If your Windows update process is stuck on the “Updates are underway. Please keep your computer on.” screen for an extended period, follow these troubleshooting steps to fix the issue safely.

Step 1: Perform a Hard Shutdown

If your PC is unresponsive, try a forced shutdown:

1. Press and hold the Power button for 5-10 seconds until the computer turns off.
2. Unplug any unnecessary peripherals (USB devices, external drives, etc.).
3. Unplug the power cable (for desktops) or remove the battery (for laptops, if possible).
4. Wait for a few minutes, then reconnect the power and turn your PC back on.
5. Check if Windows loads normally or rolls back the update.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

If the update is still stuck, try booting into Safe Mode:

1. Turn off your computer using the hard shutdown method.
2. Turn it back on and immediately press F8 (older PCs) or Shift + F8 repeatedly before Windows loads.
3. If the Windows Recovery screen appears, select Advanced Options → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings.
4. Click Restart, then select Enable Safe Mode from the list.

Once in Safe Mode, restart your PC normally to see if the issue is resolved.

Step 3: Reset Windows Update Components

Resetting the Windows Update components can fix stuck updates. Follow these steps:

1. 1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
   2. Run the following commands one by one to stop update services:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

1. 1. Rename the update folders by running:

ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old

1. 1. Restart the update services:

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

1. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Step 4: Use System Restore

If Windows is still stuck, restore your system to a previous state:

1. Boot into Advanced Startup by turning off and on your PC three times.
2. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → System Restore.
3. Select a restore point before the update issue occurred and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 5: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Use the built-in troubleshooter to fix update issues:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters.
3. Select Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.

Conclusion

Following these steps should resolve the issue of Windows being stuck on the update screen. If the problem persists, consider reinstalling Windows as a last resort.

For more “Windows 11” solutions, please check our Windows 11.