"Windows Update failed to install - Try these 6 troubleshooting steps"

Why can't Windows updates install?

Have you ever wondered what benefits come with updating Windows to the latest version? Windows updates help protect your system from potentially destructive software. They also quickly fix common Windows errors or issues and introduce new features. But have you ever encountered a situation where the Windows update would not install or you got a Windows Update error?

There can be many causes, such as not having the latest updates installed. Some of them include:

• Windows Update Service issues. This is a primary function of the Windows Server role, responsible for planning, managing, and deploying various updates, hotfixes, and patches. Hence, any problems with the Windows Update service can lead to issues when installing Windows updates.
• Outdated drivers. The Windows system requires significant resources to install new updates. Thus, systems lacking compatible resources, such as network cards or graphics cards, might encounter issues with Windows update installations.
• System file issues. System files can become corrupted or accidentally deleted during regular operations. Problems with these system files can lead to issues when installing Windows updates.
• Lack of disk space. Occasionally, your system might not have enough space to accommodate new Windows updates. Insufficient disk space can result in errors preventing the installation of Windows updates.
• Third-party antivirus software. Many third-party antivirus programs can interfere with the Windows 11 22H2 update. It's crucial to disable real-time scanning features of antivirus tools on your PC to avoid potential issues.

Does this mean you have to give up your system without the latest Windows updates? Fear not; it's a common issue that can be tackled independently.

Read more: [Windows Update KB5034441 Error (Windows Recovery Environment Servicing Failed)](/partition-master/windows-recovery-environment-servicing-failed.html)

If you're running into errors while trying to install a cumulative update on Windows 10, this article is for you.

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Solutions to Failed Windows 10 Cumulative Update Installation and Download Issues

This article discusses 6 fixes for when Windows 10 cumulative updates fail to install and offers a tool to safeguard your data. Read More >>

6 Ways to Fix When Windows Updates Won't Install

After getting familiar with the main reasons why Windows Update is not working or installing correctly, along with other details, it's time to fix the issue. So, here are tested solutions that can help you quickly install Windows updates on your system:

1. Solution 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
2. Solution 2: Free up disk space
3. Solution 3: Run a System File Checker scan
4. Solution 4: Restart the Windows Update Services
5. Solution 5: Delete the SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION folder
6. Solution 6: Disable third-party antivirus software

Solution 1: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

What could be more reliable than running the Windows Update Troubleshooter to fix any issue with the Windows system? The quick steps to run the troubleshooter are:

Step 1: Open the “Settings” app on your Windows system.

Step 2: Choose "Update & Security."

Select the Update & Security option.

Step 3: Choose Troubleshooting from the left navigation pane.

Select Troubleshoot.

Step 4: Select the “Other troubleshooters” option.

Step 5: Next, click on the “Windows Update” option.

Step 6: Click the “Run the troubleshooter” option.

Select “Run the troubleshooter.”

Step 7: Wait for the Windows Update Troubleshooter to detect and fix the problem.

Solution 2: Free up disk space

If you have less than 16 GB of free space on your 32-bit operating system or less than 20 GB on a 64-bit operating system, it's important to free up disk space. If you don't have enough space, just follow these quick steps:

Step 1: Press the “Windows + R” keys to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type “cleanmgr” in the box and press Enter.

Step 3: Select the hard drive you want to clean up, and click OK.

Select the drive you want to clean:

Step 4: Select an item from the list, and press OK.

5. Try installing the Windows update again after you complete these steps.

Solution 3: Run a system file scan

A System File Check (SFC) scan can help resolve issues with Windows updates caused by corrupted system files. It's easy to run an SFC scan using the Command Prompt. Here are the detailed steps to perform a System File Check:

Step 1: Press the "Windows + S" keys to open the File Search tool.

Step 2: Type "cmd" in the box and open the "Command Prompt" option.

Type "cmd" into the text box, then press Enter.

Step 3: Right-click and select the "Run as administrator" option.

Step 4: Type the command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth, and then press Enter.

Step 5: Type sfc /scannow, and then press Enter to run the System File Checker tool.

Step 6: Wait for SFC to scan and display a results message in the Command Prompt window.

Solution 4: Restart the Windows Update service

If the Windows Update service is in any way compromised, Windows updates will not install successfully. Also, the Cryptographic Services and Background Intelligent Transfer Services should be running smoothly. Hence, the quick steps to restart the Windows Update service are as follows:

Step 1: Press “Windows + R” to open the dialog box.

Step 2: Type “services.msc” in the text box, then hit “Enter.” The Services window will open.

Step 3: Find the “Windows Update” option and choose its properties.

Locate the Windows Update option.

Step 4: Make sure that the "Service Status" option is set to "Started." Additionally, the "Startup Type" must be set to "Automatic."

Step 5: When you're done, click “OK.”

Step 6: You can repeat the same process for the Cryptographic Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Services.

Fix 5: Delete the SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION folder

The "Software Distribution" folder stores all Windows configuration and update files. If there was an issue with a Windows Update download, it might have corrupted these files. You can fix this by simply deleting the "Software Distribution" files and redownloading them. Here's how:

Step 1: Open the File Explorer on your Windows system.

Step 2: Copy and paste the following command into C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, and then press Enter.

Step Three: Select all the files, and hit “Delete.”

Step Four: Download any available updates from the “Update & Security” option in the Settings menu.

6. Close any third-party antivirus programs

Last but not least, interference from a third-party antivirus during the installation of Windows updates can be the culprit. You need to disable any actively running third-party antivirus on your system. Here's how:

Step 1: Click the icon for your third-party antivirus program.

Step 2: Right-click on the icon and select "Uninstall."

Step three: Restart your computer and download the Windows update again.

Step 4: Wait for the Windows Update to finish installing.

Appendix Note: Back Up Your Computer Before Fixing Issues

After solving the issue of Windows Update not installing, it's a good idea to back up your computer. Creating a system backup helps prevent data loss. So, can you create a system backup on your own? The answer is yes, and you can achieve this with the Todo Backup Home tool.

Todo Backup Home is a comprehensive backup and recovery tool for Windows 7/8/10/11. It allows you to back up your system, files, disks, partitions, and applications, and you can perform various types of backups, such as full backup, incremental backup, and differential backup, storing the backups in different locations.

Additionally, it can help you create an image file of your SD card and an ISO image of your hard drive. Most importantly, you get 250GB of free cloud storage and can compress your backups to save space.

Here's how to back up your computer using this tool.

Step 1: Launch Todo Backup on your computer. On the main screen, click “Create a Backup,” and then hit the big question-mark button to choose what you want to back up.

Step 2: To back up the Windows OS, click on "OS" to start the backup.

Step 3: Windows will automatically select the operating system, along with all system-related files and partitions, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, you'll need to choose where to save your system image backup by clicking on the illustrated area.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, a network, cloud storage, or a NAS. We generally recommend using an external physical drive or cloud storage to keep your system backup files.

Step 5: If interested, click on Options to set up an automatic backup schedule (daily, weekly, monthly, or event-triggered), differential backup, and incremental backup, etc. Then, hit "Back Up Now" to start the Windows system backup process. The completed tasks will be displayed as cards on the left side.

[[4\]](#4) Conclusion

Hence, it's straightforward to dig deep into the Windows Update not installing error. This issue could arise due to various reasons, such as problems with the Windows Update service, corrupted system files, or outdated drivers. Applying the mentioned troubleshooting methods makes it easier to resolve.

You can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, free up disk space, or scan your system. Also, delete the SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION folder and disable any third-party antivirus. Don't forget to make a quick system backup with the Todo Backup Home tool. It's a comprehensive data protection backup solution. Download and give it a try.

Frequently Asked Questions about "Windows Update Cannot Be Installed"

1. Why did the update installation fail?

A system update installation failure can be caused by several reasons. Some of the main ones include:

• Issues with the Windows Update service
• Outdated drivers lacking compatible resources, such as a network card or graphics card
• Damaged or missing system files preventing Windows Update from starting

2. How long will it take to install the Windows 10 May 2021 Update (21H1)?

Users on Windows 10 2004 or 20H2 can easily upgrade to the 21H1 version. The time it takes to install the Windows 10 21H1 update depends on the size and type of storage in your system. Systems with solid-state storage may take around 10 to 20 minutes to install the 21H1 update. Additionally, systems using traditional hard disks might take longer.

3. How do I know if I have the 21H2 update installed?

The steps to check if your system has the 21H2 update installed are as follows:

Step 1: Open the “Settings” on your system.

Step 2: Choose “About.”

Step 3: Click on “Windows specifications.”

Step 4: Confirm that “Version” is “21H2” and the “OS Build” is 19044.

What happens if I turn off my computer during an update?

There are several reasons why you should not turn off your computer during an update. Doing so can result in data corruption or system failures, which can cause significant damage to your system.