Windows Won't Update

Windows Update failures are common and frustrating, but they're almost always fixable without reinstalling Windows. Most errors come from a corrupted update cache or a stuck Windows Update service.

Step-by-step fix

1. 1
   Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

   Go to Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Windows Update → Run. Windows will automatically detect and fix common update problems. Restart after it completes and try updating again.
2. 2
   Clear the Windows Update cache

   Search for 'Command Prompt', right-click it, and choose 'Run as administrator.' Type these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each: 'net stop wuauserv', 'net stop cryptSvc', 'net stop bits', 'ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old', 'net start wuauserv', 'net start cryptSvc', 'net start bits'. Then try Windows Update again.
3. 3
   Free up disk space

   Major Windows updates need 10–20 GB of free space. Go to Settings → System → Storage and use Storage Sense to free space, or run Disk Cleanup. If your C: drive is nearly full, the update will fail every time.
4. 4
   Manually download the update

   Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog at catalog.update.microsoft.com, search for the KB number shown in your Windows Update error, and download the standalone installer. Run it directly — this bypasses the Windows Update service entirely.
5. 5
   Reset Windows Update components

   Download the 'Windows Update Reset Script' from Microsoft's official support page or use the built-in Reset-WindowsUpdate PowerShell script. This resets all update-related services and folders to a clean state without affecting your files.