How to Fix a Windows Update Pending Install (SOLVED)

Windows updates install in several steps; Windows 10 checks for updates, it downloads them, and then it installs them. Normally, the only thing blocking an update from installing is the system being in use i.e., within Active Hours, or a shortage of disk space.

Windows Update Pending Install (Tutorial)

Windows 10 updates can fail to install or the installation may not start at all. This may or may not be a bug but regardless of the reason behind it, the problem is easy to fix.

1. Restart the system

Windows 10 updates do not all install concurrently. Some updates may need to install before other updates can be installed. If you’ve installed updates that require a system restart, the pending restart may be preventing other updates from installing.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click the power button.
3. Select Update and restart.
4. Once you’re back on the desktop, open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
5. Go to Update and Security.
6. Select Windows Update.
7. Click Check for updates.
8. The update will begin to install.

2. Delete and download update again

If the update is still pending after a system restart, you should delete the update and download it again. It’s possible that Windows 10 wasn’t able to download all files or something went wrong while it was downloading files.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to this folder: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
3. Delete all files and folders in this location.
4. Restart the system.
5. Open the Settings app.
6. Go to Update and Security.
7. Select the Windows Update tab.
8. Click Check for Updates.
9. The update will be downloaded and installed.

3. Enable automatic installation

If the update still does not install, you can change the nature of the update process so that it installs updates as soon as they’ve been downloaded. 

1. Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
2. In the run box, enter services.msc and tap Enter.
3. Double-click the Windows Update service.
4. Open the Startup Type dropdown and select Automatic.
5. Restart the system.

4. Run Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows Update is no stranger to problems which is why Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter to resolve these problems.

1. Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
2. Go to Update and Security.
3. Select the Troubleshoot tab.
4. Click Additional Troubleshooter.
5. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
6. Apply all fixes it recommends.
7. Restart the system.

5. Reset Windows Update 

If all else fails, you can reset the Windows Update service. It requires running a few commands in Command Prompt but it will solve the problem for good.

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
2. Run the following commands, one-by-one.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Conclusion

Windows 10 updates stall during installation when there are too many of them to install. Try to keep your system up to date and install updates as soon as they become available. If an update remains in the install queue too long, it may ultimately fail to install.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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