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6 min fix 2 min read Reviewed 6 months agoBeginner

By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, and click the Run button next to Windows Update to automatically clear corrupted update files.

How to Fix Windows 11 Update Failures ​

Applies to: Windows 11
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-01-14

Summary ​

Windows Updates are crucial for security, but they sometimes get stuck or fail to install. This article guides you through the built-in troubleshooting steps to resolve update errors.

Prerequisites ​

  • Ensure you have at least 10GB of free disk space.
  • Disconnect non-essential peripherals (USB drives, printers).

Instructions ​

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter ​

Windows has an automated tool to fix update services.

  1. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot.
  2. Click Other troubleshooters.
  3. Click Run next to Windows Update.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts and apply any fixes.
  5. Restart your computer.

2. Reset Update Components (Command Prompt) ​

If the troubleshooter fails, manually clearing the update cache often works.

  1. Press the Start key, type cmd.
  2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  3. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
    powershell
    net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start wuauserv
net start bits
  4. Close the Command Prompt and try updating again.

Troubleshooting ​

DANGER

If a specific update keeps failing, you can pause updates for 7 days to let Microsoft fix the bug.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Error 0x80070002Corrupted FilesRun Method 2 (Reset Components).
Update Stuck at x%Slow ServerWait at least 1 hour before force-restarting.