space, turn off VPN (Fix 2, Fix 3) |
| 0x80070057 or 0x80080005 | Corrupted files, permissions or bad settings | Run SFC (Fix 7), then the troubleshooter |
| 0xC1900101 | Driver conflict | Update drivers, clean boot (Fix 9) |
| 0x80248014 | Update database or service not running | Start the Windows Update service (Fix 5) |
| 0x80070005 | Access denied | Use an administrator account, pause antivirus |
| 0x80070002 | Update failed to install | Restart, troubleshooter, check space (Fix 2) |
| 0x80073712 | Damaged or missing system files | DISM, then SFC (Fix 7) |
| 0x800f081f | Repair source files not found | DISM (Fix 7), then a repair install (Fix 10) |
When the Update Installs but Breaks Something
Sometimes the update goes through and something else falls over. To back it out, open Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates and remove the newest one. Our posts cover the usual aftermath: the KB5077181 boot loop and network fix, and what to do when Windows 11 runs slow after an update.
Keep Updates From Failing Again
- Keep at least 20 GB free on the system drive.
- Restart when Windows says updates are ready, instead of postponing for weeks.
- Plug laptops in before a big update starts.
- Download drivers from your PC maker or GPU vendor.
- Don't use update-blocker tools or registry hacks. They often leave services disabled.
- Don't force a shutdown during "Working on updates" before the one-hour mark.
- Don't delete files from
C:\Windowsby hand to save space.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is too long for a Windows 11 update?
Monthly updates usually finish within an hour on an SSD. Feature updates and older hard drives can take a couple of hours. If nothing changes and there's no disk activity for well over an hour, force a restart (Fix 1).
Is it safe to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder?
Yes, if the Windows Update service is stopped first. Windows rebuilds the folder, and Microsoft's own guide tells you to clear it. Renaming is safer because you can put it back. Your update history resets either way.
Why does Windows 11 keep trying the same update and failing?
The update installs, fails during the restart, rolls back, and Windows tries again later. Common causes are a driver clash, a damaged component store or security software. Try Fix 7, then Fix 9, then Fix 10.
Will a repair install delete my files?
No. Both Reinstall now and setup.exe with "Keep personal files and apps" leave your files, apps and settings in place. Back up first anyway, in case of a power cut mid-install.
Can I skip an update that won't install?
You can pause updates briefly from Settings > Windows Update, but skipping security patches for long leaves known holes open. Finding the cause is the better move.
Sources:
Microsoft Support: Troubleshoot problems updating Windows
Microsoft Support: Fix issues by reinstalling the current version of Windows
