windows wont update

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

To help narrow down the issue:

1. May I know what other troubleshooting steps have you already taken? This will help me avoid recommending them again.
2. Can I ask if you’ve already checked whether you have any third-party antivirus software running?

If you haven't tried anything yet please start by:

First, make sure there's no third-party antivirus software active that might be interfering with the update process:

• Open the Windows Security app.
• Click the "Settings" (gear icon) in the lower left.
• Under Security Providers, click "Manage Providers".
• Verify if Microsoft Defender Antivirus is the active antivirus and Windows Firewall is the firewall.
• If not, please uninstall the third-party antivirus, restart your PC, and check again at Settings > Windows Update.

If issue persists, run again the Windows Update Troubleshooter from Get Help app:

• Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
• Find Windows Update and click Run. This will open the Get Help app.
• Select "I can't download, install, or uninstall an update" and click "Yes".
• This will automatically identify and address any errors and restart the update process. This step is purely automatic.
• Please continue to follow the prompt if the issue persists.

If the issue persists, please provide more details by answering my questions.

Click "Add comment" below to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Use the built-in Windows Update troubleshooting steps to fix the “Something went wrong. Try to reopen settings later” message in Windows 11:

1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
   • Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   • Under Most frequent, select Windows Update > Run.
   • Let it complete, then restart the PC.
   • After restart, go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and try again.
2. Verify power and internet connection
   • Make sure the device is plugged in and online.
   • Go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi.
   • Confirm it is connected; if not, reconnect and then re-open Windows Update and check again.
3. Ensure administrator access
   • Some update actions require admin rights. If using a standard account, sign in with an administrator account before running updates.
4. Disconnect unnecessary external hardware
   • Unplug external drives, docks, and nonessential USB devices.
   • Then re-open Settings and try Windows Update again.
5. Clear the Windows Update cache (if Settings opens but updates still fail)
   • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   • Find Windows Update, right‑click and select Stop.
   • In File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all files and folders inside.
   • In Services, right‑click Windows Update again and select Start.
   • Re-open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

If the error persists after these steps, repeat the Windows Update troubleshooter and then follow the broader guidance in the Windows update troubleshooting article.

References:

• Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Troubleshoot problems updating Windows