12 Fixes For Windows 10 Update Stuck on Checking for Updates Issue

Windows checking for updates stuck could be one of the most annoying errors you can face. It could lead to the CPU fan running at high speed. Your system could be using excessive resources. When the Windows OS can’t update automatically, it can cause several problems.

Are you getting stuck on checking for updates screen? Either way, this is time for you to fix this issue. You’re not alone when you get this error. But, you will undoubtedly learn how to solve it with our carefully created list of solutions.

Use The Admin Permission For Windows Checking For Updates Stuck

Before you move to other solutions, try to use admin permission. For this, you might have to log out of your current profile and account on the Windows 10 PC. Then, log back into the Admin account. If your Admin account is password protected, you will have to provide the credentials.

You can also launch the Control Panel or Windows Update as the Admin. Right-click on them and select ‘Run As Admin’ if this option is available. If not, a message prompt will pop up automatically for the permissions. See if this solves your issues.

Solutions For Windows 10 Checking For Updates Stuck

1. Restart Your PC
2. The Date & Time Settings 
3. Check The Connectivity Status
4. Disable The Antivirus 
5. Disable Microsoft Updates
6. Relaunch The Windows Update Service
7. Use The Troubleshooter For Update
8. Use The Disk Cleanup
9. Use Windows Module Installer
10. Try Windows Update Cache Fix
11. Repair The System Corrupt File
12. Use The Repository 

Solution For Windows 10 Update Stuck on ‘Checking For Update’ Option

1. Restart Your PC

Of course, this would be at the top of the list. Sometimes, we overlook a simple solution. You might’ve already tried it, but it is still worth trying again. Go ahead and restart your PC and see if this solves the issue.

• Click on the Start Menu button at the bottom.
• Click on the Power icon. Select Restart.
• If an option pops to Force the Shutdown / Restart, just comply.
• Wait for the PC to restart.
• Notice if there was any time difference.
• You might have to shut down properly again and restart if there was.

2. The Date And Time Settings

It’s funny, but one of the leading causes of the update stuck issue is the date and time setting. Yes, if you don’t have the date and time set correctly, it can cause many problems. The recent updates of Apps and Windows need you to have accurate dates and times. So make sure by:

• Hover your mouse over the clock and right-click on it. Then select Adjust Date/Time from the options.
• Make sure to select the correct time zone. If you’re connected to the internet, make sure to check on Set Time Automatically.’
• Also, click on the ‘Sync Now’ option. This will sync all the dates and times.
• If the automatic option is already active, make sure to disable it. Make changes and then re-enable it. This way, you can fix the issue of Date and Time isn’t set right.

3. Check The Connectivity Status

Maybe the problem isn’t with anything else but your network itself. Windows 10 updates need active internet. You need to have enough data to download and install Windows 10 updates. So, make sure that you have that. If not, then change the network.

If that is not the case, it could be that your ISP isn’t allowing Windows 10 to download updates. There could be many reasons for this. So, you can try to use your mobile phone’s hotspot to see if you can download the updates.

You can also go ahead and check the Network’s profile.

• Click on the Network connection in the Task Bar. Go to properties, right-click on the connection’s name and check the profile. If it is a public profile, make it private and vice versa. See if changing it helps you download updates.
• Also, you can open Windows Firewall Settings from the Control Panel. See if Microsoft Updater and other corresponding services are allowed or not. If they are not allowed, your Windows will never update.

4. Disable The Antivirus

Are you using some third-party Antivirus? Often, it can stop you from downloading and installing updates. This can happen especially if you are using a freemium option. Many free antiviruses out there come with various limitations.

Some just have bugs and glitches. They might even remove or damage your update files. How? By finding something suspicious. So, make sure to disable or stop your respective antivirus.

As a general rule, don’t use anything other than the Windows Defender. If you want free services, it is a well-versed tool. But, if you wish to have better security, go for premium options like Avast or Malwarebytes.

Follow the built-in guide of your antivirus to disable it. After that, restart the PC and retry updating.

5. Disable Microsoft Updates

It isn’t just Microsoft Windows that needs updates. Many other products, such as MS Office, would also need updates. They could easily hinder and cause the error of an update stuck on the scan. So, it would be ideal to try and fix it. To do so, disable the updates for these other Microsoft apps and programs:

• Press Windows + I to open the settings of the PC. Find Updates & Security (Usually at the last of the list).
• Now, go to the Advanced option in that. Find ‘Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows’ option. Disable it.
• Go ahead and restart your PC. See if this helps with the updates now.

6. Relaunch The Windows Update Service

There’s a good chance your Windows Update Service is having some issues. Even restarting it might not have fixed it. Now, remember that ending a process is one thing in the Task Manager. That would end the process that was undergoing at the given moment.

But, restarting the service means you will entirely stop it, even from being used on the PC actively. Then, you will relaunch it. So, it is equal to switching your device off and on.

• Press Windows Key + R Key on your keyboard. This will launch the Run app. Type services.msc and hit enter. Make sure to do it with Shift + Enter to run as administrator.
• Now, find the Windows Update in the list of services. Right-click on it and select Stop. You can wait for a while and then right-click to start it. A good idea could be to restart your PC with the service stopped.

7. Use The Troubleshooter For Update

Windows 10 comes with a wide selection of troubleshooters. These are the same as the older OS with diagnostic tools. But with more advanced fixes. So, if you’re running into a problem, the troubleshooter could help you fix it.

• Once again, open the settings of your Windows 10 system. Go to the Update & Security.
• Find the troubleshoot option. It should be on the left side. Now, find Windows Update in the list and select ‘Run The Troubleshooter.’
• If you can’t find it there, you can also access the Control Panel. There will be a search option for the Control Panel in the top-right corner. Type ‘Troubleshoot’ in there and wait for the results.
• Select it and go inside to see various new options. Select the troubleshooter for updates.
• Either method will work, but once the troubleshooter runs, wait patiently. Let it finish the scan and provide the fix.
• You might need an active internet connection for the troubleshooter to work.

8. Use The Disk Cleanup

There are two other reasons for Windows update stuck on checking for updates errors. There could be some corrupted files on your hard drive. Another could be some bad sectors or insufficient disk space. So, it is worth performing this step to see if it fixes the issue:

• Go to the File Explorer and select ‘This PC’ from the left-panel options. Right-click on your C Drive. That’s where Windows downloads the updates.
• Select Properties and go to the Disk Cleanup option in the General tab. Launch it and let it optimize your Disk Partition.
• You might have to wait patiently for a good while. Once done, press OK and restart your PC.

You can also go ahead and check for any unwanted files and folders in C Drive. Go ahead and delete them to empty up some space. There is also a ‘%Temp%’ folder to delete everything. This could also contribute to solving the issue somewhat.

9. Use Windows Module Installer

Windows Module Explorer is one of the built-in Windows 10 services. It is a handy tool that can help you fix the issue quickly. If you ever get a Windows update stuck error, this will help you fix it. All you need to do is use either Powershell or Command Prompt. While most users prefer Command Prompt, this step is better with PowerShell.

• Right-click on the Windows icon at the bottom-left corner. Select ‘PowerShell (Admin)’ from the list. If prompted, click yes and continue.
• Once you’re in PowerShell, you need to type: SC CONFIG TRUSTEDINSTALLER START = AUTO. Then hit enter.
• You might see a message: [SC] CHANGESERVICECONFIG SUCCESS. This means that the command worked.
• Now, close the PowerShell and see if the Windows Updates are working fine or not.

10. Try Windows Update Cache Fix

Brace yourself because this solution will have a couple of steps for you to follow. So, you’ve tried the update troubleshooter, but that didn’t yield any results. That’s fine!

If you’re stuck on Windows 10 check for updates window, it is time for you to reset the cache. Yes. Like any other app and service, Windows Update also has a cache file. You can empty it to see if this fixes the issue.

• First, you will have to stop the Windows Update service. For this, you can use the previous guide or open the Command Prompt. Once you launch the command prompt as admin, type: net stop wuauserv. This will stop the Windows Update Service. You need to stop the services to ensure that it won’t mess with the cache further.
• Next, it’s time for you to clean the cache files. For this, you can open the File Explorer (Windows + E key). Go to the following: C > Windows > SoftwareDistribution > Download.
• Select all the files and press Shift + Delete to delete them permanently. You could end up with an error that won’t allow you to delete all the files. For this, you will have to restart your PC. That will enable you to delete the remaining file.
• There might be another folder called ‘DataStore.’ You can also download all the files inside that folder.
• Now, launch the command prompt as Admin again. Type: net start wuauserv. Hit enter.
• You’ve reset the cache and also restarted the Windows Update Services.
• Now, go back to the Settings > Update & Security > Check For Updates.
• See if the solution worked for you this time.

11. Repair The Corrupted System Files

If you have still had no luck so far, there is a good chance that system files are corrupted. This can happen for countless reasons, even if Windows 10 has come a long way. So, it is a good idea to run the System File Checker. It is a helpful utility that will restore or fix the corrupted files:

• Launch the Run utility and type cmd. Press Shift + Enter to run it as Administrator. Then type: SFC/scannow. Hit enter.
• This will start the scan. All you need to do is wait. You might not know, but there’s a folder: %WinDir%/System32/dllcache. As long as that file is intact, your SFC Scan command will work and fix anything wrong with your system.

Once SFC finishes, you might have to restart the PC, and you’re good to go.

12. Use The Repository

There’s an entire Update Catalogue available online for Microsoft Users. It is known as Microsoft Update Catalog. You can search for various updates there. It has everything from the drivers to OS and other updates. So, if you can’t update the system through the built-in option, this will work.

But remember, you might need some experience. The only way to find most stuff is by using the search option. It works as a keyword option or tag option. So, whatever you search for, you will get matching results. But, it is relatively easy to use to download reliable updates.

Conclusion – Windows 10 Server Stuck On Checking For Updates

You can use these solutions for Windows Defender stuck on checking for updates, as well. These solutions work for all the Microsoft Products, including Windows 10 media creation tools stuck on checking for updates. Often, you will run into an error where Windows 10 upgrade stuck at 46 percent checking for updates. Don’t fall for it.

You will still have to use these options to fix the problem. We have compiled a wide range of solutions for you, and we hope you found valuable answers for yourself. So, next time you get Windows stuck on checking for updates Reddit might not help, but we always will. This is the ultimate guide for you.

FAQs – Windows 10 Upgrade Stuck Checking For Updates