for days now my computer has 4 updates pending but no matter what I do they are not downloading and installing. I DO have room to do s o on my hard drive. I just turned off VPN to see if it would help. OR any one else having this issue? Win 11 user

Joshua Finkel 0 Reputation points
2026-09-20T04:46:14.4933333+00:00

for days now my computer has 4 updates pending but no matter what I do they are not downloading and installing. I DO have room to do s o on my hard drive. I just turned off VPN to see if it would help. OR any one else having this issue? Win 11 user

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update
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  1. DaveM121 935.7K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-20T05:19:55.9633333+00:00

    Please provide some information about your current Windows 11 Build No. and the updates that are failing.

    1

    Click your Start Button, type winver and press Enter

    Please provide a screenshot of the resulting dialog.

    2

    Open the Settings App

    Go to Windows Updates

    Please provide a screenshot of that window

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  2. Craig Long 18,635 Reputation points
    2026-09-20T05:11:35.1333333+00:00

    You can go to this link, search for those updates by name using copy & paste, and try downloading and installing them. I did that with an update that wouldn't download completely.

    https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx

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  3. AI answer

    2026-09-20T04:46:29.8633333+00:00

    For Windows 11, try this in order:

    1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
      • Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      • Find Windows Update and select Run.
      • Follow the on-screen steps.
    2. Check the internet connection and try the update again.
      • Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi.
      • Confirm the PC is connected.
      • Then go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
    3. Restart the PC, then check again.
      • A restart can clear apps or services that are blocking the update process.
    4. If updates still will not download or install, repair Windows system files.
      • Warning: these steps require administrator permissions and command-line use.
      • Open Command Prompt as administrator.
      • Run:
             DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
        
      • Wait for the success message.
      • Then run:
             sfc /scannow
        
      • Wait until the scan reaches 100%, close Command Prompt, and try Windows Update again.
    5. If the issue continues, reset the Windows Update components.
      • Warning: these steps require administrator permissions and command-line use.
      • 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 finish.
    6. If third-party antivirus or security software is installed, temporarily uninstall it, update Windows, then reinstall it.
      • Make sure the reinstall method and any product keys are available before removing it.

    Since disk space is already available, the most relevant next steps are the Windows Update troubleshooter, restart, system file repair, and Windows Update component reset.


    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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