Top 3 Ways to Fix Updates are Underway Windows 11

Why Updates are Underway Windows 11?

Updating Windows 11 ensures your system has the latest security patches and features. However, sometimes the update process may get stuck or fail to load completely. If you encounter issues like "update is underway" on Windows 11, there are a few common causes to check:

Slow or Unstable Internet: A poor internet connection can prevent updates from downloading or installing correctly.
Power Interruptions: If there's an unstable power supply, it can disrupt the update process, causing it to freeze at a certain point.
Corrupted ISO Files: The update relies on ISO files, and if these files are corrupted or incompatible, the process can get stuck.
Insufficient Storage: Windows updates are large, with the Windows 11 ISO file being over 4.5GB. Make sure there's enough space on your system drive to complete the installation.

How to Fix Updates are Underway Windows 11

When you understand the cause, you can continue reading the article to learn three useful ways to fix the updated are underway Windows 11 restarting problem. All of these methods can help you fix this problem. You can try these methods in turn, believing that there is always a way to achieve the goal. Each method contains specific steps.

Fix 1. Reset This PC

It is very highly recommended that you back up the system in advance with the free backup software AOMEI Backupper Standard before resetting the computer. This way, even if anything goes wrong, you can quickly restore from a previously created system image file without losing any data. You can follow the graphic tutorial below.

Backup System before Reset the PC

First, download and install this freeware on your computer. If you are a Windows Server user, you can pick AOMEI Backupper Server.

Step 1. Open the software and click Backup > System Backup.

Step 2. It will select system partitions and boot-related partitions automatically. And you just need to select a destination.

Step 3. Click Start Backup to backup the Windows 11.

Options: It allows you to write comments, select the compression level for your system backup, or set email notifications.
Schedule Backup: It offers 5 different backup frequencies to backup system including Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event trigger, and USB plug-in. The last two are available in the Pro version.
Backup Scheme: It allows you to select different backup methods. And you can upgrade to the Pro version to enjoy the differential backup method which can easily restore your scheduled backup. After the upgrade, you can also enable the automatic backup cleanup feature to save disk space.

Reset the PC

Step 1. Go to WinRE and click Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Step 2. There are two options for you to do this operation – Keep my files and Remove everything. Since you have already performed a backup, you can simply choose the second option.

Step 3. Select Cloud download or Local reinstall based on your own needs.

Step 4. Finish the PC resetting by following the on-screen prompts.

After the resetting, try to update the Windows and you won’t meet the issues.

Fix 2. Run Windows 11 to Safe Mode

The "Updates are underway" error in Windows 11 can sometimes occur due to conflicts between Windows Update and other programs or services running on your system. To resolve this, try booting Windows 11 into Safe Mode, where only essential services and drivers are loaded.

If you're stuck on the "Updates are underway" screen, you can access WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) using a bootable drive or by forcing a restart a few times.

Step 1. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Step 2. Then you can press F4 to enter Safe Mode.

In this case, you can restart the PC from there and start the Windows update installation again. Usually, after this process is finished, the PC can boot to the normal state.

Fix 3. Run System File Checker (SFC)

In case the issue is caused by a corrupt ISO file, you can run a System File Checker (SFC) scan to detect and repair any corrupted system files. This tool will scan your operating system for corrupt files and help fix them. Follow these steps to run the scan and resolve the issue.

Step 1. Type in cmd to the search box, click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type sfc /scannow into the CMD window and press Enter to execute the operation.

Step 3. Wait some time until the verification finishes 100%. Then close the Command Prompt.

Note: If you're always stuck on the "update is underway Windows 11 restarting" screen, you can also boot the PC to WinRE, click Command Prompt, and then execute the SFC scan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How can I stop an update from installing on Windows 11?

A1: You can pause updates temporarily from Settings > Windows Update > Pause Updates. Alternatively, you can uninstall specific updates from the Update History section.

Q2: What if Windows 11 updates are failing to install?

A2: If updates are failing, try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter, clearing the update cache, or downloading updates manually. You may also need to check for driver issues or free up disk space.

Q3: How can I fix Windows 11 updates that are stuck?

A3: You can fix stuck updates by restarting your computer, using the Troubleshooter, or resetting the Windows Update components.

Summary

This article explains why the "Update is underway" error happens in Windows 11 and offers three effective solutions to fix it. If you decide to reset your computer to factory settings to resolve the issue, it's a good idea to back up your system first. You can use the free AOMEI Backupper Standard to create a backup before resetting. This ensures that if something goes wrong, you can quickly restore your system without losing any important data.

AOMEI Backupper doesn't just help with restoring backups on the same computer; it also has a Universal Restore feature. This lets you restore your system backup to a different computer, even with different hardware. Download the software to explore all its useful features.