Your Windows Update failed. But don’t worry. We can help.We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer.Failure configuring Windows updates. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer.
In all of the above cases and other similar cases, the message appears on a blue screen unless you have made changes to Windows 10 color settings. Additionally, the message will appear after you have attempted an update, sometimes many minutes or even hours into the update.
Cause of Windows 10 Update Failures
If your Windows 10 update failed, the most common causes include:
Multiple updates queued: One of the most common causes of this failure is when Windows needs more than one update. When that happens, simply rebooting and trying again will result in a successful update. You can also solve other unpredictable and minor issues with the same fix.Lack of drive space: If your computer doesn’t have enough free drive space to complete a Windows 10 update, the update will stop, and Windows will report a failed update. Clearing some space will usually do the trick.Corrupt update files: Deleting the bad update files will usually fix this problem. You may need to boot into Safe Mode to clear the files.Hardware conflicts: You may have a device connected that’s interrupting the update process. If you unplug all of your unnecessary peripherals, the update may be able to finish.Driver conflicts: This is a similar issue with an identical fix. Disconnect all of your peripherals, like printers and USB hubs, and try the update again.
How to Fix Windows 10 Update Failed Errors
To fix your Windows 10 update failure and successfully update your operating system, try each of the following fixes in order. You don’t have to try all of them. If you successfully update Windows 10 after attempting a fix, then you can safely ignore the rest and go back to using your newly updated computer.
Is It Okay to Skip a Windows Update?
As a general rule of thumb, you should always install Windows updates. However, there are some exceptions. In the case of an especially problematic update, you may need to choose between skipping the update and performing a fresh installation of Windows 10. Additionally, some Windows 10 updates have been famously problematic, either being difficult for many people to install or even causing massive problems for specific hardware configurations. To run the Windows 10 update troubleshooter: Consider backing up your files and settings before you proceed, and make sure to select the keep my files option when performing the repair. While you should always make a solid effort to update Windows 10 to keep on top of the latest security patches and features, you may need to ignore an update and wait for the next one.
