Windows Update Stuck on "Pending Download" or "Working on Updates"

Common Signs or Symptoms:

Windows Updates may become stuck showing "Pending Download" or "Working on Updates", preventing updates from downloading or installing correctly.

Troubleshooting Steps:

A simple way to refresh the Windows Update cache is to temporarily pause updates and then resume them.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Windows Update.
  3. Under Pause updates, choose a date approximately one week in the future.
  4. Wait a few seconds for the setting to apply.
  5. Change the paused date back to today (or select Resume updates if available).
  6. Click Check for updates.

Pausing and then resuming Windows Updates forces Windows to refresh its update queue and cache. In many cases, this clears stuck "Pending Download" or "Working on Updates" statuses and allows updates to download and install successfully.

If the issue persists then restart the computer and run check for updates again. If updates continue to fail or remain stuck, contact IT support for further troubleshooting.

 

If this article did not help, please review the Related Articles in the right hand column or select the Related Services / Offerings and choose Report an Issue or Problem to open a ticket with the IT Service Desk.
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