Windows Update Stuck, Failing, or Won't Install

Category: Windows 11 · Audience: Customers & Technicians · Est. time: 20–40 min

Summary

Windows Update can stall at a percentage, loop on restart, or fail with an error code. This article resets the update components safely.

Symptoms

• Update stuck at a percentage for a long time
• "We couldn't complete the updates. Undoing changes."
• An error code such as 0x80070002, 0x800f0922, or 0x80073712

Solution

1. Give it time first. Some feature updates genuinely sit at 30–90% for 20+ minutes. Only intervene if there has been no disk activity for 30 minutes.
2. Run the built‑in troubleshooter. Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Windows Update → Run.
3. Restart and retry. Start → Power → Restart, then Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
4. Free up space. Feature updates need ~20 GB free. Clear space via Settings → System → Storage if the drive is nearly full.
5. Reset Windows Update components (Technician). Open Terminal (Admin) and run:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptsvc

Then check for updates again.

1. Repair system files (Technician). In Terminal (Admin):

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Reboot and retry the update.

If that doesn't work

• Note the exact error code shown on the update screen.
• Download the specific update manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog (search the KB number).
• For a stuck feature update, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant to force the upgrade in place.
• Escalate to BBN Support with the error code and a screenshot.

Prevention

• Leave the PC on and connected during patch windows.
• Keep 20 GB+ free on the system drive.