Troubleshoot problems updating Windows 10

In Windows 10, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. This article will help you answer questions and troubleshoot common problems with your Windows 10 update.

If you’re looking for info on how to activate Windows 10 or to verify that your installation of Windows 10 is activated, see Activate Windows 10.

Have issues installing Windows updates? Start here.

Your device may not be able to update to the latest version of Windows 10 for a few reasons. The following tips can help you pinpoint the issue affecting your device.

Before you begin, make sure your device is plugged into a power source and connected to the internet. Then, try the steps listed below to get your PC to update.

Some updates require administrator access. If your account doesn’t have administrator access, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10. Or if someone else at home or in your office has an administrator account on your device, try asking them to install the updates.

Before trying any of the solutions below, make sure you back up your personal files. You can use File History to back up your files to another drive, or insert a USB drive and use File Explorer to drag and copy important files to the USB drive. If you’re signing into Windows with a Microsoft account, your system settings will be automatically restored after updating, once you’re connected to the internet.

You can also back up your files with OneDrive. For more info, go to Back up your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive.

Make sure that your device has enough space. Your device requires at least 16 GB of free space to upgrade a 32-bit OS, or 20 GB for a 64-bit OS. If your device has a small hard drive, you may need to insert a USB drive to update it.

If your PC is running low on storage, try the techniques at Free up drive space in Windows 10.

Many updates require you to restart your device. Save your work and close all open applications. Then, select Start > Power , and select either Update and restart or Update and shut down.

Even if you have downloaded some updates, there may be more available. After trying the preceding steps, run Windows Update again by selecting Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. Download and install any new updates.

Remove any external storage devices and drives, docks, and other hardware plugged into your device that aren’t needed for basic functionality. Then try to run updates again and see if this resolved your issue. If it didn’t, continue to the next tip.

If you’ve added hardware to your device, check for third-party driver updates and installation instructions on the hardware manufacturer’s website. Update any drivers, then try to run updates again and see if this resolved your issue. If it didn’t, continue to the next tip.

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select Device Manager from the list of results.

In the window that appears, look for any device with a yellow exclamation mark next to it. (You may have to select each category to view the list of devices.) Select the device name.

Select Action, and then choose either Update driver or Uninstall to correct the errors.

Common troubleshooting questions

If you are receiving an error message with a specific error code, try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, see Fix Windows Update errors and follow the instructions to help resolve common update issues.

The time required to download and install updates depends on connection speed, network settings, and the size of the update. If the installation remains stuck at the same percentage, try checking for updates again or running the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

To check for updates, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

To get help, in the search box on the task bar, type get help, then select Get Help from the list of results. To leave feedback if you run into further problems, in the search box on the taskbar, type feedback hub, then select Feedback Hub from the list of results.

Windows 10 is the most secure Windows ever, and we recommend you stay updated to protect your PC from security risks and to keep it running smoothly. However, you can temporarily pause updates as well as schedule a restart to install updates at a time that’s convenient for you.
Learn how to temporarily pause updates
Find out how to schedule a restart to install updates at a convenient time

You will only receive a notification when it’s time to restart your computer to apply the installed updates.

If you need to know where you left off in your work after an update, use Timeline to jump back in.

To get started with Timeline, select Task View on the taskbar, or press the Windows logo key +Tab and select the activity you want to resume.

Monthly quality updates on Windows 10 are quite small and have a minimal impact on data usage. Feature updates typically happen twice per year, and you can control when to install them. They require more data but are less frequent.

If you’re on a metered connection, some updates for Windows won’t be installed automatically. Metered connections in Windows 10

Your computer might be slow for a number of reasons, but updating to the latest version of Windows 10 can improve its performance. For help with a slow computer, see Tips to improve PC performance in Windows 10.

If you’re having trouble finding your files after an upgrade, see Find lost files after the upgrade to Windows 10 for other things to try.

Warning: Microsoft only recommends trying the procedures in this section if you’re comfortable working in the command line. These procedures require administrator permissions on your device.

In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, then select Run as administrator from the list of options. Select Yes. Next, in the window that appears, type the following commands one at a time, including the spaces as shown. After you type each command, press Enter. Then let each command complete before you type the next command.

net stop wuauserv

ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak

ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak

net start wuauserv

After all these commands are completed, close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer.

In some instances, third-party antivirus or security software can cause errors when you try to update to the latest version of Windows 10. You can temporarily uninstall this software, update your PC, and then reinstall the software after your device is up to date. We recommend using third-party antivirus or security software that’s compatible with the latest version of Windows 10. You can check compatibility by visiting the software manufacturer’s website.

Note: Before uninstalling software, make sure you know how to reinstall your programs and that you have any necessary product keys.

In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, and then select Run as administrator from the list of options. Select Yes. In the window that appears, type the following command, including the space as shown:
chkdsk/f C:
and then press Enter. Repairs will automatically start on your hard drive, and you’ll be asked to restart your device.

A clean restart starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update that may cause issues updating your PC.
Learn how to do a clean restart

In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt, then select Run as administrator from the list of options.

In the window that appears, type this command including spaces as shown:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Press Enter. When the command operation has run successfully, you’ll see a confirmation message from Command Prompt that says, “The restore operation completed successfully” or “The operation completed successfully”.
Note: If you don’t see a confirmation message, retype the command and try again.

Next, type this command, including the space as shown:
sfc /scannow

Press Enter. Wait until the sfc scan verification reaches 100% completion, and then close Command Prompt.

Try running the Windows Update again.

Go to the software download page and select Download tool now to download the clean installation tool. Make sure to carefully read the notes on the software download page before using the tool.

Still stuck?

Contact Microsoft support if you continue to have problems with your Windows updates.

Full Fix: Windows 10 automatic update problems

• Updates for your Windows 10 computer are very important. That’s why, having updates downloaded and installed automatically makes it that much easier to maintain your system.
• If automatic updates are getting stuck or fail to install, running the troubleshooter, making sure there is enough disk space or checking your security software are the most common ways to deal with this.
• Keeping an updated Windows is one of the most recommended best practice. The next one is usually around using an antivirus. Luckily we have just the right list of the best antivirus software available.
• We think that having a centralized place for all Windows 10 errors can be very useful. Check it out.

1. Download Restoro PC Repair Tool that comes with Patented Technologies (patent available here).
2. Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.
3. Click Repair All to fix issues affecting your computer’s security and performance

• Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

Windows 10 installs the missing updates automatically, but sometimes you might encounter automatic update problems on your PC. These problems can leave your system vulnerable, so today we’ll show you how to fix them.

Automatic update problems on Windows 10, how to fix them?

Windows Update is an important part of Windows 10, but sometimes you might encounter automatic update problems. Speaking of these issues, here are some common problems that users reported:

• Windows Update not working Windows 10 – This is a common problem that can occur with Windows 10, and it’s usually caused by your antivirus, so be sure to disable it.
• Windows 10 automatic update error – There are various automatic update errors that can occur on Windows 10, and if you encounter them, just run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
• Windows 10 automatic update is stuck, taking forever – Stuck updates are a common problem on Windows 10, and if waiting for update process to finish doesn’t help, you can always try disconnecting the external storage.
• Automatic update service is not running – This issue can occur if there’s a problem with Windows Update components, however, you can fix the problem simply by restarting the necessary components.

Solution 1 – Check your antivirus

According to users, the most common issue with automatic updates can be your antivirus software. In some cases, the antivirus can interfere with your system and cause various problems with Windows Update.

To fix the problem, it’s advised to disable certain antivirus features and check if that helps. If that doesn’t work, your next step would be to disable your antivirus altogether. In the worst case scenario, you might even have to remove your antivirus.

If removing the antivirus solves the issue, you might want to consider switching to a different security software. There are many great antivirus tools on the market, and if you want maximum protection that won’t interfere with your system, then you should consider using Bitdefender.

Solution 2 – Change Windows Update settings

1. Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by pressing Windows Key + I shortcut.
2. When Settings app opens, go to Update & Security section.
   
3. Navigate to Advanced options.
   
4. Now disable Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows option.
   
5. Scroll down and navigate to Delivery Optimization section.
   
6. Locate Allow downloads from other PCs option and disable it.
   

If you’re having automatic update problems on Windows 10, you might be able to fix them by making a couple of changes to the Windows Update settings. After making these changes, check if the problems with automatic updates are resolved.

Solution 3 – Free up some space

1. Press Windows Key + S and enter disk cleanup. Choose Disk Cleanup from the list of results.
   
2. Select your system drive and click OK.
   
3. Disk Cleanup will now scan your drive. This can take a couple of seconds, so don’t interrupt it.
   
4. When Disk Cleanup window opens, you’ll see a list of files. Select the files you want to remove and click OK.
   

Issues with automatic updates can occur due to lack of space on your PC, and in order to fix that, it’s advised to free up some space on your system drive. The updates require at least 20GB free on your system drive, and if you don’t have space, you’ll need to free it up as described above.

The application will now remove the selected files and you’ll successfully free up some space. If you’re not a fan of Disk Cleanup, you can also use third-party tools such as CCleaner to free up more space on your PC.

After freeing up space, try to install Windows Updates again.

Solution 4 – Disconnect USB storage devices

Many users use portable hard drives and other USB storage devices to store their files, but sometimes these devices can interfere with Windows Update and cause issues with automatic updates.

Run a System Scan to discover potential errors

To fix this problem, it’s advised that you disconnect all external storage devices from your PC and check if that solves the problem.

Solution 5 – Run Windows Update troubleshooter

According to users, if you have problems with automatic updates, the best way to fix them is to run Windows Update troubleshooter. Windows comes with many built-in troubleshooters that can fix common problems, and if you have problems with Windows Updates, you can fix the issue by doing the following:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
2. Select Troubleshoot from the left pane. Select Windows Update from the list and click Run the troubleshooter button.
   

The troubleshooter will now start and try to fix the problems automatically. Once the troubleshooter is finished, check if the problem is resolved.

Solution 6 – Reset Windows Update components

Sometimes problems with the automatic update can occur because certain Windows Update components aren’t working properly. However, you can fix that by resetting them. There are several ways to do that, but the fastest one is to use the command line. To do that, just follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) from the list.
   
2. Once

1. Command Prompt starts, run the following commands one by one:

• net stop wuauserv
• net stop cryptSvc
• net stop bits
• net stop msiserver
• Ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
• Ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
• net start wuauserv
• net start cryptSvc
• net start bits
• net start msiserver

After running all these commands, the Windows Update components will reset and the issue should be resolved.

Solution 7 – Disable your proxy

Many users use proxy in order to protect their privacy online, but sometimes your proxy can interfere with your Internet connection and cause automatic update problems. However, you can easily fix this issue by disabling your proxy. This is pretty easy to do, and you can do it by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app. Now select Network & Internet.
   
2. Navigate to Proxy in the left pane. In the right pane disable all options.

Once you do that, the proxy should be completely disabled on your PC and problems with automatic updates will be resolved. If you’re still concerned about your privacy, we suggest that you try using a VPN. There are many great VPN tools, and one of the best is CyberGhost VPN (77% off), so be sure to try it out.

Solution 8 – Download the missing update manually

If you’re having automatic update problems, you might be able to circumvent them simply by downloading and installing the missing updates manually. All Windows updates are available for download from Microsoft Catalog, and you can download them for free.

Before you can download the missing update, you need to know its update code. The update code starts with KB and it’s followed by an array of numbers, and you can usually find it in the Windows Update section. Once you find the update code, you can download the update by doing the following:

1. Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website and enter the update code in the search box.
2. You should now see the list of matching updates. Pick the update that uses the same architecture as your PC and click the Download button.
   
3. Wait while the update is downloaded. Once the download is finished, run the setup file to install the update.

Keep in mind that this solution might not fix the core problem with Windows Update, but at least it will allow you to install the missing update.

Solution 9 – Perform an in-place upgrade

If other solutions didn’t fix the automatic update problems on your PC, you might have to perform an in-place upgrade. This process will install the latest version of Windows while keeping all your files and applications intact. To perform an in-place upgrade, do the following:

1. Download and run Media Creation Tool.
2. Select Upgrade this PC now option in Windows Media Creation Tool.
3. Wait while the setup prepares the necessary files.
4. Select Download and install updates (recommended) and click Next.
5. The setup will now download the updates. This can take a while so be patient.
6. Once the updates are downloaded, follow the instructions on the screen. Once you reach Ready to install screen click Change what to keep.
7. Select Keep personal files and apps and click Next.
8. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

After performing the in-place upgrade, you’ll have the latest version of Windows 10 and the problem with the automatic update should be fixed.