Windows 10 Update Failed? Here's How to Fix That
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Troubleshoot problems updating Windows
Windows Update failed? Here are 10 fixes you can try | ZDNet - Question Info
Windows 10 update failures can appear in many different ways and at various points in the update process. In all of the above cases and other similar cases, the message appears on a blue screen unless you have made changes to Windows 10 color settings. Additionally, the message will appear after you have attempted an update, sometimes many minutes or even hours into the update.
If your Windows 10 update failed, the most common causes include:. Before you proceed, consider creating a Windows 10 backup. In a worst-case scenario, you can restore your backup and try again. To fix your Windows 10 update failure and successfully update your operating system, try each of the following fixes in order.
If you successfully update Windows 10 after attempting a fix, then you can safely ignore the rest and go back to using your newly updated computer. The following instructions are primarily intended for Windows 10 installed on physical hardware. However, you may want to consider using a newer Windows image that already has the latest updates and security patches. Try rerunning Windows Update. In many cases, simply rebooting your computer and rerunning the update will fix your problem. In that case, you can usually get things working again by rebooting and starting the update process again.
If your Windows 10 installation is significantly out of date, you may need to perform the update process multiple times. Unplug your peripherals and reboot. If rerunning the update doesn't do the trick, you may have a hardware or driver conflict.
Try unplugging all of your peripherals , like webcams, microphones, and scanners, before you reboot. Once only the bare minimum of a keyboard and mouse remain connected, run Windows Update.
Check your available drive space. One of the most common causes of failed Windows 10 updates is a lack of drive space. Try clearing out everything you no longer need, or even hook up an external drive to move files to, and then attempt the update again.
Use the Windows 10 troubleshooting tool. Windows 10 includes a troubleshooter app that can help fix a lot of update problems. Try running the troubleshooter, and see if the update can complete. To run the Windows 10 update troubleshooter:. Pause Windows 10 Updates.
This method momentarily pauses updates, which will typically delete update files from your computer, allowing you to download new files and hopefully complete the update process. Manually delete your Windows Update files.
The previous step will typically delete your Windows Update files, including any potentially corrupt files or stuck downloads. Download and install the latest update manually. Save the update file to your computer, and run it after it finishes downloading. Use the System File Checker. At this point, there may likely be a problem with your Windows 10 installation. Run the System File Checker to check for, and hopefully repair, any issues.
After it has finished, you can reboot your computer and attempt to update it. Repair your Windows 10 installation. If you wish to proceed, the next step is to perform a reset, or a reinstall, while keeping all of your files. Consider backing up your files and settings before you proceed, and make sure to select the keep my files option when performing the repair.
As a general rule of thumb, you should always install Windows updates. However, there are some exceptions. In the case of an especially problematic update, you may need to choose between skipping the update and performing a fresh installation of Windows Additionally, some Windows 10 updates have been famously problematic , either being difficult for many people to install or even causing massive problems for specific hardware configurations.
While you should always make a solid effort to update Windows 10 to keep on top of the latest security patches and features, you may need to ignore an update and wait for the next one. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests.
You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. By Jeremy Laukkonen. Jeremy Laukkonen. Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles. Reviewed by Jon Fisher. Tweet Share Email. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know!
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