What to Do When Windows Updates Keep Failing on Windows 11

An updated Windows operating system ensures your computer runs smoothly. Occasionally, you might encounter the annoying issue of "Windows updates failing on Windows 11". There can be multiple reasons behind a failed Windows update. Whether due to network issues or conflicts with third-party software, it's crucial to quickly find a solution to ensure a smooth updating process.

This article, from < a href="/">Tools</a>, delves into the reasons behind failed Windows updates on Windows 11. We provide effective steps to resolve this issue. Whether you're encountering error codes or installation failures, these detailed steps will guide you through the troubleshooting process.

Why does my Windows 11 update keep failing?

Windows 11 updates can fail for various reasons. Here are some possible causes behind the issue:

• Lack of disk space
• Network connection issues
• Problems with the Windows Update service
• Background processes and services
• Damaged system files
• Pending updates
• Outdated or incompatible drivers
• Security software can sometimes block updates
• If you've set your internet connection as a metered connection, Windows might delay updates

With the possible causes of the Windows 11 update failure in mind, it's now time to learn how to fix this error. Read on!

How to Fix Windows 11 Update Failing Permanently

Issues with Windows updates can put your computer's security at risk. Here are some effective solutions to fix failed or Windows 11 cumulative update installation issues.

• Solution 1: Check your Internet connection
• Solution 2: Remove all peripherals from your computer
• Solution 3: Temporarily disable antivirus software
• Solution 4: Check disk space availability
• Solution 5: Restart Windows Update related services
• Solution 6: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Solution 7: Run SFC or DISM commands
• Solution 8: Reset Windows 11

Fix 1: Check your internet connection

A stable internet connection is crucial for updating Windows 11. An unstable connection can lead to Windows update errors. Follow these steps to check and improve your network speed:

Step 1. Check the network icon.

Step 2: Enable network connectivity.

Step 3: Right-click the Network icon in the Taskbar.

Step 4: Select Network & Internet.

Step 5: Click on "Network Connections", then select "Change adapter settings".

Step 6: Choose the network connection you want to use.

Step 7: Click on "Activate" to activate the network connection.

Check the network connection

Step 8. Restart your router/modem.

Step 9. Disable any virtual private networks (VPNs) and proxies. These can interfere with your Internet connection and the Windows update process.

Fix 2: Disconnect all peripherals from your computer

Devices connected to your computer can also cause update issues. A faulty peripheral can affect the update process; unplug all of your peripherals. Reconnect them one at a time to see if they're causing the problem. To fix this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Unplug all peripherals from your computer.

Step 2: Restart your computer.

Step 3: Try updating to Windows 11 now.

Step 5: If the update was successful after removing the devices, reconnect them one at a time.

Step 6: After reconnecting all peripherals, check for updates again to see if a specific device is causing the update to fail.

Step 7. Install the latest drivers for all your peripherals. Make sure they're compatible with Windows 11. Some older devices might not be compatible with the latest OS, causing update issues.

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Solution 3: Temporarily disable the antivirus software

Antivirus software can also block Windows updates. Disable your antivirus software, then try running the Windows Update again. Reactivate your antivirus after the update is complete. Here's how to disable your antivirus:

Step 1. Open your antivirus software.

Step 2: Go to Admin settings.

Step 3: Find the option for Real-Time Protection or Active Scanning, and disable it temporarily.

Find the option for Real-Time Protection

Step Four: Update your system.

Step 5: After the update, reactivate Real-Time Protection.

Solution 4: Check the disk space remaining

A Windows update requires 64 GB of available space. If you don't have enough storage, the Windows 11 update might fail or stop. Make sure you have enough C drive space to update Windows. To check the disk space on your Windows 11, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open File Explorer on your computer.

Step 2. In the left pane of File Explorer, go to This PC.

Step 3: Open the Properties of drive C.

<b>Step 4:</b> Check the "<b>Free space</b>".

Check available space

If you don't have enough storage space, you need to free up some space.

Solution 5: Restart the Windows Update-related Services

An update may fail due to corrupted Windows Update files. Delete these files and restart the update process to resolve the issue. You can manually remove Windows Update files in Safe Mode. To troubleshoot the update issue, follow these steps by launching the Command Prompt from the Taskbar search:

Step 1: Restart your computer.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode.

Step 3: Open the C:\WINDOWS\ directory on your computer.

Step 4. Select the "SoftwareDistribution" folder and delete it. This folder contains the files for Windows Update. You may get a prompt that some of the files are in use. If prompted, skip these files.

Step 5: Restart your computer and exit Safe Mode.

Step 6: Try updating to Windows 11 now.

Solution 6: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

The Windows Update troubleshooter can detect issues affecting the update process. You can use this tool to fix the problem. Use the built-in tool to fix Windows Update issues by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2. Click on "Update & Security".

Step 3: Open the Troubleshooting settings.

Step 4: Click Other troubleshooting tools.

Step 5: Click on “Windows Update.”

Step 6: Tap Run the Troubleshooter to begin the process.

Step 7: Follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 8: Review the results to see if it detects and fixes any problems.

Step 9: Restart your computer to apply any changes or repairs that the tool might have made.

Fix 7: Run SFC or DISM commands

Damaged Windows system files can also contribute to update issues. Run the System File Checker (SFC) to repair these files. In Windows 11, it's recommended to run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool before running SFC. Follow these steps to execute the SFC scannow and DISM commands: 1. Press `Win + X` and choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "PowerShell (Admin)." 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: ``` dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth ``` This command scans for and repairs any damage in the system image. 3. Wait for the DISM tool to finish its process. This may take some time. 4. Once done, enter the following command and press Enter: ``` sfc /scannow ``` The SFC scannow command scans all protected system files and automatically replaces any corrupted or missing ones. 5. Wait for SFC to complete the scan, which can also take a few minutes to several minutes. 6. After the scan, if issues were found and fixed, you'll see "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them." If no problems are found, it will display "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations." 7. Restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect. Running these two commands typically resolves issues related to system files, helping to fix Windows update problems.

Step 1: Search for "Command Prompt" in your Windows menu.

Step 2: Select "Command Prompt".

Step 3: Click "Run as administrator".

Step 4: Run the DISM command.

Step 5: Type the following command and press Enter:

"DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth"

Step 6: Allow DISM to complete its processing. This may take some time.

Step 7: After the DISM process completes, type the following command and press Enter:

"sfc /scannow" is a command in the Windows operating system that runs the System File Checker utility. It scans the system's system files, checks for any corrupted or missing files, and repairs them.

Step 8: The SFC will repair corrupted system files.

Step 9: When the SFC scan is finished, look at the results displayed in the Command Prompt window.

Step 10: If issues were found and fixed, restart your computer.

Step 11: Check for updates again to see if the Windows Update process can complete successfully.

Fix 8: Reset Windows 11

If all else fails, you can consider resetting Windows 11, which involves reinstalling Windows. It's crucial to back up your data beforehand. Follow the steps in our guide on how to reset Windows 11.

Step 1: Back up your data using a reliable backup tool.

Step 2: Open the Settings app on your Windows 11 PC.

Step 3: Access the Windows Update settings.

Step 4: Click on "Reset this PC".

Step 5: Reinstall Windows 11.

Here's an article on how to reinstall Windows 10/11 from BIOS. You might want to give it a read if you need to reinstall Windows.

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Additional tip: Always back up your computer to prevent data loss.

You might lose your data when dealing with Windows Update issues. Back up your data with a reliable backup tool to ensure its safety and privacy. Also, you might need to create a backup while performing some of the above methods. In this regard, it's worth mentioning the backup and recovery software – Todo Backup, which can be of help in such situations.

This free backup tool allows users to create scheduled backups to prevent any data loss. Additionally, it lets you back up files, systems, disks, computer applications, and more, creating full, incremental, and differential backups. It also offers recovery features that enable users to restore specific files or even the entire system. Here are some key features of this backup utility:

Todo Backup also provides disk imaging or cloning functionality that you can use to migrate all your data when upgrading hardware. Just download it and use it to protect everything on your computer! Here's how:

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup on your computer and click “Create Backup” on the main screen, then hit the big question mark to “Select backup content”.

Step 2. To back up your Windows operating system, click "Operating System" to start the backup task.

Step 3: Your Windows operating system, along with all system-related files and partitions, should be selected automatically, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, click on the location where you want to save your System Image backup.

Step 4. You can choose to back up to another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, the cloud, or a NAS. Generally, we recommend using an external physical drive or the cloud to store your system backup files.

Step 5. If interested, click the "Options" button to customize settings like enabling daily, weekly, monthly or event-based automatic backup schedules, and performing differential and incremental backups. Click "Back up Now" to start the Windows system backup process. The completed tasks will be displayed as cards on the left.

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In short,

The "Windows Update failing on Windows 11" issue can be frustrating. Knowing how to address these problems is crucial for maintaining your system's security and optimization. This article has delved into various causes, ranging from network connectivity issues to disk space limitations, and provided detailed troubleshooting steps to effectively resolve the matter.

While update issues could compromise your security, it's recommended to back up your data first for safety. Todo Backup is a reliable and free data backup tool that offers various features to ensure the secure storage of your data. Its smart disk cloning and intelligent data management capabilities efficiently protect and store your information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Failed Windows 11 Updates

Dealing with failed Windows 11 updates can be frustrating. If you have any doubts or confusion, here are some insights that might help you.

How to fix Windows Updates on Windows 11?

Here are effective solutions to address Windows 11 update issues:

Check your internet connection. Unplug external devices from your computer. Temporarily disable antivirus software. Check and free up disk space on the system drive. Restart services related to Windows Update. Run the Windows Troubleshooter. Run the SFC or DISM command. Lastly, consider resetting Windows 11 as a last resort.

How do I fix a failed Windows update installation?

Follow these steps to fix problems where Windows updates can't install:

1. Step 1: Open the Settings app. 2. Step 2: Click on "Update & Security." 3. Step 3: Access the Troubleshoot settings. 4. Step 4: Click on "Additional troubleshooters." 5. Step 5: Select "Windows Update." 6. Step 6: Click on "Run the troubleshooter" to initiate the process. 7. Step 7: Follow the on-screen instructions.

What happens if the system update fails?

Failed updates can lead to security vulnerabilities and performance issues. An incomplete installation of crucial patches might result from a failed update, leaving your system exposed to potential threats. It is essential to address failed update issues promptly and ensure that your operating system remains up to date.