Start with the Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app, then restart your PC and check again. If the scan still stalls, use the exact error code or symptom to choose a targeted fix rather than clearing update files or changing services at random. A checking screen alone does not identify the cause, and Microsoft does not set a universal wait time that proves a scan is frozen.
Start with the Windows Update troubleshooter
Microsoft recommends running its automated Windows Update troubleshooter in Get Help first. Open Get Help, search for Windows Update troubleshooting if needed, and follow the prompts. The app runs diagnostics and attempts to fix common problems. When it finishes, restart the computer and check for updates again.
If the problem remains, Microsoft advises running the troubleshooter again to check for additional errors, or moving to its more specific Windows Update troubleshooting guidance.
Settings alternatives
If the Get Help route is unavailable, the Settings labels Microsoft documents may help. They can vary by Windows version:
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- Windows 11: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update.
- Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update.
After restarting, check the basics that fit your symptoms
Return to Windows Update and check again after the restart. Confirm the PC has an internet connection. Check available storage if Windows reports a space-related error or the update is an upgrade that needs room to install.
Microsoft cites 16 GB free for a 32-bit OS upgrade and 20 GB for a 64-bit OS upgrade in its upgrade troubleshooting context. These are not universal minimums for every routine update scan; use the requirement associated with the update you are installing.
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Use the exact error code to pick a targeted fix
If Windows displays an error, write down the full code and follow the corresponding steps in Microsoft’s error-specific troubleshooting guidance. The same checking symptom can have different causes, and the code helps narrow the next step:
- 0x8007000d: Microsoft associates this code with potentially corrupted Windows Update files or cache.
- 0x70422: Microsoft associates this code with an update service that is disabled or stopped.
- 0x80070020: Microsoft associates this code with another process blocking the update.
These are possibilities tied to particular errors, not diagnoses that can be made from a spinning screen by itself. Avoid applying fixes for unrelated codes.
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Cache and service changes are an escalation
For some cache-related cases, Microsoft’s instructions involve stopping the Windows Update service, clearing the contents of C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution, then starting the service again. Do this only when the relevant Microsoft instructions call for it. Follow the steps as written and do not delete unrelated files.
Microsoft recommends backing up personal files before general troubleshooting. Command-line procedures are best left to people comfortable using the command line; they are not a required first step for every stalled scan.
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When ordinary troubleshooting does not work
If the issue persists after the applicable troubleshooting steps, review Microsoft’s recovery options rather than treating a Windows reinstall as a routine fix for a slow scan. Microsoft lists reinstalling the current version without affecting files, apps, or settings as an option for Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. Read the Windows recovery guidance and back up important data before choosing a recovery action.
A legacy Microsoft troubleshooter addressed a narrow scanning problem on some Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909 devices, but Microsoft says it could not be run manually. It is not a general repair tool for current Windows PCs.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Best Value
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Windows 10 has a separate support limitation
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says it no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. That lifecycle change is separate from the immediate cause of a scan that appears stuck; troubleshooting the screen cannot restore Windows 10’s ended support.
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