Fix Windows Update Stuck on Cleanup Step

Your Windows PC is not the only one that is stuck at the “0% or 100% Cleaning” stage during or after installing Windows Update. Several users are facing the same issue. It can be caused by a number of issues, including corrupted update cache, missing system files, low disk space, etc.

Windows Update Stuck on Cleaning Step

If your Windows 11 or 10 update is stuck in the cleaning phase, try these 4 ways to fix the problem.

Fix Windows Update Stuck on Cleanup Step
Method 1: Clear the SoftwareDistribution folder
Sometimes the Windows c level contact list Update files in the software distribution folder can get corrupted, causing the update to get stuck at 100%. So cleaning the software distribution folder may solve the problem.

1. Open the Start menu, type Command Prompt and select the Run as administrator option in the right pane.

Open CMD as administrator

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
sc query wuauserv
sc query bits
Run these commands to influencers: how do they help your business? stop the update services

3. Once you see the services status as STOPPED, minimize CMD.

4. Open the Run command window using Windows+R.

5. Type C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and press Enter.

Open the Software Distribution folder

6. Delete all contents of the Software Distribution folder.

Delete content

7. Then open CMD again and run the following commands one by one:

net start wuauserv
net start bits
sc query wuauserv
sc query bits
Fix Windows Update Restart the services.

8. When the services status changes to RUNNING, restart your computer .

Method 2: Delete Windows.old folder

If cleaning the software distribution directory does not help, try deleting the Windows.old folder if you have one. The Windows.old folder is a backup search engine optimization mails directory created when you upgraded your Windows version/build.

1. First, open Command Prompt as administrator.

2. Once the command prompt is opened, run the following commands one by one.

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