Windows 10 Update Wont Download

RECOMMENDED: Click here to fix Windows errors and improve PC performance

Windows 10 home. 64 bit system. 6 gig memory disk has been checked and is Ok, antivirus is running and is up-to-date. When I go t windows updates and security it shows it is downloading n update but it never makes any progress. The patch never downloads. When I down load the latest update manually and click run it fails with. I checked on updates for Windows 10, and Windows shows updates are available but won't download them ('waiting to download', even after many shutdown/restarts across many days). The last 3 updates available are dated 8/10/15, and it is now 8/24/15. Windows 10 home 64 bit system 6 gig memory disk has been checked and is Ok, antivirus is running and is up-to-date. When I go t windows updates and security it shows it is downloading n update but it never makes any progress. The patch never downloads. When I down load the latest update. Try the Windows Updates troubleshooter. Windows 10 PC; Windows 10 Creators Update won’t download updates over a metered connection (hopefully). Or should Microsoft notify the users to download the critical updates, if their PCs are. How to handle Windows 10 updates. 10 ways to work better with G Suite. Chat happens: Your guide to 10 group-chat services. 10 tips for preventing Slack burnout. 10 Smartsheet tips and tricks.

Windows 10 Update Won T Download Stuck At 0%

Windows Defender is the default antivirus software in Windows 10. The Defender program helps protect your Windows operating system as well as data from common threats like viruses, spyware, and malware.

With default settings, Windows Defender automatically downloads antivirus definitions from Microsoft servers when new updates are available. Usually Microsoft releases new definitions every day through Windows Update service. So it’s important to keep the Windows Update turned on in order to automatically update Windows Defender.

Many users turn off Windows Update for a number of reasons. While some users disable Windows Update to avoid future updates, there are many users who prefer to manually update Windows operating system.

If you have also turned off Windows Update service in Windows 10 and now want to manually update Windows Defender in Windows 10, you will be happy know that manually updating Windows Defender is quite easy. All you need to do is, download Windows Defender updates from Microsoft and then run the update in Windows 10 to update Windows Defender.

Manually updating Windows Defender in Windows 10

NOTE: This method can also be used to update offline Windows 10 PC.

Complete the given below directions to manually update Windows Defender in Windows 10.

Step 1: Before downloading Defender definition updates, open Windows Defender program either using Start menu search or clicking its icon in system tray, and then check the current version and installed date of definition.

After launching Windows Defender, click on Update tab to know when was the last time updates were installed. Note down definitions last updated and virus & spyware definition version before proceeding further.

If the definition updates were installed less than a day ago, you don’t need to update it again. That said, it’s recommended to keep antivirus definition up-to-date.

Step 2: Visit this page of Microsoft and scroll down the page to see definition updates for Windows Defender for Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7.

As you can see in the picture below, the page offers separate update files for x86 and x64 types of Windows 10. So check if you are running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10 and then download updates for either x86 or x64.

Be sure to click the download link next to Windows Defender in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1.

Step 3: Once the update is downloaded to your PC, you need to run the update in order to install. To do so, simply double-click on the update file to begin updating Windows Defender. Note that you won’t see any window or dialog box during the process.

Windows Defender should be updated in a few seconds. That’s it!

Step 4: Open Windows Defender program, switch to Update tab and check the update version and install date just to make sure that latest definition updates are installed.

You can now perform a full scan or offline scan using Windows Defender.

How to remove Scan with Windows Defender from right-click menu in Windows 10 guide might also be of interest to you.

Windows Update is sometimes underestimated as a cornerstone of your system’s integrity and security. Microsoft also delivers featured OS updates from Windows Update, including the Windows 10 October 2018 Update that was just re-released after a fitful start, and so you’ll need to make sure that it’s up and running. The update process has been greatly streamlined for Windows 10, but that doesn’t mean it’s always problem-free, especially when it comes to compatibility and patches.

Here, we’ll show you how to get Windows Update working again when it fails, and what to do if it looks like an update is causing problems.

Manage when automatic updates reboot your machine

Download

You can’t permanently turn off automatic updates in Windows 10, but you can manage when your machine reboots after installing an update. That way, you can at least make sure your machine doesn’t restart during your workday or at an inconvenient time. Here’s how:

Step 1: Go to or search for Settings. Then select Update & Security options.

Step 2: Select the Windows Update tab at the top of the list on the left-hand side. Then, click Change active hours at the bottom of the window.

Step 3: This will bring up a window called Active hours, which will let you set a start and end time for when restarts will occur. Keep in mind that this doesn’t change when updates are installed, but only when your machine will automatically restart — and then, only when you’re not actively using it. Select your preferred times, and click Save.

Download

Step 4: If an update has already been scheduled, then you can select Restart options from the main Windows Update settings page to select a custom restart time. Just toggle the setting on, and then select your preferred time and day.

Step 5: Finally, you can defer system upgrades for a period of time if you so choose, or pause them temporarily. Keep in mind that there are separate settings for major updates, like the October 2018 Update, and for quality updates like security updates.

To defer upgrades, select Advanced Options on the main Windows Update page. Use the drop-down lists to decide how many days you want to defer them for.

You can also use this menu to make other adjustments to the way updates are applied, including whether they’re automatic or manually triggered. You even have the option to pause them entirely.

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft knows that sometimes things like the Windows 10 October 2018 Update can bring along a few unwanted issues, which is why the company created the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This tool will run through your basic operating system parameters and look for any obvious problems that may be keeping Windows Update from functioning correctly. If it can, the troubleshooter will also fix them automatically, or at least let you know what the issue is.

Try this analysis early on if you’re experiencing update issues. Head over to Microsoft’s support page and click Download troubleshooter for Windows 10the tool should take care of the rest. It might ask you for administrator privileges to perform a deeper check, but beyond giving it permission to do so, you don’t need to do anything else.

It won’t solve every problem, but it’s a great place to start and will usually provide useful information even if it can’t offer a fix.

Check your installation error code

Windows 10 Won't Download Files

If your general update or featured update to the Windows 10 April or October 2018 Update fails or creates problems, it will often give you an installation error code. The codes don’t tell you much by themselves, but they do include a lot of useful info if you hop online and consult Microsoft’s guide on the matter. Below, we’ve included a table highlighting some of the more common errors.

0x80073712A file needed by Windows Update is likely damaged or missing.
0x800F0923This might indicate that a driver or other software on your PC isn’t compatible with the upgrade to Windows 10. For info about how to fix this problem, contact Microsoft support.
0x80200056This could mean that the upgrade process was interrupted because you accidentally restarted your PC or signed out of your PC. Try upgrading again and make sure your PC is plugged in and stays turned on.
0x800F0922
This error might mean that your PC couldn’t connect to the Windows Update servers. If you’re using a VPN connection to connect to a work network, disconnect from the network and turn off the VPN software (if applicable) and try upgrading again. The error could also mean there isn’t enough free space in the System Reserved partition. You might be able to fix this problem by using third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition.
0xC1900208 – 0x4000CThis could indicate that an incompatible app installed on your PC is blocking the upgrade process from completing. Check to make sure that any incompatible apps are uninstalled and then try upgrading again.
0xC1900202 – 0x20008
This may signify that your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to download or install the upgrade to Windows 10.
0x80070070 – 0x50012
This likely indicates that your PC doesn’t have enough space available to install the upgrade. Free some space on the drive and try again.

Note that this guide is designed specifically for Windows 10 and recent versions like the October 2018 Update. Error codes may not mean the same thing in other versions of Windows.

If all else fails, these quick fixes might do it

Have all the automatic checks and codes failed you? It’s time to go back to the tried-and-true methods, the tricks that have been solving update errors since the update was first invented. Here are a few options that may work for you.

Reboot your computer

This is a surprisingly effective method that will solve a host of computer issues — and it often works for Windows Update. When you encounter an error message, reboot your machine and try to run the updates again. If you haven’t run Windows Update for some time, then you might have to repeat this process several times before all updates have been installed.

Why Won't Windows Install Updates

Do you have enough disk space?

Windows 10 Update Download

One scenario in which updates may fail is when your system drive is running out of space. Double-check that you have at least 10GB of free space. If you don’t, perform a disk cleanup to remove files. To do so, type Disk Cleanup into Cortana’s search box, click Disk Cleanup to start the utility, and, if requested, select your system drive (usually C:). Afterward, specify the type of files that you want to get rid of and select OK. Try to stay away from important system files.

Alternatively, third-party software like CCleaner can be great for freeing up extra space on your system. For more information on this topic, check out our more complete guide on managing Windows 10’s storage space.

Is malware causing the issue?

Malware can change critical system files and break Windows services, meaning it’s a good idea to run a malware scanner to make sure your system isn’t compromised. If you don’t have any sort of antivirus software, check out some of our personal favorites for Windows-based machines. After all, sorting through heaps and heaps of software is never fun — and neither is paying.

Contact Microsoft support

If you’ve done everything you can, it’s time to contact Microsoft support and see if they can pinpoint the issue. Head over to the company’s contact page, where you can start a chat, request a call back, or schedule a call. There’s also an option to ask the community, which may be a bit more time-consuming but can be useful if others have already encountered and fixed the update issue.

Editors' Recommendations

Comments are closed.