Try these steps in order for a Windows 11 update that fails, gets stuck, or does not complete:
- Run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run.
- Follow the on-screen steps.
- Restart the PC, then check for updates again.
- Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- This is especially recommended if Windows Update is stuck at 0% or 100%.
- Check internet connectivity.
- Go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi.
- Confirm the device is connected. If disconnected, reconnect and try the update again.
- Check free disk space.
- Windows requires at least 16 GB free space for a 32-bit OS or 20 GB for a 64-bit OS to upgrade.
- If storage is low, free space and retry.
- If the update is stuck between 51% and 99%, run Check for updates again or run the Windows Update troubleshooter again.
- Repair system files.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth - Wait for the success message.
- Then run:
sfc /scannow - Wait until verification reaches 100%, then try Windows Update again.
- If the problem continues, reset Windows Update components. This uses administrator commands and should be done carefully.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Run these commands one at a time:
net stop bits net stop wuauserv ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak net start bits net start wuauserv - Restart the PC after the commands complete.
- Check whether third-party antivirus or security software is interfering.
- Temporarily uninstall or disable it, update Windows, then reinstall it after the device is up to date.
- Make sure any required product keys or reinstall information are available before uninstalling.
- Repair hard drive errors if needed. This requires administrator access and restarts the device.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Run:
chkdsk /f C:
- Remove nonessential external hardware before retrying the update.
- Unplug items such as USB drives, printers, scanners, speakers, and external hard drives.
If Windows shows “We couldn't complete the updates. Undoing changes” or “Failure configuring Windows Updates. Reverting changes”, check the failed update’s error code in:
- Start > Settings > Windows Update > Update history
That error code can be used to identify the exact cause.
References: