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What to do if you can't update Windows 10?

Windows updates are crucial for protecting, optimizing, and expanding the functionality of your computer system. These updates not only fix issues, but also add new features. However, if the Windows update function does not work, your system will miss important updates. This includes hardware updates, new features, and critical security improvements through Windows Defender.

Consistently receiving updates for Windows 10, delivered through the Windows Update Service, is therefore vital. Windows Update, a service from Microsoft, provides updates such as service packs, patches for the Windows operating system, and other Microsoft software. It also serves to update drivers for commonly used hardware devices.

Microsoft regularly releases patches and other security updates, usually on the second Tuesday of every month, known as "Patch Tuesday." In addition, updates are also released outside this cycle for urgent problems. These updates are essential to protect your system against malware and malicious attacks.

Additionally, Windows Update provides access to an update history, which lists all installations through the service. If Windows Update is not working, it is important to address this problem. Possible solutions include running the Windows Update troubleshooter, manually resetting the Windows Update components, or searching for specific error codes online for targeted help. Regularly checking for and installing updates ensures that your system remains up-to-date and secure. But what can you do if Windows update in Windows 10 is not working properly?

What to do if you can't update Windows 10?

Initially, it is important to check whether no updates are indeed being downloaded and installed. There may be an error message and you can use this error message to solve the problem.

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In the taskbar, click the search bar. In the search bar type: update. Click on the “Check for updates” result. Now click on the “Check for updates” button and check if any updates are available.

If the update does not download or install, continue to the next step.

Windows update troubleshooter

If error messages occur while downloading or installing updates in Windows 10, you can identify the issues and find solutions with the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

Click on the Start button. In the menu click on Settings. In the settings, click on “Update & security”. On the left, click on “Troubleshooting”. After this, click on “Additional troubleshooters”.

Now click on “Windows update” to start the Windows update troubleshooter.

Delete Windows update cache files

Deleting Windows update cache files forces Windows to download the update files again. After downloading the update files again, Windows will try to reinstall the update(s).

Around the Windows update files can be deleted you must first stop 2 services. If you do not do this, the update files will remain “in use”. Right-click on the Start button. In the menu click on “Run”. In the run window type: services.msc

Search for the service “Background intelligent transfer service” and right-click on it. In the menu click on “Stop”. Then search for the “Windows update” service. Here too, right-click on this and click “Stop”.

Now open Windows Explorer and go to the folder: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Select all files and folders in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete them. So empty the folder completely.

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Now go back to the Windows services, and start the services “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” and “Windows update. You do this by right-clicking on it and choosing “Start” from the menu.

Now go back to Windows Update and let Windows 10 check for new updates again. Hopefully the updates will now be downloaded and installed successfully.

If it didn't help, you can Reset Windows update service with reset tool. Or you can use the install update manually.

Categories: Windows

View comments (59)

  • THANKS
    Thanks to your directions I have the problem "UPDATES CANNOT BE PERFORMED"
    can solve. As a layman on a technical level, I succeeded
    THANK YOU again for the clear explanation
    I am sending you (you) my (advanced) wishes for a happy and, above all, healthy 2023
    Best regards
    Ivo Platteau

  • Hallo,

    I installed 3 or 4 windows updates a few days ago, but 1 of these updates (this one: 2022-08 Security Update for Windows 10 Version 21H1 for x64-based systems (KB5012170)). The update was/was not successful.
    I then get this message: There were problems installing the updates, but we will try to install them again later. If you receive this message again and want to find more information online or get support, the following may be helpful: (0x800f0922).
    What can I or should I do to get this update installed because trying to install this update again does not work. I have also looked on the internet and tried some things, but nothing works.
    Should I try to uninstall the updates I installed then (10/08/22) and then try installing the 3 or 4 updates again, or should I just wait a while until new updates are available and then just install them ?

    Hopefully someone can help me further.

    Thank you in advance.

  • A good day,
    Tried the above options but still get the message:
    2019-04mCumulative update for Windows 10 version 1709 for x64-based systems (KB4493440)

  • Dear Stephen,

    Windows Specifications: Windows ,10 Home/Version 2004/Install date 28/05/2020/Control build 19041.630/Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.31.0
    Manufacturer Packard Bell/purchase date 2013

    Windows and I have been trying to install feature update to Windows 10, version 21H2 for a few weeks now (error 0x8007042B).

    I have tried everything and also your tips.

    My PC works fine and I don't want to reset the PC without keeping apps, or is there anyway to keep my apps.

    Windows is trying to force me to buy a new PC with Windows 11. The function to pause updates for 7 days is turned off, but I have set it to manual.

    I would like a short but powerful tip or advice from you.

    Yours faithfully,

    Francis

  • I understand it less and less. According to Windows update history, my laptop has been updated up to and including update 2021-7, but when I look at settings/system/info it says:
    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 20H2
    Installation date ‎15-‎3-‎2021
    Build of operating system 19042.928
    Serial number LR0DT522
    Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.551.0
    I googled some more and I understand that the May 2021 Update is version 21H1. So apparently it has not been installed after all. Does Windows update "muddle through" an old version of Windows?
    If I manually download version 21h1, how do I install it?
    For the sake of completeness, I have a Lenovo Yoga slim 7 14ARE05 with the following specs:
    Processor AMD Ryzen 5 4500U with Radeon Graphics 2.38 GHz
    Installed RAM 8,00 GB (7,36 GB available)
    System type 64-bit operating system, x64 processor
    I hope this helps in understanding what the problem is. Isn't there an error code stored somewhere to indicate what the problem is?

  • If I understand correctly I have Windows 10 version 20H2 for x64 based systems. At least that's what I see when I look at the update history. Update 21-07 (KB5004237) was successful. I guess I need to download 2021-08 Dynamic Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5005033)?

  • Hi Stefan,
    I had already tried the troubleshooter with no results. One of my PCs has now crashed and I had to reinstall it completely, which cost me half a day because it was set up as a music computer and the DAW software is difficult to install with permissions and such. Very exhausting. My laptop still has the same problem. The latest update (2021-8) will not install while the previous updates did work after clearing the cache. I removed as much Microsoft bloatware as possible (again news and that kind of nonsense) and cortana and edge with your tips in another article. Could that be a cause of the problems? I'm slowly starting to get so sick of Windows and all that Microsoft junk that's shoved down your throat that I'm almost starting to think about Apple. They also push everything down your throat and you have no choices, but at least it works.

  • Hi Stefan,
    I haven't been able to update for a while, but I just didn't have the energy to solve it. Now I do and with your tips I came a long way. After clearing the cache, Windows started updating rapidly and that went well until the last update (2021-08). At first it did not want to download, but after clearing the cache a few times it worked. That update also took a while to install and Windows restarted after 30% installation and continued to install up to 99% and then the nice screen appeared again with the message "cannot install updates. Uninstall. Do not turn off your PC". Tried the troubleshooter, but it says that an update is ready and that I have to restart, but that has the same result.
    Any idea what's wrong? I now have 1 laptop and a desktop with update problems. Wouldn't you say that Microsoft has enough staff and funds to spare us this misery?

    By the way, many thanks for your fantastic site and help. You've helped me uninstall Edge before, so I recommend anyone having problems go to your site.

  • Great site. While MS kept sending me from pillar to post, I found the solution in no time: clear the update cache. Thank you!

  • Good afternoon. I saw your help on the internet and I have a problem with updating Windows 10. When I want to turn off the laptop, I get the option to "update and shut down". If I allow that, the PC will download updates up to about 30%. Then the update stops and everything is put back to the old version and what was downloaded is deleted and the laptop restarts. Since I am quite a digital person, I would like to know what can be done about this.

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