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Most of the time, Windows Update does its job with little if any attention from us. While we might check and install updates manually from time to time, most Windows 10 computers are configured to apply important updates automatically, while older versions like Windows 7 and Windows 8 usually apply these fixes the night of Patch Tuesday.

Sometimes, however, when the patch, or maybe even service pack, is being installed during shutdown or startup, the update installation gets stuck—freezes, locks up, stops, hangs, clocks, whatever you want to call it. Windows Update is taking forever and it's clear something needs to be done. The installation of one or more Windows updates is probably stuck or frozen if you see one of the following messages persist for a long time:.

You might also see Stage 1 of 1 or Stage 1 of 3 , or a similar message prior to the second example. Sometimes Restarting is all you'll see on the screen. There might also be some wording differences depending on which version of Windows you're using. If you don't see anything at all on screen, especially if you think the updates might have been installed completely but could be the cause of whatever you're experiencing, see our How to Fix Problems Caused by Windows Updates tutorial instead.

There are several reasons why the installation or finalization of one or more Windows updates can hang. Most often, these types of problems are due to a software conflict or a preexisting issue that simply wasn't brought to light until the Windows updates started installing. Much more rarely are they caused by a mistake on Microsoft's part regarding the update itself, but it does happen. There's an actual issue with Windows that can cause Windows Update installations to freeze like this but it's only applicable to Windows Vista and only if SP1 hasn't yet been installed.

If your computer fits that description, install Windows Vista SP1 or later to solve the problem. Some Windows updates can take several minutes or more to configure or install, so you want to make sure the updates are truly stuck before moving on.

Trying to fix a problem that doesn't really exist might just create a problem. You can tell if Windows updates are stuck if nothing happens on screen for 3 hours or more. If there's any wonder after that long, take a look at your hard drive activity light. You'll see either no activity at all stuck or very regular but very short flashes of light not stuck. Chances are that the updates are hung before the 3-hour mark, but this is a reasonable amount of time to wait and longer than we've ever seen a Windows update take to successfully install.

If so, log on as you normally would and let the updates continue to install successfully. If nothing happens most likely then move on to Step 2. Restart your computer using either the reset button or by powering it off and then back on with the power button.

Windows will start normally and finish installing the updates. If the Windows update installation is truly frozen, you have no other choice but to hard-reboot.

On a tablet or laptop, removing the battery may be necessary. If you're using Windows 10 or Windows 8, and you're taken to the sign-in screen after the restart, try tapping or clicking the power icon on the bottom-right and choosing Update and Restart , if available.

If you're automatically taken to the Advanced Boot Options or Startup Settings menu after restarting, choose Safe Mode and see the comments in Step 3 below. Start Windows in Safe Mode. This special diagnostic mode of Windows only loads the minimum drivers and services that Windows absolutely needs, so if another program or service is conflicting with one of the Windows updates, the install might finish up just fine.

If the Windows updates do install successfully and you continue to Safe Mode, just restart from there to enter Windows normally. Complete a System Restore to undo the changes made so far by the incomplete installation of the Windows updates. Since you can't access Windows normally, try doing this from Safe Mode.

See the link in Step 3 if you're not sure how to start in Safe Mode. During the System Restore, be sure to choose the restore point created by Windows just prior to the update installation. Assuming a restore point was made and System Restore is successful, your computer should be returned to the state it was in before the updates started. If this problem occurred after automatic updating, like what happens on Patch Tuesday, be sure to change Windows Update settings so this problem doesn't reoccur on its own.

Since these menus of tools are available from "outside" of Windows, you can try this even if Windows is completely unavailable. This option is not available in Windows XP. Start your computer's "automatic" repair process. While a System Restore is a more direct way of undoing changes, in this case of a Windows update, sometimes a more comprehensive repair process is in order. Test your computer's memory.

It's possible that failing RAM could be causing the patch installations to freeze. Fortunately, memory is really easy to test. Update BIOS. An outdated BIOS isn't a common cause for this problem, but it's possible. If one or more of the updates Windows is trying to install is involved with how Windows works with your motherboard or other built-in hardware, a BIOS update could solve the issue. Do a clean install of Windows.

A clean install involves completely erasing the hard drive that Windows is installed on and then installing Windows again from scratch on that same hard drive. Obviously you don't want to do this if you don't have to, but it's a very likely fix if the steps prior to this one were unsuccessful. It might seem likely that reinstalling Windows, and then these same exact Windows updates, will cause the same problem, but that isn't usually what happens.

Since most lockup issues caused by updates by Microsoft are actually software conflicts, a clean install of Windows, followed promptly by the installation of all available updates, usually results in a perfectly working computer.

If updates are stuck installing on or just after Patch Tuesday the second Tuesday of the month , see our Details on the Latest Patch Tuesday piece for more on these specific patches. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Tim Fisher. General Manager, VP, Lifewire. He writes troubleshooting content and is the General Manager of Lifewire. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Updated on August 06, Michael Barton Heine Jr. Lifewire Tech Review Board Member.

Article reviewed on May 26, Tweet Share Email. In This Article. Possible Causes. Are the Updates Actually Stuck? Step by Step: Fix a Stuck Update. Extra: Still Having Issues?

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