Windows 10 Will Not Update: Try Top 5 Ways Here!

User Case: What Do I Do If My Windows Won’t Update?

If you are also experiencing the Windows 10 will not update issue, don't worry too much. This article will provide you with various effective solutions that you can try one by one until your Windows 10 will not update problem is solved. Check it out below!

Caution:
1. Before doing anything, the safest way is to backup your Windows 10 system to prevent data loss caused by various accidents.
2. With a system backup, you can also quickly roll back to a previous version if something goes wrong with your computer.

How to Fix Windows 10 Will Not Update with 5Ways

If you're facing the problem of Windows 10 not updating, I recommend giving these solutions a shot, one at a time.

👉Important: Backup Your Windows 10 PC to Prevent Data Loss

Method 1. Increase Free Space of System Drive

Sometimes, the issue of Windows 10 not installing or downloading updates can arise due to limited space on the system drive. It's advisable to increase the free space on the system drive to ensure smooth installation of Windows 10 updates.

One effective way to achieve this is by using the Disk Cleanup utility, which helps free up disk space and remove unnecessary files that not only occupy system memory but also slow down your PC. Let's walk through the steps to clean up your disk:

Step 1. Right-click on the Windows 10 Start menu and select Run. In the Run dialog box, type "diskmgmt.msc" and click OK or press Enter to proceed.

Step 2. Once you're in the Disk Management main interface, select the system drive you want to work with. Right-click on it and choose Properties from the context menu.

Step 3. A pop-up window will appear, and you need to click on Disk Cleanup to proceed.

Step 4. Disk Cleanup will take a few minutes to calculate the amount of free space available, which may vary depending on the number of files on your disk. Once the calculation is complete, you can select the files you want to delete. Finally, click OK to proceed.

Step 5. A popup message will appear asking, "Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?" Click on "Delete Files" to proceed and complete the Disk Cleanup process.

Once you have successfully increased the capacity of the system drive, I recommend restarting your computer. After the restart, try checking for new Windows updates to see if the issue of Windows 10 will not update has been resolved.

Method 2. Remove Third-Party Security Software

To begin with, third-party security software can provide protection against viruses and security threats, but sometimes it can interfere with the proper functioning of applications. If you have installed such software and are experiencing issues with Windows 10 updates, try temporarily removing it and then running Windows Update again. Here's a simple guide on how to uninstall third-party software:

Step 1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Control Panel.

Step 2. Click on Programs and Features, locate the third-party software you want to uninstall, right-click on it, and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process. Afterward, restart your computer and check if the PC will not update Windows 10 issue is resolved.

Method 3. Restart Windows Update Service using CMD

If you're experiencing issues with Windows 10 updates, you can attempt to resolve it by restarting the Windows Update services using the Command Prompt (CMD). Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Right-click on the Windows 10 Start menu, or press the Windows key + X key simultaneously. Then, select Command Prompt (Admin).

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window that appears, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each command. Make sure to wait for each process to finish before proceeding to the next command.

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

Once you have executed all the commands, it's time to restart your computer. After the restart, you can check if the issue of Windows 10 not downloading updates has been resolved.

Method 4. Manually Check Windows Update Utility

Windows Update is a Microsoft service designed to automate the process of downloading and installing software updates for the Windows operating system. This service also provides updates for Microsoft antivirus products like Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials.

If you're facing difficulties with Windows 10 updates, it's worth checking if the Windows Update Utility is functioning properly. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you with the process:

Step 1. Open the Settings app either from the Windows 10 Start Menu or by pressing the Windows Key + I keys together. Then click on Update & Security.

Step 2. A window will appear displaying relevant information. If any issues are detected and Windows can identify them, you will find details here. To resolve these issues, click on Fix issues, and the Windows Update utility will automatically assist in completing the updating process.

Step 3. Additionally, you can click on Advanced options to access more detailed information. For optimal results, it is advisable to select the Automatic option.

Once you have completed all the steps, I recommend restarting your computer and checking if the issue of computer will not update to Windows 10 has been resolved.

Method 5. EnsureAll Windows Update Services are Running

If none of the Windows update services are running, it can also cause the issue of Windows 10 not updating. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to ensure all Windows update services are running:

Step 1. Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Run, or press the Windows key + R keys. In the Run dialog box, type services.msc and click OK.

Step 2. In the new window that appears, locate and right-click on Windows Update, then select Properties from the context menu.

Step 3. Within the popup window, set the Startup type to Automatic. If the Service Status is currently stopped, click on Start to initiate it. Finally, click on Apply and then OK to confirm the changes.

Step 4. Find and right-click on Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and select Properties. Set the Startup type to Automatic and ensure that the Service Status is set to Running. Finally, click on OK to proceed.

Step 5. Find and right-click on Cryptographic Service and select Properties. Set the Startup type to Automatic. Repeat the same process to complete the configuration.

These are the five methods you can use to fix Windows 10 will not update, try them one by one until you solve your problem.

As mentioned at the beginning, it's always better to backup your Windows 10 OS before and after the operation to prevent data loss caused by improper operation. A good habit of backing up is also essential to protect your data. Below I will recommend you a professional backup software to backup your Windows 10 PC.

Important: Backup Your Windows 10 PC to Prevent Data Loss

Before proceeding with a Windows upgrade fix, it is crucial to understand the potential risks involved, such as data loss, system failures, and other issues. To mitigate these risks and ensure the safety of your data, it is highly recommended to create a system backup. A reliable tool for this purpose is AOMEI Backupper Standard.

AOMEI Backupper Standard is a comprehensive backup and recovery tool that supports Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. It offers various backup options, including system backup, disk backup, partition backup, and file backup. It allows you to backup to NAS, network drives, internal or external drives, as well as cloud storage. Additionally, it provides features like automatic backups based on daily, weekly, monthly, and event triggers, or USB plug in.

AOMEI Backupper

Best free Windows backup software for personal use.

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Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Here are the steps to create a Windows system backup using AOMEI Backupper Standard:

Step 1. Open AOMEI Backupper on your computer. Click on the Backup option and choose System Backup.

Tip: If you want to backup specific folders and files on Windows 11, you can select the File Backup option. Alternatively, you can create a backup of your entire hard drive using the Disk Backup feature.

Step 2. By default, the software will automatically select the system and boot partitions as the source for the backup. Now, choose a destination path where you would like to store the backup files.

Step 3. Take a moment to review all the operations you have selected. Once you are ready, click on the Start Backup button to commence the system backup process.

Notes:
▶Apart from backup functionality, AOMEI Backupper offers the option to create bootable media, which can be useful in preventing boot failures after updates.
▶Additionally, advanced editions of AOMEI Backupper, such as Professional, provide a System Clone feature. This feature allows you to transfer your system to a new hard drive without the need for a time-consuming restore process.

Summary

Are you still experiencing Windows 10 will not update even after going through this post? It's time for you to try the methods mentioned above one by one. Moreover, if you are worried about the risk of data loss or encountering difficulties in starting your computer due to a Windows upgrade problem, AOMEI Backupper can offer a simple solution for backing up your computer.

With this tool, you can easily create backups of your crucial data and the entire Windows system. In case of any unexpected incidents, you can quickly restore your system using the backups created with AOMEI Backupper.