Having trouble with Windows 10 updates not downloading? Let’s find a solution.
Restart Windows Update Service
To restart the Windows Update service on your Windows 10 computer and fix issues with updates not downloading, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” into the Run dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Services window.
3. Scroll down the list of services and locate “Windows Update.”
4. Right-click on “Windows Update” and select “Restart” from the context menu. This will restart the Windows Update service.
5. Close the Services window and try downloading the updates again.
If restarting the Windows Update service doesn’t resolve the issue, you can also try resetting the Windows Update components. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” into the Run dialog box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. This will open an elevated Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each command:
– “net stop wuauserv”
– “net stop cryptSvc”
– “net stop bits”
– “net stop msiserver”
4. After stopping the services, type the following commands to rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders:
– “ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old”
– “ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old”
5. Finally, restart the services by typing the following commands one by one:
– “net start wuauserv”
– “net start cryptSvc”
– “net start bits”
– “net start msiserver”
6. Close the Command Prompt window and try downloading the updates again.
If you are still experiencing issues with Windows Update, you may need to seek further assistance or consult Microsoft’s official support resources.
Reset Windows Update Registry Keys
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate
4. Right-click on the WindowsUpdate key and select Export to create a backup of the current registry settings (optional but recommended).
5. Once the backup is created (if applicable), right-click on the WindowsUpdate key again and select Delete.
6. Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes in the dialog box.
7. Close the Registry Editor.
After performing these steps, restart your computer and try downloading the Windows 10 updates again. This should reset the Windows Update Registry Keys and resolve any issues preventing updates from downloading.
If you continue to experience problems with Windows 10 updates, you may need to consider other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance from Microsoft support.
Turn OFF Metered Connection
To fix Windows 10 updates not downloading, one possible solution is to turn off the metered connection. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Open the Start menu and click on the Settings icon.
2. In the Settings window, click on “Network & Internet”.
3. On the left-hand side, click on “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet” depending on your connection type.
4. Scroll down and click on “Advanced options”.
5. Under “Metered connection”, toggle the switch to the “Off” position.
6. Close the Settings window.
By turning off the metered connection, Windows 10 will no longer treat your internet connection as a limited data plan. This can sometimes prevent updates from downloading properly.
If you’re still experiencing issues with Windows 10 updates not downloading, you may want to try other troubleshooting steps or check for any error messages that could provide more insight into the problem.
Clear And Rename Software Distribution Folder
To clear and rename the Software Distribution folder on Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to the following directory: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
3. In the SoftwareDistribution folder, select all the files and folders by pressing Ctrl + A.
4. Right-click on the selected files and choose “Delete” from the context menu. Confirm the action if prompted.
5. Once all the files are deleted, go back to the SoftwareDistribution folder and right-click on it.
6. Select “Rename” from the context menu and give it a new name, such as “SoftwareDistribution.old”.
7. Close File Explorer.
Clear Temporary Files
1. Open the Start menu and type “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar. Click on the Disk Cleanup app to open it.
2. Select the drive where Windows is installed (usually the C: drive) and click “OK.”
3. Disk Cleanup will calculate the amount of space you can free up. Check the box next to “Temporary files” and any other file types you want to delete.
4. Click “OK” and then click “Delete Files” to confirm the deletion. This will remove the temporary files from your computer.
5. Restart your computer and try downloading the Windows 10 updates again.
By clearing temporary files, you can free up disk space and potentially fix issues that prevent Windows 10 updates from downloading. This process can be especially helpful if you’re experiencing error messages or slow download speeds.
Perform a DISM and SFC Commands
To fix Windows 10 updates not downloading, you can perform DISM and SFC commands. These commands are designed to scan and repair system files and can help resolve issues with Windows updates. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by searching for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, right-clicking on it, and selecting “Run as administrator.”
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth. This command will scan your system for any corrupt or missing files and attempt to repair them.
3. Wait for the DISM scan to complete. This process may take some time, so be patient. Once it’s finished, you’ll see a message indicating whether any issues were found and repaired.
4. After the DISM scan, you can also run the System File Checker (SFC) command. In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow. This command will scan your system files for any errors and attempt to fix them.
5. Wait for the SFC scan to complete. Again, this process may take some time. Once it’s finished, you’ll see a message indicating whether any issues were found and repaired.
6. Once both scans are complete, restart your computer. After the restart, try downloading and installing Windows updates again to see if the issue is resolved.
By performing these DISM and SFC commands, you can repair any corrupt or missing system files that may be causing issues with Windows 10 updates. This is a straightforward and effective solution that can help ensure your operating system is up to date and functioning properly.
Download Windows Updates Via Update Assistant
To download Windows updates via the Update Assistant, follow these steps:
1. Open your web browser and go to the Microsoft website.
2. Search for “Windows Update Assistant” in the search bar.
3. Click on the official Microsoft link for the Update Assistant.
4. On the Update Assistant page, click on the “Download now” button.
5. Save the Update Assistant file to your computer.
6. Once the download is complete, locate the file and double-click on it to run the Update Assistant.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Update Assistant on your computer.
8. Once the installation is complete, launch the Update Assistant.
9. The Update Assistant will automatically scan your computer for any available Windows updates.
10. If updates are found, click on the “Install now” button to start downloading and installing the updates.
11. Follow any additional prompts or instructions provided by the Update Assistant.
12. Once the updates are downloaded and installed, restart your computer if prompted to do so.
By using the Update Assistant, you can ensure that your Windows 10 updates are downloaded and installed properly, keeping your computer up to date and secure.
Download Windows Updates Via Microsoft Catalog
1. Open your web browser and go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
2. In the search box, type the specific update you are looking for or keywords related to the update.
3. Click on the search icon or press Enter to initiate the search.
4. A list of available updates will be displayed. Look for the update that matches your requirements and click on it to open the details page.
5. On the details page, you will find information about the update, such as the version number, release date, and supported operating systems.
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Download” button.
7. Choose the appropriate version of the update based on your computer’s architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
8. Save the downloaded file to a location on your computer, such as the desktop or a specific folder.
9. Once the download is complete, navigate to the location where you saved the file.
10. Double-click on the downloaded file to begin the installation process.
11. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.
12. After the installation is complete, restart your computer if prompted to do so.
By downloading Windows updates via the Microsoft Catalog, you can ensure that you have the latest updates for your operating system. This method is particularly useful if you are experiencing issues with Windows Update or if you need to install updates on multiple computers.
General fixes
- Restart your computer:
- Click on the Start button.
- Select the Power button.
- Choose Restart from the options.
- Check your internet connection:
- Ensure that you are connected to a stable network.
- Try accessing different websites to confirm internet connectivity.
- Disable third-party antivirus software:
- Open your antivirus software.
- Locate the option to disable or turn off the antivirus.
- Follow the prompts to disable the antivirus temporarily.
- Clear Windows Update cache:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the command “net stop wuauserv” and press Enter.
- Type the command “net stop bits” and press Enter.
- Navigate to the “C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution” folder.
- Delete all the files and folders inside this folder.
- Go back to the Command Prompt.
- Type the command “net start wuauserv” and press Enter.
- Type the command “net start bits” and press Enter.
- Run Windows Update Troubleshooter:
- Open the Settings app.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Select Troubleshoot from the left sidebar.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click on Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the prompts and apply the recommended fixes.
0xC1900101 Errors
1. Check your internet connection: Make sure that you have a stable internet connection before attempting to download updates.
2. Restart your computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve update issues. Restart your computer and try downloading the updates again.
3. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter: Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix common update problems. To run it, follow these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
b. Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
c. Select Windows Update and click on Run the troubleshooter.
d. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
4. Temporarily disable your antivirus software: Sometimes, third-party antivirus software can interfere with the update process. Temporarily disable your antivirus and try downloading the updates again.
5. Update device drivers: Outdated or incompatible device drivers can cause update errors. Make sure all your device drivers are up to date by following these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
b. Expand the categories and right-click on each device.
c. Select Update driver and choose the option to search automatically for updated driver software.
6. Clean up your system files: Accumulated junk files on your system can interfere with the update process. Use the built-in Disk Cleanup utility to clean up your system files by following these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
b. Type “cleanmgr” and press Enter.
c. Select the drive where Windows is installed and click OK.
d. Check the boxes for the files you want to delete and click OK.
7. Reset Windows Update components: If the above steps didn’t work, you can try resetting the Windows Update components. Follow these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).
b. Type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
– net stop wuauserv
– net stop cryptSvc
– net stop bits
– net stop msiserver
c. Type the following commands to rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders:
– ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
– ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
d. Type the following commands to restart the services:
– net start wuauserv
– net start cryptSvc
– net start bits
– net start msiserver
e. Close the Command Prompt and try downloading the updates again.
Other Common Errors
1. Check your internet connection: Ensure that your computer has a stable internet connection. You can try restarting your modem or connecting to a different network to see if that resolves the issue.
2. Disable antivirus software: Sometimes, third-party antivirus software can interfere with Windows updates. Temporarily disable your antivirus program and then try downloading the updates again.
3. Clear the Windows Update cache: The Windows Update cache can sometimes become corrupted, causing issues with downloading updates. To fix this, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following commands: “net stop wuauserv” and “net start wuauserv”. This will stop and restart the Windows Update service, clearing the cache in the process.
4. Run Windows Update troubleshooter: Windows 10 comes with a built-in troubleshooter that can help identify and fix common update-related issues. To access it, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter and follow any recommended steps.
5. Check available disk space: Insufficient disk space can prevent Windows from downloading updates. Make sure you have enough free space on your hard drive by going to This PC (or My Computer) and checking the available space on your system drive. If needed, delete unnecessary files or move them to an external storage device to free up space.
6. Disable proxy settings: If you are using a proxy server, it may be interfering with the update process. Disable proxy settings by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy and turning off the “Use a proxy server” toggle switch.
7. Update device drivers: Outdated or incompatible device drivers can also cause issues with Windows updates. Visit the manufacturer’s website for your computer or hardware components and download the latest drivers for your specific model.
8. Perform a clean boot: Sometimes, third-party software or services can conflict with Windows updates. Perform a clean boot to start Windows with only essential services and processes. Instructions on how to perform a clean boot can be found in the Microsoft Support documentation.
Need more help?
If you’re still having trouble with Windows 10 updates not downloading, here are some additional steps you can take to resolve the issue:
1. Check your internet connection: Make sure you have a stable internet connection before attempting to download updates. Connect to a reliable network and try again.
2. Restart your computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can help fix update-related issues. Close all applications and restart your computer to see if that resolves the problem.
3. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter: Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix common update problems. To run it, follow these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
b. Click on “Update & Security” and then select “Troubleshoot” from the left-hand menu.
c. Scroll down and click on “Windows Update” under “Get up and running.”
The troubleshooter will then guide you through the process of diagnosing and fixing any issues it finds.
4. Reset the Windows Update components: If the troubleshooter doesn’t resolve the problem, you can try resetting the Windows Update components. Here’s how:
a. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
b. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
c. Next, type the following commands to rename the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders:
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
d. Finally, restart the BITS, Windows Update, AppIDSvc, and CryptSvc services:
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc
After completing these steps, try downloading the updates again.
5. Check your antivirus software: Sometimes, antivirus programs can interfere with the Windows Update process. Temporarily disable or uninstall any third-party antivirus software you have installed and check if that resolves the issue.
6. Use the Media Creation Tool: If all else fails, you can use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to manually install the latest updates. This tool allows you to create a bootable USB flash drive or download an ISO file that you can use to upgrade your system.
7. Contact Microsoft support: If none of the above steps work, it may be helpful to reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance. They can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation.
Want more options?
If you’re looking for more options to fix Windows 10 updates not downloading, here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:
1. Restart your computer: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve the issue. Try restarting your computer and then check if the updates start downloading.
2. Check your internet connection: Ensure that your internet connection is stable and working properly. If you’re using a Wi-Fi connection, try switching to a wired connection or vice versa to see if that makes a difference.
3. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter: Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter specifically designed to fix update-related issues. To run it, go to the Settings app, select “Update & Security,” and then click on “Troubleshoot” in the left-hand menu. Choose “Windows Update” from the list and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Reset Windows Update components: If the troubleshooter doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try resetting the Windows Update components. Open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges and run the following commands one by one:
– net stop wuauserv
– net stop cryptSvc
– net stop bits
– net stop msiserver
– ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
– ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
– net start wuauserv
– net start cryptSvc
– net start bits
– net start msiserver
5. Disable third-party antivirus software: Sometimes, third-party antivirus programs can interfere with Windows updates. Temporarily disable any antivirus software you have installed and check if the updates start downloading. If they do, consider updating or replacing your antivirus software.
6. Perform a clean boot: A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, which can help identify and resolve software conflicts. To perform a clean boot, open the System Configuration utility by typing “msconfig” in the Run dialog (Win + R). Go to the “Services” tab, check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box, and then click on “Disable all.” Next, go to the “Startup” tab and click on “Open Task Manager.” Disable all startup items by right-clicking on them and selecting “Disable.” Restart your computer and check if the updates download.