How to Fix Windows 11 Update Stuck at 0% (2026 Guide)

Why Windows 11 Updates Get Stuck at 0%

A Windows 11 update frozen at 0% downloading is one of the most frustrating problems you can hit — nothing appears to happen, and waiting longer doesn't help. This happens for a handful of specific reasons: a corrupted Windows Update cache, the Update service has silently stopped, your system drive is almost full, or a recently installed security patch introduced a compatibility conflict. Each cause has a direct fix, and in most cases you'll have the update moving within 10 minutes.

Before You Troubleshoot: Wait 30 Minutes First

Major Windows 11 feature updates (24H2, 25H2) can sit at 0% for 20–30 minutes while Windows prepares the download package in the background. If the progress bar just appeared, give it at least 30 minutes before concluding it's stuck. Minor cumulative updates should start downloading within 5 minutes — if they don't, proceed with the fixes below.

Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft's built-in troubleshooter detects and auto-fixes the most common update failures, including service crashes and cache corruption.

1. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
2. Click Run next to Windows Update.
3. Wait for the diagnostic to complete and apply any fixes it recommends.
4. Restart your PC and check for updates again.

This resolves the stuck-at-0% issue for roughly half of users without any manual steps.

Method 2: Restart the Windows Update Service

The Windows Update service (wuauserv) sometimes enters a hung state that prevents any download from starting.

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
2. Scroll to Windows Update, right-click, and select Stop.
3. Also stop Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and Cryptographic Services.
4. Wait 10 seconds, then right-click each service and select Start.
5. Alternatively, do this faster from an elevated Command Prompt:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start wuauserv

6. Go back to Windows Update and click Check for updates.

Method 3: Clear the Windows Update Cache (SoftwareDistribution Folder)

Windows stores downloaded update files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download. If this folder becomes corrupted, new downloads stall at 0%. Deleting it forces Windows to re-download the update files fresh.

1. First, stop the Windows Update service (see Method 2 above).
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
3. Select all files and folders inside Download and delete them. Do not delete the Download folder itself.
4. Also clear: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore
5. Restart the Windows Update service.
6. Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates.

Windows will re-download the pending update from scratch, typically starting within 2–3 minutes.

Method 4: Free Up Disk Space on the System Drive

Windows 11 needs a minimum of 10–15 GB free on the system drive (usually C:) to download and apply updates. If your C: drive is nearly full, updates stall silently at 0%.

1. Open Settings > System > Storage to see drive usage.
2. Click Cleanup recommendations to remove temporary files, old update files, and Recycle Bin contents.
3. For a faster clean: open Disk Cleanup, select drive C:, check Temporary files and Windows Update Cleanup, click OK.
4. If space is critically low, move large files to an external drive or a secondary partition.

Method 5: Run SFC and DISM to Repair System Files

Corrupted system files prevent Windows Update from completing download verification steps, causing it to restart the download repeatedly and appear stuck.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run: sfc /scannow — wait for it to complete (10–15 minutes).
3. Then run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

4. Restart your PC and attempt the update again.

Method 6: Manually Install the Update Using the Microsoft Update Catalog

If Windows Update itself keeps getting stuck, bypass it by downloading the update package directly and installing it manually.

1. Find the KB number of the stuck update from Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
2. Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog (catalog.update.microsoft.com).
3. Search for the KB number and download the correct version for your system (x64 for 64-bit Windows).
4. Run the downloaded .msu or .exe installer as Administrator.
5. Restart when prompted.

Method 7: Reset Windows Update Components

If all other methods fail, resetting the Windows Update components completely clears the update stack and forces a clean state.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands in sequence:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start msiserver

2. Restart your PC and go to Settings > Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates — Windows creates a fresh update database and should begin downloading normally.

When Updates Keep Failing

If Windows 11 updates consistently fail or get stuck across multiple attempts, there may be a deeper OS-level issue that standard troubleshooting can't reach. Our team at CloudHouse Technologies Pay-Per-Ticket Support provides remote Windows 11 repair — including stubborn update failures — with no subscription required.

FAQ

How long should I wait before deciding a Windows 11 update is stuck at 0%?

Wait at least 30 minutes for a major feature update (24H2, 25H2). For monthly cumulative updates (typically 500MB–2GB), wait 10–15 minutes. If progress doesn't change at all after that, proceed with Method 1 or Method 2.

Is it safe to restart my PC when Windows 11 update is stuck at 0%?

Yes — if the download is stuck at 0%, no files have been applied to the system yet. A restart is safe and often clears the hang. After restart, Windows Update will resume or restart the download.

Why does my Windows 11 update always get stuck after a certain percentage?

Getting stuck at a consistent non-zero percentage (like 45% or 82%) indicates a specific update file is corrupted. Clear the SoftwareDistribution folder (Method 3), run SFC/DISM (Method 5), then retry. If it stalls at the same point repeatedly, use the Microsoft Update Catalog (Method 6) to install that specific KB manually.

Can a slow internet connection cause Windows 11 updates to stick at 0%?

A slow connection causes slow progress, not a stuck update. If the progress bar is genuinely frozen — not moving at all for 30+ minutes — the cause is almost always the Windows Update service, the SoftwareDistribution cache, or disk space, not internet speed.

How do I check which Windows 11 update is stuck?

Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history. Look for an entry with status "Failed" or still showing as "Pending install." The KB number next to it identifies the specific update. You can search that KB in the Microsoft Update Catalog to manually download and install it.