Is There a Way to Speed Up Your Windows Updates? Find Out Here!

Enduring Endless Wait Times for Windows 10 Updates? Here’s How to Fix It

Microsoft regularly releases update packages to fix bugs and add new features. While updates can improve the system stability and increase PC performance, the slowness of the Windows update process can be really frustrating.

If you’re stuck on the update screen for hours and the percentage number on the screen isn’t increasing at all, chances are the update process is stuck. And Windows says specifically “Getting Windows ready. Don’t turn off your computer”, so you might wonder what you should do next.

Can I Turn off My PC during Updates?

Yes, you can restart your PC, and it should be safe in most cases. To turn off your computer or laptop, you can long-press the power button.

Windows update requires time to complete, so let it finish if you can. But if you’ve been waiting for an hour or so, then it’s probably stuck and there’s nothing else you can do.

While in most cases, a hard shutdown during the update process didn’t cause issues. There are no guarantees that it also works for you. Unfortunately, it’s the only method to try if your computer gets stuck there.

After restarting your PC, try these fixes

You may not have to try them all. Just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Disable third-party startups
Restart Windows Update service
Free up your hard drive space
Update device drivers
Repair corrupt system files

Fix 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

The Update troubleshooter is a Windows built-in utility that can help resolve common issues with downloading and installing Windows updates.

So if you’re experiencing slow speed when downloading or installing Windows updates, this tool should always be your go-to option. follow the instructions below:

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key and click theSettings button.

2) SelectUpdate & Security.

3) SelectTroubleshoot. Then, selectWindows Update and clickRun the troubleshooter.

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4) Follow the on-screen instructions to fix your problem.

If the tool didn’t detect any issues, don’t worry! There are still 5 more fixes to try.

Fix 2: Disable third-party startups

Some third-party applications may conflict with Windows update and cause disruptions to the process. To see if that’s the problem for you, follow the instructions below to disable auto startups on your PC:

1) On your keyboard, press theCtrl, Shift, andEsc keys at the same time to open Task Manager.

2) Click theStartup tab. Then, right-click the program you want to prevent it from opening on startup and selectDisable .

Only disable programs that you know that you don’t need to launch automatically at startup. You should keep your antivirus launching automatically for safety

Fix 3: Restart the Windows Update service

Errors might occur when the Windows Update service isn’t running correctly. Try restarting the Windows Update service to see if that fixes your issue:

On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to open the Run box.
On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to open the Run box.
Type services.msc, then press the Enter key on your keyboard. Type services.msc , then press the Enter key on your keyboard.
Right-click the Windows Update and click Restart. Right-click the Windows Update and click Restart .
Restart your PC to test the issue.
Restart your PC to test the issue.

If your problem persists, then move on to the next fix.

Fix 4: Free up your hard drive space

Windows updates could take up a fair amount of disk space. If your PC is running low on free space, you might encounter issues when installing Windows updates.

In this case, freeing up hard drive space is very likely the solution to your problem. Here are some ways to free up your hard drive space and make room for the update files:

Uninstall unnecessary programs

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key and typecontrol . Then, clickControl Panel .

2) SelectUninstall a program .

3) Right-click the program that you don’t use and selectUninstall .

Only uninstall those programs that you don’t use anymore, don’t remove any program that you are not familiar with. It may be critical for the functioning of your computer.

This could help free up lots of space if you have many unused programs on your computer.

Free up your space with the Disk Cleanup tool

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key and typedisk cleanup . Then, clickDisk Cleanup .

2) Check the boxes to select the file types to get rid of. Then, clickOK .

This can help you get rid of the temporary and unnecessary files and free up your hard drive space so that your computer can update faster.

Defragment your hard drive

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key and typedefragment . Then, clickDefragment and Optimize Drives .

2) ClickOptimize and wait for the process to be complete.

Fix 5: Update your device drivers

Outdated or faulty hardware drivers can also trigger PC issues. To keep your computer running smoothly, it’s essential that you have the latest correct drivers at all times.

There are two ways you can get the right drivers for your hardware: manually or automatically.

Manual driver update – You can update drivers manually by going to the manufacturer’s website for each of your devices, and searching for the most recent correct driver. Be sure to choose only drivers that are compatible with your Windows version.

Automatic driver update – If you don’t have the time, patience, or computer skills to update drivers manually, you can, instead, do it automatically with Driver Easy . Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for your devices, and your Windows version, and it will download and install them correctly:

1)Download and install Driver Easy.

2) Run Driver Easy and click theScan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.

3) Click theUpdate button next to the driver you want to update to automatically download the correct version of this driver, then you can manually install it (you can do this with the FREE version). Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).

You can do it for free if you like, but it’s partly manual.

If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at [email protected] .

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Fix 6: Repair corrupted system files

Corrupted or damaged system files may also be the reason why your computer updates so slow. Follow the instructions below to see how to fix the issue:

Repair corrupted system files with Fortect

Fortect specializes in Windows repair. It scans your system files to see if any are corrupted or missing and replaces system files automatically. It’s like a clean Windows reinstallation in one hour, and you won’t lose any programs, settings, or user data!

1)Download and install Fortect.

Open Fortect and run a free scan of your PC.
Wait for Fortect to scan your PC. This may take a few minutes.

You can review a summary of the issues detected after the scan is finished. If there’s any problem, you have to buy the full version – which comes with a 60-day Money-Back Guarantee. Click START REPAIR to start the repair process.