Is your Windows Update stuck at a certain percentage and not moving no matter how long you wait? You're not alone — this is one of the most common Windows issues, and thankfully, most of the time it's fixable without reinstalling your OS. Below are seven methods that actually work, starting with the simplest.
**Method 1: Give It More Time (Seriously)**
Before trying anything else, if your update is stuck below 5% or above 95%, wait at least 30–60 minutes. Windows sometimes appears frozen while it's actually processing large files in the background. Only proceed to the next steps if it hasn't moved at all after an hour.
**Method 2: Restart Windows Update Services**
1. Press `Windows + R`, type `services.msc`, and hit Enter.
2. Find **Windows Update** in the list, right-click it, and select **Stop**.
3. Also stop these related services: **Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)**, **Cryptographic Service**.
4. Open File Explorer and navigate to `C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution`.
5. Delete all files inside this folder (this clears corrupted update files).
6. Go back to Services, and restart the three services you stopped earlier.
7. Try running Windows Update again.
**Method 3: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter**
1. Go to **Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot**.
2. Click **Additional troubleshooters**.
3. Select **Windows Update** and click **Run the troubleshooter**.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.
**Method 4: Use DISM and SFC Commands**
These built-in tools repair corrupted system files that often cause update failures.
1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search "cmd," right-click, "Run as administrator").
2. Type this command and press Enter: `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth`
3. Once it finishes, type: `sfc /scannow`
4. Restart your PC and try updating again.
**Method 5: Manually Download the Update**
1. Find the KB number of the update that's stuck (visible in Windows Update history).
2. Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog (catalog.update.microsoft.com) and search for that KB number.
3. Download the correct version for your system (32-bit or 64-bit).
4. Install it manually by double-clicking the downloaded file.
**Method 6: Check Your Disk Space**
Windows updates need free space to install properly — often 10-20GB depending on the update. Go to **This PC**, check your available space on the C: drive, and delete unnecessary files if you're running low.
**Method 7: Perform a Clean Boot**
Sometimes background programs interfere with updates.
1. Press `Windows + R`, type `msconfig`, hit Enter.
2. Go to the **Services** tab, check **Hide all Microsoft services**, then click **Disable all**.
3. Go to the **Startup** tab, open Task Manager, and disable all startup programs.
4. Restart your PC and try the update again.
**Final Thoughts**
Most "stuck update" issues are caused by corrupted files or interfering background processes, so working through these methods in order should resolve it for the vast majority of users. If none of these work, a last resort is using the **Windows Media Creation Tool** to perform an in-place upgrade, which repairs Windows without wiping your files.