How do I stop a pending Windows Update?

You may notice Windows update Download the cumulative updates from the Microsoft server, But due to some reason (file corruption, compatibility, or unknown bugs.), the installation process gets stuck or fails to install. Even windows notify you there are some Windows updates pending for installation but it every time fails when you try to install them. Not only do these pending update files prevent new windows updates to install on your system but also take a huge amount of disk space. Where users report

 My C Drive Running out of space and when I check, the bulk is in the Temporary Files under Pending updates and preview builds which is 6.6gb. I’ve tried deleting unnecessary files using disk cleanup but it’s still the same. How can I reclaim this storage space?

Here this post we go through, How to Delete Pending updates on Windows 10 to fix Different Windows update installation-related errors include Free up Disk space.

Where are the pending updates located?

Basically, these Windows update files are located under C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Is it safe to delete pending updates?

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Yes, it’s completely safe to delete pending Windows updates. If after download cumulative updates the update installation Stuck, failed to install with different errors we recommend once run the Update troubleshooter, that automatically check and fix the problem prevent these updates install properly.

To run the Windows Update troubleshooter:

1. Open Settings, using keyboard shortcut Windows + I
2. Update & security
3. Troubleshoot
4. Click on Windows update
5. And Run the Troubleshooter.

After complete, the troubleshooting process, restart Windows and check for updates. Check this time updates are installed successfully, there are no more pending updates. If still there is a problem and updates are pending for update let’s manually remove them.

Delete pending windows update files

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To delete unfinished, pending Windows update files, First, we need to stop the Windows update service and its related services then from SoftwareDistribution folder we can found downloaded windows update files and delete them permanently. Let’s see how to do

• First, open windows services using services.msc from windows search.
• Scroll down and look for a service named Windows update,
• Right-click on it and select Stop
• Do the same (stop service) with BITS and Superfetch service.
• Minimize the services window and navigate the following path

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

• Inside the download, folder Select everything (Ctrl + A) and hit the Delete button.

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• That’s all, either manually restarts the services, that you previously stopped.
• Or restart Windows so that these services automatically start.
• Now open Windows update from settings -> update & security -> windows update -> Check for updates. Let us know this time windows successfully install the cumulative updates.

Note: If you are looking to skip a particular windows update (such as kbxxxx etc), cause you can use the Show or hide updates tool to block particular windows update being installed on your system.

Did you have successfully deleted pending windows updates? let us know in the comments below, also read How To Fix Windows 10 upgrade assistant stuck at 99%.

On Windows 10, you can delete, remove or cancel pending updates in case you’re running low on storage space or have a problem with update installation. It also comes in handy if users are reporting problems with a particular update and you don’t want to take the chance with installing it on your device. So here, we will show you how you can delete or remove downloaded cumulative and feature updates in Windows 10 to prevent them from installing.

You can easily delete pending updates in Windows 10 by simply removing the files that Windows uses to install new updates. In this article, we will show you how you can do this easily and tell you why and when to do this for a safer and hassle-free user experience. So without further ado, here’s how you can easily delete, remove or cancel pending updates (both cumulative and feature) in Windows 10:

• To delete pending updates in Windows 10, navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.

• Now select everything in that folder (press Ctrl + A simultaneously or click on the ‘Select all’ option in the Home tab).

• Finally, right-click anywhere on the selected files and select ‘Delete’. Confirm if asked.

That’s it. You’ve now deleted the cumulative update installation files from your PC.

You can use this method to delete or remove both cumulative updates and feature updates on your Windows 10 device. Do note that your computer will again automatically download and install the files the next time it checks for updates. To prevent Windows from trying to install these updates again, you can hide these updates temporarily. However, unlike earlier versions, Windows 10 does not natively allow you to permanently disable automatic updates. There are hacks to do that, but that’s beyond the scope of this tutorial.

Stop Problematic Windows Updates From Installing on Your Computer

Windows Updates often brings new functionality, fixes critical bugs and adds new security features. However, it also sometimes adds new bugs and issues that can be immensely frustrating for many users. Now that you know how to delete pending updates on Windows 10, you can give it a go the next time there’s a new available update, but you are unwilling to install it on your system without ensuring that it’s safe enough for your device. Meanwhile, since you’re worried about new updates from Microsoft, you can also check out how to stop Windows 10 updates from installing automatically on your PC.

Can you stop a Windows Update in Progress?

How do I force a Windows Update to stop downloading?