Windows 10 updates are critical for keeping your computer secure and running smoothly. However, they frequently get stuck mid-download or freeze during installation at frustrating benchmarks like 0%, 27%, or 99%. This usually happens due to a corrupted update cache file, software conflicts, or insufficient storage space.
Before starting, make sure your computer has at least 10 GB of free hard drive space and that you have unplugged any external USB flash drives or SD cards. Then, follow these step-by-step methods to force the update to complete.
Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Windows 10 includes a built-in diagnostic tool designed to automatically find missing files, restart stuck protocols, and fix broken update services.
  1. Press the Windows Key + I to open the Settings menu.
  2. Go to Update & Security, then click Troubleshoot on the left menu.
  3. Click on Additional troubleshooters.
  4. Select Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.
  5. Apply any fixes the system suggests, then restart your PC.
Method 2: Clear the Windows Update Cache (SoftwareDistribution Folder)
If an update file downloads incorrectly, it becomes corrupted, and Windows gets stuck trying to read it. Clearing this temporary cache forces Windows to download a completely fresh copy of the update.
  1. Press the Windows Key, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
  2. Stop the core background update services by typing these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
    cmd
    net stop wuauserv
    cmd
    net stop bits
  3. Keep the Command Prompt open. Press Windows Key + R, type C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download and press Enter.
  4. Press Ctrl + A to select all files and folders inside this directory, then press Delete to clear them completely.
  5. Go back to your Command Prompt window, restart the services by typing these commands, and press Enter after each:
    cmd
    net start wuauserv
    cmd
    net start bits
  6. Open your Windows Update menu and click Check for updates again.
Method 3: Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM
Corrupted core system files can conflict with new installation packages and freeze your computer.
  1. Right-click the Start Button and select Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Type the following Deployment Image tool command and press Enter:
    cmd
    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  3. Once the progress bar reaches 100%, type this command and press Enter:
    cmd
    sfc /scannow
  4. Restart your computer and try updating again.
Method 4: Restart the Windows Installer Service
If the installation module stalls in the background, the on-screen percentage counter will freeze completely.
  1. Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Scroll down the list to find the Windows Installer service.
  3. Right-click Windows Installer and select Start (or click Restart if it is already running).
Method 5: Install the Update Manually via Microsoft Catalog
If a specific update keeps failing through the settings menu, you can bypass the system and install it like a regular application.
  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security and note down the KB number of the stuck update (e.g., KB5005565).
  2. Open your web browser and go to the official Microsoft Update Catalog.
  3. Type the KB number into the search bar.
  4. Download the version that matches your system type (typically x64 for modern 64-bit systems).
  5. Open the downloaded file to install the update directly.