- \n
- \u00a0Click on Update & Security.
\n![\"updates](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a02c55.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Select Troubleshoot on the left sidebar.
\n![\"troubleshoot\"](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a0ccdb.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Then, click on Additional troubleshooters.
\n![\"additional](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a12730.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n- Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter:\n
- \n
- Scroll down and select Windows Update.
\n![\"windows](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a190f6.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Click Run the troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions.
\n![\"run](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a1e10a.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- The troubleshooter will attempt to fix any issues with pending updates.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Method 2: Uninstall Pending Updates (If Possible)<\/p>\n
- \n
- Open Control Panel:
\nPress Win + R, type Control, and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
\n![\"control\"](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a337ff.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Go to Programs:
\nClick Programs > View installed updates.
\n![\"programs\"](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a3963c.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Find Updates:\n
- \n
- \u00a0Scroll through the list to find any updates that have been installed recently or are still pending.<\/li>\n
- Right-click on the update and select Uninstall if it has been installed, but you want to remove it.
\n![\"installed](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_15f04fc1.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n- Stop Pending Updates:
\nIf an update is stuck or pending, you might not be able to uninstall it directly, but you can try pausing updates for a period (covered in the next method).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nMethod 3: Pause Windows Updates<\/p>\n
- \n
- Open Settings: Press Win + I to open Settings.<\/li>\n
- Navigate to Update & Security:
\nGo to Update & Security > Windows Update.
\n![\"windows](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_a63001.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Pause Updates:\n
- \n
- \u00a0Click on Advanced options.
\n![\"advanced](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_b4aaea.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Under the Pause updates section, select a date to pause updates temporarily.
\n![\"select](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_b525f6.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nMethod 4: Manually Clear the SoftwareDistribution Folder<\/p>\n
- \n
- Stop Windows Update Service:\n
- \n
- Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
\n![\"ok\"](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_b599ce.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Locate Windows Update in the list of services.<\/li>\n
- Right-click and choose Stop.
\n![\"stop\"](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_b62ff4.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n- Delete Files in the SoftwareDistribution Folder:\n
- \n
- \u00a0Go to C:\\Windows\\SoftwareDistribution\\Download.
\n![\"download\"](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_b685c4.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n- Delete all files and folders in this directory.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
- Restart Windows Update Service:\n
- \n
- \u00a0Go back to the Windows Update service (in services.msc).<\/li>\n
- Right-click and choose Start.
\n![\"start\"](\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Snag_b787a4.png\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nMethod 5: Use Command Prompt to Revert Updates<\/p>\n
You can use the command line to reset the update components:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
\nSearch for Command Prompt in the Start menu, right-click, and choose Run as Administrator.<\/li>\n - Run the Following Commands:
\nnet stop wuauserv
\nnet stop bits
\ndel %windir%\\SoftwareDistribution\\Download\\*.*
\nnet start wuauserv
\nnet start bits<\/li>\n - This will stop the update services, delete pending updates, and restart the services.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
After performing these steps, Windows should no longer be stuck on pending updates, and you can try rerunning the updates if necessary.<\/p>\n
Managing Windows updates and system stability?<\/strong>
\nA Windows VPS Hosting<\/a> solution provides administrator access and the flexibility needed to control updates, server settings and application environments.<\/div>\nFor updating Plesk after managing Windows updates, check out our guide on How to install or update Plesk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This article explains how to revert pending Windows updates. Doing this will help resolve system instability, software conflicts, or boot failures caused by incomplete or problematic updates. If you want…<\/p>\n
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
- Under the Pause updates section, select a date to pause updates temporarily.
- Pause Updates:\n
- Stop Pending Updates:
- Go to Programs:
- Click Run the troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Select Troubleshoot on the left sidebar.