Windows 10 continues to be one of the most prevalent operating systems (OS) in use today, but this doesn’t mean using it is always a breeze. Most users will have encountered a frozen or stalled Windows 10 update at some stage, and Windows doesn't make it particularly clear how to get around the problem. As a result, knowing how to fix a stuck Windows 10 update can be very helpful for when you inevitably run into this issue.
In most instances, Windows 10 updates are completed without issue, but every now and then the OS will be hit with an error that leaves the updater fixed in permanent stasis. This typically manifests itself in the frustrating form of the frozen blue update screen, or worse, an infinite loop of Windows’ updating animation.
When the update process runs into errors like this, the user is frozen out of the main OS and cannot access their files or applications. We strongly advise against trying to brute force your way past the failed update, and turning off the system should be reserved for an action of last resort if the steps below do not help.
How to fix a stuck Windows 10 update
When trying to get around a stalled Windows 10 update, your first port of call should be to try the following keyboard shortcuts, which should force the OS into opening some system menus.
Users should note, however, that these shortcuts will only work if the update animation Windows 10 update screen is still moving. If the update screen is totally frozen, you probably will not be able to get any response from the system, and in this case you will need to jump straight to the next tip in this guide.
Using Ctrl-Alt-Delete to fix a stuck Windows 10 update
(Image: © Microsoft)
The first thing to try is the Ctrl-Alt-Delete shortcut, which is used to bring up the Windows Task Manager. This tool lets you shut down specific applications that may be causing an issue, as well as tools for logging in or out of a system.
- Press the keys 'Ctrl', 'Alt', and 'Delete' on your keyboard at the same time
- This should provide you access to the login screen, which will let you sign in as normal
- Once you're in the system, you can try to update the OS again
If the keyboard shortcuts are not working, it's likely that your system has frozen entirely, and so requires different treatment. The first thing to do is to check there are no software conflicts causing your system to freeze and preventing it from updating.
To check this, we need to open Windows in Safe Mode, which disables all other non-essential software. We won't detail these steps here, but we have a handy guide available on how to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode.
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If your system boots successfully, Windows should then install the update and allow you to restart your system as normal.
Using System Restore to fix a stuck Windows 10 update
If rebooting your system into Safe Mode does not fix the issue, you can try reverting your operating system back to a previous state, one where updates were functioning properly.
Windows typically creates snapshots of your operating system automatically when updates are downloaded and installed, so you should be able to restore your OS to a moment when updates were working correctly.
To access this function:
- Follow whichever steps above you used to access the Recovery Menu
- Click Troubleshoot
- Click Advanced Startup Options
- Click System Restore
- The next screen will guide you through selecting an appropriate restore point
You can also use this method to access Startup Repair, which is a more in-depth approach that prompts Windows to attempt to fix any issues preventing it from booting successfully.
Reinstall Windows to fix a stuck Windows 10 update
If the above steps fail, you could attempt a reinstall of Windows, which will almost certainly solve the issue. However, this is considered the 'nuclear option'.
We recommend taking a look at our guide on how to install Windows 10 for further information, as it's a fairly involved process that could cost you your data if done incorrectly.
How do I know if my Windows 10 update is stuck?
The Windows 10 update screen contains an animated loading spiral, and so if this spiral stops spinning it's a sign that the system has frozen. This may happen intermittently during the update, but your system should recover almost immediately each time.
However, a system can stall and become unresponsive even if the update spiral is moving. This is usually the case when an update is taking much longer than expected –if an update has been running for 10 minutes or more and the loading percentage has not changed, it's likely the system has stalled.
Dale Walker
Contributor
Dale Walker is a contributor specializing in cybersecurity, data protection, and IT regulations. He was the former managing editor at ITPro, as well as its sibling sites CloudPro and ChannelPro. He spent a number of years reporting for ITPro from numerous domestic and international events, including IBM, Red Hat, Google, and has been a regular reporter for Microsoft's various yearly showcases, including Ignite.
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