Pending Install status in Windows 10 Fix

Sometimes you may notice that a ‘Pending install’ status is showing up in the Windows Update section in Windows 10. In normal cases, the updates are shown to be pending install if there are other installations (maybe or may not be other Windows Updates) pending on your computer. Simply follow these easy solutions on your computer to fix the problem on your system.

 

Fix 1 – Automate Update service

Sometimes the dependent services are not running in the background of the Windows Update process.

1. Press the Windows key+R keys.

2. Write “cmd“. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter together.

 

1 Cmd Run

 

3. Once the terminal opens up, copy-paste these four commands one-by-one and hit Enter after pasting it.

sc config wuauserv start=auto

sc config bits start=auto 

sc config cryptsvc start=auto

sc config trustedinstaller start=auto 

 

Sc Config Services Automatic

 

This will auto-start these four services on your computer.

Just restart your computer.

 



Fix 2 – Run Windows Update troubleshooter

The Windows Update troubleshooter should identify the problem and fix it.

1. Just right-click on the Windows icon.

2. Then, click on the gear-shaped icon to access the Settings.

 

Settings Open

 

2. Here, click on the “Update & Security” settings.

 

Update And Security

 

3. After that, click on the “Troubleshoot“.

4. On the right-hand side, click on the “Additional troubleshooters“.

 

Additional Troublehshooter Min

 

5. On the left-side pane, you have to click on the “Windows Update“.

6. Simply, click on the “Run the Troubleshooter” to run the troubleshooter.

 

Windows Update Troubleshooter New Min

 

Once the troubleshooting process is over, close the troubleshooter window.

 

Fix 3 – Modify some folder names

Sometimes the corrupted local Windows Update folder may lead to this problem

1. At first,  type “cmd” in the search box.

2. After that, right-click on “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as administrator“.

 

Cmd Search New

 

3. There is a need to pause some services. To do that, simply Copy-paste and hit Enter to execute these commands.

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

 

Wu Cmd1

 

4. In the next step, you just need to rename two files. Simply run these two codes on the CMD screen.

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.bak

 

Software Distribuiton Rename New Bak Min

 

5. Once you have renamed the folders, you have to resume those services again. To do that, run these 4 codes sequentially.

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

 

Start Wuauserv

 

Close the CMD screen and restart your machine. This should fix the issue of ‘Pending Install’ on your computer.

 

Fix  4 – Update Windows Update client

If this is an issue with the Windows Update client, these steps should fix it.

1. At first, right-click on the Windows icon in the left-hand corner.

2. Then, click on the “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to launch the PowerShell.

 

Start Right Click Windows Powershell Admin

 

3. Once the PowerShell terminal appears, write down this command and hitting Enter afterward.

wuauclt.exe /updatenow

 

Wuauclt Update Now

 

Once you have updated the Windows Update client, just reboot your machine once.

This should fix the problem you are facing currently on your system.

 

Fix 5 – Empty the Software Distribution folder

1. Open the Settings on your computer.

2. Then, click on the “Update and Security“.

 

Update And Security

 

3. On the left-hand side, click on  “Recovery“,

4. Now, in the “Advanced Startup” section, you need to click on “Restart Now“.

 

Restart Now Advanced Startuo

 

Windows RE will open up.

5. Just, click on the “Troubleshoot” once your computer boots into Windows RE.

 

Continue Troubleshoot Startup Repair Min

 

6. After that, choose the “Advanced options” menu.

 

Troubleshoot Reset This Pc Advanced Options Startup Repair Min

 

7. Simply, click on the “Startup Settings“.

 

Advanced Options Startup Repair Startup Settings Command Prompt Min

 

8. Finally to restart your device in the correct manner, click on “Restart“.

 

Startup Settings Restart Startup Repair Min

 

9. Here you will detect various possibilities of startup types.

10. Pressing the F4 key from your keyboard will select the “Enable Safe Mode“.

 

Startup Settings Options Safe Mode 1234 Startup Repair Min

 

Soon, your computer will boot into safe mode.

10. Press Windows key+R to launch Run.

11. To access the Download folder, paste this location, and hit Enter.

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\

 

Run Softwaredistribution

 

12. When the  SoftwareDistribution folder, select all the files from there and empty it.

 

Software Distribution Save Min

 

Close File Explorer window.

Reboot your computer. It will be booted normally.

 

Fix 6 – Edit Group Policy settings

Allow your computer to instantly install the updates after downloading them on your computer.

1. You need to press the Windows key+R.

2. After that, write “gpedit.msc“. Click on “OK“.

 

1gpedit

 



3. Go to this location on the left-hand side,

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update

 

4. On the left-hand side, locate the “Allow Automatic Updates immediate installation” policy settings.

5. Double click on it to access it.

 

Allow Automatic Updates

 

6. When the policy appears, click on the radio button of “Enabled“.

7. After that, click on “Apply” and “OK“.

 

Enabled

 

Once you have done that, close the Policy settings and restart your computer. The pending update should be installed.

 

Fix 7 – Run SFC, DISM scans

Running  SFC, DISM checks should fix the issue on your computer.

1. Press the Windows key+R.

2. Then, type this code and hit CTRL + Shift + Enter.

cmd

 

1 Cmd Run

 



3. Simply copy this command and paste it into the CMD window. Thereafter, hit Enter to run the scan.

sfc /scannow

 

Command Prompt Admin Mode Sfc Scannow Enter

 

4. To do a DISM scan, paste this command in the terminal and then hit Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

 

Command Prompt (admin) Run Dism Command Enter

 

Reboot your computer.

Check if this solves the problem on your system.