Windows 10 update waiting for download stuck

If you find that your Windows Update is stuck downloading updates at 0 % or any other figure in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista as well, then this post will help you fix the issue.

Windows Update stuck downloading updates

If your Windows Update is showing available updates and your computer starts downloading them, it may happen that at some point it just gets stuck and stops downloading. It will show a constant figure but there will be no progress. The figure in your case could be 0%, 23%, 33%, or any other, but every time you try to download the updates, you find that they are stuck on that particular figure, even if you leave it for an hour or two. I faced this issue and my downloading was stuck at 23%, when I was trying to get Windows Insider Builds.

This is what helped me and I am sure that it could help you too. You may click on the images to see their larger versions.

From the WinX Menu, open Command Prompt (Admin). Type the following one after the other and hit Enter:

This will stop the Windows Update related Services.

Next browse to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete all the files and folders inside. Press Ctrl+A to Select All and then Delete.

If the files are in use, and you are unable to delete some files, restart your device. After rebooting, run the above commands again. Now you will be able to delete the files from the mentioned Software Distribution folder.

After you have emptied this folder, you may restart your computer or you may type the following commands one at a time in the CMD, and hit Enter to restart the Windows Update related Services.

Run Windows Update again and see.

You will be able to download and install the updates successfully. Once done, you will see that a restart has also been scheduled.

I suggest you restart immediately to complete the process.

This worked for me and I hope it does for you too.

Windows Update fails to install or will not download in Windows 10

If it does not, you may try this:

Run Windows Module Installer

The Windows Module Installer is a built-in Windows 10 service. It lets you fix the Windows updates which are stuck.

To use this, open a command prompt with admin privileges.

Type the following and hit Enter:

Once successfully executed, you should see [SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS display within the Command Prompt console.

Exit the command prompt, and check if the buttons are back to normal.

If nothing helps, you can download Windows 10 ISO and make a fresh install too.

Read: Why does Windows 10 Update bring grief to some?