For the most part, Windows Update works silently in the background. It downloads updates automatically, installs the ones it can, and saves others to install when you restart Windows. But sometimes it breaks and stops working. Here’s how to fix Windows Update when it gets stuck or frozen.
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This can happen on Windows 7, 8, or 10, but it’s become especially common with Windows 7. Sometimes updates will error out, or sometimes Windows Update may just get stuck “searching for updates” forever. Here’s how to fix Windows Update
Remember: Windows updates are important. No matter what troubles you’re having, we recommend keeping automatic updates turned on—it’s one of the best ways to keep yourself safe from ransomware and other threats. If you turn automatic updates off, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to new attacks.
Fix Windows Update with a Troubleshooter
Windows 8.1 Update and Windows RT 8.1 Update (also known as KB 2919355) include improvements that make your favorite apps and settings easier to find and use, provide more familiar mouse and keyboard options, and update security and performance. Microsoft Windows 10 may be around the corner, but the company is still issuing Windows 8.1 updates on a fairly regular basis. If you’re already using Windows 8.1, and aren’t sure you’re.
Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that may be able to help fix a stuck update. It’s the easiest method to try, so go ahead and run it first. The troubleshooter performs three actions:
This troubleshooter is available on Windows 7, 8, and 10. You’ll find it in the same place on all modern versions of Windows.
To run the troubleshooter, hit Start, search for “troubleshooting,” and then run the selection that search comes up with.
In the Control Panel list of troubleshooters, in the “System and Security” section, click “Fix problems with Windows Update.”
In the Windows Update troubleshooting window, click “Advanced.”
In the advanced settings, make sure that the “Apply repairs automatically” check box is enabled, click “Run as administrator” and then click Next. Giving the tool administrative privileges helps ensure that it can delete files in the download cache.
The troubleshooter works through its process and then lets you know whether it could identify and fix the problem. Most of the time, the troubleshooter can successfully remove a stuck update from the queue. Go ahead and try running Windows Update again. Even if the troubleshooter says it couldn’t identify the problem, it’s possible that the actions of starting and stopping the service and clearing out the cache did the trick.
Fix Windows Update by Deleting Its Cache Manually
If you’re still having trouble after running the troubleshooter (or if you’re the type that just likes to do things yourself), performing the same actions manually may help where the troubleshooter didn’t. We’re also going to add the extra step of booting into Safe Mode first, just to make sure that Windows can really let go of that cache of Windows Update downloads.
Start off by booting Windows into Safe Mode. On Windows 7, restart your computer and press the “F8” key on your computer while it boots to access the boot options menu, where you’ll find a “Safe Mode” option. On Windows 8 and 10, hold down the Shift key as you click the “Restart” option in Windows and navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Windows Startup Settings > Restart > Safe Mode.
It’s a little more cumbersome than it used to be on the latest versions of Windows, but it’s still reasonably straightforward. Of course, if you want, you could also take some time to add Safe Mode to the Windows boot menu to make it easier in the future.
When you’ve booted into Safe Mode, the next step is to stop the Windows Update service, and the easiest way to do that is with the Command Prompt. To launch the Command Prompt in Windows 7, open the Start menu, search for “Command Prompt”, and launch the Command Prompt shortcut. You’ll also find it under Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. In Windows 8 or 10, you can right-click the Start menu (or press Windows+X), choose “Command Prompt (Admin)” and then click Yes to allow it to run with administrative privileges.
Free Windows 8 Updates Download
At the Command Prompt, type the following command and then hit Enter to stop the Windows Update service. Go ahead and leave the Command Prompt window open.
Next, open a File Explorer window and navigate to
C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution . Delete all the files in the folder. Don’t worry. There’s nothing vital here. Windows Update will recreate what it needs the next time you run it.
Now, you’ll restart the Windows Update service. Return to the Command Prompt window, type the following, and hit Enter:
When the service has restarted, you can close Command Prompt and restart Windows into normal mode. Give Windows Update another try and see if your problem has been fixed.
Windows 7: Update the Windows Update ServiceWindows 8 Free Download Setup
RELATED:Where to Download Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 ISOs Legally
If you’re installing Windows 7 from scratch, you’ll notice that Windows Update will take a very long time while checking for updates. This can also occur if you haven’t checked for updates in a while, even if you installed your Windows 7 system long ago. This occurs even if you install Windows 7 from a disc or USB drive with Service Pack 1 integrated, which you should. Microsoft’s official Windows 7 installation media downloads includes SP1.
Microsoft has now provided official instructions about how to fix this problem. According to Microsoft, this problem occurs because Windows Update itself needs an update, creating a bit of a catch-22. If the latest updates to Windows Update are installed, the process should work better.
Here are Microsoft’s official instructions for fixing the problem.
First, open Windows Update. Head to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update. Click the “Change Settings” link in the sidebar. Select “Never Check For Updates (Not Recommended)” in the dropdown box and then click “OK”.
Microsoft paint download free windows 10. Reboot your computer after you change this setting.
RELATED:How Do I Know if I’m Running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows?
After the computer restarts, you’ll need to manually download and install two updates for Windows 7. You’ll need to check whether you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows or a 64-bit version and download the appropriate updates for your PC.
For 64-bit editions of Windows 7, download these updates:
For 32-bit editions of Windows 7:, download these updates:
Double-click the “KB3020369” update to install it first.
After the first update finishes installing, double-click the “KB3172605” update to install it second. You’ll be asked to restart the computer as part of the installation process. After it restarts, Microsoft says you should wait ten to twelve minutes to allow the process to finish.
When you’re done–remember to wait ten to twelve minutes after restarting–head back to the Windows Update dialog at Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update. Click “Change Settings” and set it back to Automatic (or choose your desired setting).
Click “Check for Updates” to have Windows check for and install updates. According to Microsoft, this should have fixed your problems and Windows Update should now work normally without any long delays.
Windows 7: Get the Convenience Rollup
RELATED:How to Update Windows 7 All at Once with Microsoft’s Convenience Rollup
Microsoft has also produced a “convenience rollup” for Windows 7. This is essentially Windows 7 Service Pack 2 in all but name. It bundles together a large number of updates that would take a very long time to install normally. This package includes updates released from February 2011 all the way to May 16, 2016.
To speed up the updating of a new Windows 7 system, download the convenience rollup and install it rather than waiting for Windows Update. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t offer the update rollup through Windows Update–you have to go out of your way to get it. But it’s easy enough to install if you know it exists and know you have to go looking for it after you install Windows 7.
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There will be much fewer updates to install via Windows Update after you install this, so the process should be much faster. Check out our instructions on installing the Conveniene Rollup here.
Windows 7, 8, or 10: Download Updates Manually WSUS Offline Update
If none of the official solutions fixed your problem, we have another solution that’s worked for us in the past. It’s a third-party tool called WSUS Offline Update.
This tool will download available Windows Update packages from Microsoft and install them. Run it once, have it download those updates and install them, and Windows Update should work normally afterwards. This has worked for us in the past when none of the other solutions did.
Download WSUS Offline Update, extract it to a folder, and run the UpdateGenerator.exe application.
Select the version of Windows you’re using–“x64 Global” if you’re using a 64-bit edition or “x86 Global” if you’re using a 32-bit edition. After you do, click “Start” and WSUS Offline Update will download updates.
Wait for the updates download. If it’s a fresh install of Windows 7, there will be a lot of updates, so this may take quite a while. It depends on the speed of your Internet connection and how fast Microsoft’s download servers are for you.
After the updates are done downloading, open the “client” folder in the WSUS Offline folder and run the UpdateInstaller.exe application.
Click “Start” to install the downloaded updates. After the tool finishes installing the updates, Windows Update should work normally again.
This should hopefully become a bit easier in the future. In October 2016, Microsoft announced that it was making changes to the way Windows 7 and 8.1 are “serviced”, or updated. Microsoft plans to release fewer small updates and more bundles of large updates. It will also begin combining previous updates into a monthly update rollup. This will mean fewer individual updates to install, and updating newly installed Windows 7 systems should become faster over time.
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Downloading updates for Windows is a crucial step to maintaining your computer. Updates regularly contain patches for security vulnerabilities that could allow infections in your machine, bug fixes that resolve errors, and features that could make your operating system more useful. Though you should have automatic updates configured, that isn’t always the case. To keep your computer safe you’ll need to know how to manually trigger updates and change your update settings.
New and Improved PC Settings
The procedure for downloading updates in Windows 8.1 is very similar to the process in Windows 8. However, since 8.1 overhauled the PC Settings app, you’ll find the process is no longer broken between the modern app and the legacy Control Panel. Everything you need is in one place.
Upgrade From Windows 8 To 8.1 Download
Open the Charms bar and click Settings to get started. Next, click Change PC Settings to launch the modern settings app. Choose Update and Recovery from the left pane of the window to get to the section you need. Click Windows Update from the left pane and you’re ready to go.
The Windows Update page gives you all the information you need to learn the state of your update settings including whether you are set up to download your updates automatically and whether or not there are updates currently ready for installation.
Manually Trigger Updates
To manually trigger an update, go ahead and click Check now. You’ll have to wait while Windows checks for any available updates. It should only take a few seconds, but that will vary based on your Internet connection speed. Once done, you’ll see a message letting you know if there are any updates available.
If there are critical updates available, you’ll be alerted. If not, you’ll see a message stating that there aren’t any updates to download but you can install other updates. Either way, click View details to see what’s available.
From this screen, you can see all of the updates that are available for your computer. You can select each update individually, or click Select all important updates to save time and install them all at once. Optional updates are also included in this view, so select any you want. Finally, click Install to finish the process.
Windows will download and install the updates you selected. Once that's done you’ll have to restart your computer to complete the configuration procedure. Click Restart nowwhen prompted or close the PC Settings app and restart when it’s convenient.
Change Automatic Update Settings
It's easy enough to manually trigger updates, but this method is not the best strategy for most users. The average person will simply forget to regularly check for updates, and their system will go unprotected missing out on critical security patches. To prevent this issue—and to ensure that your computer always has the latest updates installed—you should enable automatic updates.
As mentioned above, all the update functions of Windows are baked into the new and improved PC settings. There’s no need to bounce between PC settings and the Control Panel. To change how updates are installed on your computer, return to Settings > Change PC Settings > Update and Recovery > Windows Update.
The Windows Update page will show your current update settings. If you want to change them, you’ll find a link below the Check now button that says Choose how updates get installed.
Select that and then click the drop-down list to choose how Windows installs important updates. Your options are:
We highly recommend that you set Windows to download and install updates automatically to provide the best protection for your computer.
Next, you can select two additional options below the drop-down list.
Windows 8.1 Updates Manual Download
To provide the best protection, select both. When you’ve made your choices, click Apply to finalize them. Provided you’ve selected automatic updates, you won’t have to worry about updates again. Windows will simply install them in the background and ask you to restart your computer when necessary. Though there may be times you want to hurry that process up with a manual check such as when a critical update patch is released.
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