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11 Ways to Fix Windows Update Stuck at 0% Downloading

December 10, 2023

It is optimal to keep your Windows updated to the latest version to avoid issues like performance drops, app incompatibility, bugs, etc. But what if you face issues with downloading the Windows update itself?

There have been many reports that are coming from users stating that they were unable to download the Windows Update. Users have mentioned that the download was stuck at 0% and didn’t move any further, no matter what they did.

But what causes this issue and what measures to follow to fix it? If you have been searching the internet for these questions, you have landed at the right place. In this article, we will guide you through the troubleshooting steps to fix Windows Update stuck at 0% downloading.

Contents show

Why is Windows Update Stuck at 0% Downloading?

There can be many factors that can make Windows Update stuck at 0%, such as:

Slow internet
Third-party services running in the background
Issues with the Windows Update service
Low storage
Antivirus or firewall causing issues with Windows Update
Corrupted Windows Update components
Incorrect date and time

Fix Windows Update Stuck at 0% Downloading

So, how do I fix this issue with the Windows Update? If you are unable to update Windows, or if the Windows Update is stuck at 0% downloading, then you can go ahead with the steps mentioned in this article to fix this issue-

1. Check Your Internet

The issue is often caused by a slow internet connection. You need a fast and stable internet to download Windows Update without issues. Follow the steps given below to identify whether you have slow internet and fix it-

Visit the Speedtest website and run the speed test here.
You will see the ping, download speed, and upload speed here. Your ping should not be too high (like above 40 ms) and your download and upload speed should not be too low (like below 2 Mbps).
If your internet is slow, then reconnect to the Wi-Fi network. It would be best to restart your router (or mobile hotspot) and then connect your PC to it again.
If the LAN option is available, then connect your PC to the internet through the LAN. If it is not, then try switching to a 5Ghz band for better connectivity.
If you have tried the above options, but that still doesn’t help, you can try switching to a different network.

2. Restart your System

If there’s no issue with your internet and you have confirmed it with the above steps, your system probably needs a restart. There can be third-party apps, services, or temporary bugs running in the background causing this issue. What you can do is restart your system and then try to download the update again.

3. Disable Third-Party Services

The next thing that we recommend is to disable all the third-party services running on your Windows PC. Only allow the essential Mircosoft services and then try installing the updates. Below are the steps to do so-

Open the Start Menu, search for msconfig and press Enter.
Click on the Services tab in the System Configuration window.
Check the Hide all Microsoft Services option and then click on Disable All.
After this, you will have to restart your PC.

4. Check Disk Space

Ensure you have enough storage on your Windows installation disk. Windows Update requires some free space, around 10GB or more. If you don’t have enough space left, then you can try uninstalling unwanted apps. You can also try deleting the temporary files by following the steps given below to free some storage-

Open the Settings by pressing Windows + I key combo.
Under the System tab, click on Storage.
Now, click on the Temporary Files here.
Here, select all the temporary files that you want to remove.
Click on Remove Files to delete the temporary files from your PC.

5. Restart Software Update Service

If Windows Update is stuck at 0% downloading, it can be due to issues with the Software Update service. You can try restarting the Software Update service to resolve this issue. Here’s how you can do it-

Press the Windows key, search for services.msc, and press Enter.
In the Services window, right-click on the Windows Update and then click on Stop.
After this, press the Windows + E key combo to open File Explorer.
Head to the following path here-
- ```
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
```
Select all the files and delete them.
Head back to the Services window, right-click on Windows Update, and then click on Start.
Once done, try updating your PC again.

6. Reset Windows Update Component

If you tried restarting the Windows Update service, and that doesn’t help fix this issue, then you can try resetting the Windows Update component. Below are the steps to do so-

Press the Windows key and search for CMD. Right-click on Command Prompt and then on Run as Administrator.
In the UAC prompt, click on Yes.

After this, execute 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
```

After running the above commands, try downloading the update again.

7. Turn Off Firewall

Firewall can also cause issues with downloading the update on your Windows PC. You can turn off the firewall on your Windows PC and then check for the updates. Here’s how you can do it-

Open the Start Menu, type Windows Defender Firewall, and open it.
Now, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall On or Off.
Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) for both Private network settings and public network settings.
Once done, click on OK.

8. Disable Antivirus

Just like Firewall, antivirus can also cause issues with downloading Windows Update. If you have third-party antivirus, then disable them. If you don’t use any third-party antivirus, then you will have to disable Windows Security. To do so, follow the steps given below-

Open Windows Security from the Start Menu.
Click on Virus & Threat Protection.
Under Virus & Threat Protection Settings, click on Manage Settings.
Turn off the toggle for Real-time protection.

9. Run SFC Scan

Corrupted system files can also cause this issue. You can run the SFC scan to scan and fix corrupted system files and download Windows updates without issues.

Press the Windows + R key combo, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
In the UAC prompt, click on Yes.
Now, type and execute the command-
```
sfc /scannow
```
Restart the PC once the SFC scan is completed, and then download the Windows Update again.

10. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Another thing that you can do if you are unable to download the Windows Update is to run the Windows update troubleshooter. This can be done by following the steps given below-

Open the Settings on your Windows PC.
Under the System tab, click on Troubleshoot.
Now, click on Other trouble-shooters.
Click the Run button next to Windows Update and follow the on-screen instructions.

11. Update Windows Using Windows Installation Assistant

If the Windows update is stuck at 0% downloading, you can manually update Windows using installation assistant. Below are the steps to do so-

On your browser, head to the official Windows 11 page and click the Download Now button under Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
Once done, launch the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
You will be asked to accept the terms and conditions, click on Accept and Install.
After this, follow the on-screen instructions and the Windows will be updated to the latest version.

Bottom Line

This was our guide to fix Windows Update stuck at 0% downloading. The issue should be long gone once you follow the above steps and you should not face any issues while updating your Windows.