Introduction
Windows 10 updates are a critical part of the operating system, helping to keep your device up-to-date with security patches and bug fixes. But sometimes, updates can fail to install. If you’re having trouble updating your Windows Updates, there are a few things you can do to try and fix the issue. This guide outlines some of the common causes of update failures and what you can do to try and troubleshoot them.
Common causes of problems with Windows Update include:
- Corrupted or missing system files. System files are needed to ensure that your devices operate correctly. A potential scenario is that corrupted or missing files damage your system’s update process.
- Outdated or incompatible drivers. Drivers are needed to handle components that don’t natively come with Windows 10, including graphics cards, network cards, printers, cameras, etc. If a driver for a device hasn’t been updated in a while, it can cause issues with Windows Update.
- Inadequate disk space. Windows Updates will require some free space to install successfully.
- An issue with Windows Update service. The Windows Update service might malfunction. In that case, check out our tips for downloading the newest version of Windows 10 below.
If Windows Update is failing or giving you errors, try these steps in the order presented:
Restart the computer and run windows update again
Occasionally, updates may run concurrently, resulting in a Windows update failure if things don’t go as intended. For example, some updates must be run in a specific sequence before or after Windows restarts. If you have been having trouble with Windows Update when it’s trying to install multiple updates, or if it’s been a while since your last reboot, restarting your computer and rerunning Windows Update may help.
Running the Windows Update troubleshooter
The Windows Update troubleshooter can help you find and fix common issues with the update process. Here’s how to access it. The Troubleshooter is mainly automated and may take several minutes to complete. If the problems aren’t resolved after running the Windows Update Troubleshooter, try rerunning it to check for other errors.
Free up some disk space (if needed)
Windows and its Updates can take up space on your hard drive just like any other software. Your drive must have at least 16 GB of free space to upgrade a 32-bit OS and 20 GB of free space for a 64-bit OS – and those are the absolute minimums. Make sure that Windows Update has adequate space on your hard drive before installing new software updates. You can check the available space on your hard drive by clicking Start, typing “diskmgmt.msc” in the Search box, and pressing Enter. Your primary hard disk will typically be labeled “C:,” and the percentage of free space will show in the rightmost column. If it’s less than 10-15%, you should probably free up some space before running Windows Update. You can do this by using Microsoft’s Disk Cleanup tool or uninstalling any unneeded software.
Disconnect peripheral devices and disable drivers
If you’re getting messages about your peripheral devices (like printers or scanners) causing Windows Update to fail, there’s a good chance you’re using a driver that’s not compatible with the latest version of Windows. Try disabling any drivers suspected of causing trouble with Windows Update to troubleshoot this issue. You can disable a device in Device Manager by right-clicking on it, then selecting “disable device” from the menu. If the drivers are for peripherals such as cameras or printers, physically disconnect those devices from your computer. Reboot your computer and try rerunning Windows Update. If that doesn’t work, it might be necessary to uninstall the offending drivers and re-install them from the manufacturer’s website after completing Windows Update.
Run the System File Checker (SFC)
File corruption can occur for several reasons, such as power loss, improper computer shutdown, malicious software, and hardware failure. The affected file may be a critical part of the operating system. SFC is a command-line tool for checking if Windows system files are corrupted or missing on your computer. Running the System File Checker (SFC) scan can help if the Window Update errors are due to file corruption. The SFC scan checks for and repairs any corrupted files on your computer. It s a quick and easy way to fix many Windows Update errors. Search “cmd” on the taskbar to run the system file checker, then click on Command Prompt to launch a command prompt window. At the cursor, type “sfc /scannow”, and press the Enter key. The scan will report any errors and repairs that were made. Once the scan is done, you can close the command prompt window and try rerunning Windows Update.
Use the DISM tool
Windows updates and service packs may fail to install if there are corruption errors. For instance, the update might fail if a system data file is corrupt. The DISM or System Update Readiness tool can aid you in fixing Windows corrupted errors. The DISM tool is a great way to detect and repair issues with your system. It can help detect hardware, software, and overall system health problems. If you are having issues with Windows Update, DISM may be able to identify and fix underlying problems that are causing the pain. Here’s a guide on how to use the DISM tool.
Reset Windows Update components
System update problems might arise when Windows Update services stop working. Windows 10 may have difficulty with the update cache, or specific components may get corrupted. One troubleshooting step is to reset the components of Windows Update. This can clear any errors and help your computer update properly. There are several steps involved in resetting Windows Update components completely – here’s a step-by-step guide.
Download and manually install the latest Windows Updates
Microsoft routinely releases security patches for its products once per month. Most Windows users utilize the Windows Update feature to download and install these updates automatically. However, if none of the above troubleshooting steps have helped, you can manually download and install the latest cumulative security update for your Windows variant (build). To do this, visit the Microsoft Update Catalog and search it for your version of Windows. Here’s a prebuilt search for all Updates to Windows 10. Sort the results by date, then compare the names and dates of any recent updates to the last time your system reports being updated (here’s how to check that). Download any new updates that are not installed on your system and manually install them one at a time by double-clicking each downloaded file.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is crucial to be aware of Windows Updates’ potential to fail and take the appropriate steps to try to fix it when it does. By following the advice in this article, you can hopefully avoid or fix most windows update failures. Windows Update is one of the essential tools in a Windows system, but it can also be one of the most frustrating. Windows Update can fail for any number of reasons. If you’re experiencing problems with Windows Update, try the various steps outlined in this article. We hope that you found the solution you needed here.
