Windows 8 Apps not downloading. All stuck on pending.

Anonymous
2012-12-22T14:29:15+00:00

I just received a brand new Windows 8 laptop. Right out of the box, a bunch of apps want to update but they all get stuck on "pending" and will not download. I'm very disappointed at the lack of "out of the box" workability. How can I get these apps to update and download?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Microsoft Store

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2012-12-29T00:03:19+00:00

I found these steps on a different thread and gave them a try, and afterwards my updates downloaded and installed fine.  Forcing the update service to create a new SoftwareDistribution folder seemed to resolve the issue:

  1. Open an administrative command prompt (go to the Start screen, type "cmd", right-click on Command Prompt and hit "Run as administrator")
  2. Type the following four commands in the command prompt:
  3. net stop wuauserv

cd %systemroot%

ren SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

net start wuauserv 4. Try to install updates again.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

145 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-20T01:59:44+00:00

    worked for me thx.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-19T11:53:07+00:00

    I found these steps on a different thread and gave them a try, and afterwards my updates downloaded and installed fine.  Forcing the update service to create a new SoftwareDistribution folder seemed to resolve the issue:

    1. Open an administrative command prompt (go to the Start screen, type "cmd", right-click on Command Prompt and hit "Run as administrator")
    2. Type the following four commands in the command prompt:
    3. net stop wuauserv

    cd %systemroot%

    ren SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

    net start wuauserv 4. Try to install updates again.

    This fixed the issue for me on my Boss's Win 8.1 Laptop.

    Many Thanks!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-19T01:07:50+00:00

    ren SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old said that access denied, but did everything else and went to download and said could not be downloaded, then said try again and said there was updates.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-03-06T22:26:25+00:00

    I tried this now everytime I try and install an app it says pending strait away

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments