Fix Windows Update Problems

When Windows Update gets stuck, keeps failing or shows an error code, these steps fix most problems. Start with the simple checks and work down the list, trying the update again after each one.

Simple checks first

Restart the computer Choose Restart, not Shut down, then try the update again.
Check free space Big updates need plenty of room. Open Settings > System > Storage and aim for at least 20 GB free.
Unplug extra devices USB drives, docks and other accessories can sometimes block an update.
Note the error code On the Windows Update page, the code (such as 0x80070002) helps work out what went wrong.

Run the troubleshooter

Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, and click Run next to Windows Update. It checks the update services and fixes common problems automatically.

Repair Windows system files

Damaged system files can stop updates installing. On the Start menu, type cmd, then under Command Prompt click Run as administrator. Run these two commands, one at a time:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Downloads fresh copies of damaged Windows files. This can take 10 to 20 minutes and may look stuck at times.

sfc /scannow

Checks every system file and repairs any that are damaged. Restart when it finishes.

Clear the update cache

If updates still fail, the downloaded update files may be damaged. In an administrator Command Prompt, stop the update services:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc

Stops Windows Update, the background download service and the cryptographic service.

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

Renames the update folders. Windows creates fresh, empty ones automatically.

net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptsvc

Starts the services again. Restart the computer, then check for updates. Updates will download again from scratch.

Your update history will look empty afterwards. That's normal: only the record is cleared, not the updates already installed. Once it all works, you can delete the .old folders.

An update broke something?

Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, and remove the most recent one. Then use Pause updates on the Windows Update page to stop it reinstalling for a week or two while Microsoft fixes it.

Quick reference

Command	What it does
`DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth`	Repair the Windows image
`sfc /scannow`	Check and repair system files
`net stop wuauserv`	Stop the Windows Update service
`net start wuauserv`	Start the Windows Update service