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How to Fix Stuck Windows Store Updates in Windows 10

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All software has bugs, but Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system is an interesting study in how irksome bugs can be. The free Windows 10 upgrade arrived on July 29th to rave reviews and plenty of love from reviewers. Notebook and Desktop users love the operating system because it lets them get the Start Menu back and introduces Windows Store apps that are just as useful with a touchscreen as they are without it. Windows 2-in-1 and tablet users love Windows 10 because it’s just as touch-friendly as Windows 8, but has more mature apps and services.

Read: 6 Everyday Windows 10 Problems & How to Fix Them.

All of Windows 10 isn’t lovable though. The Windows Store, Microsoft’s dedicated app for purchasing and downloading apps, games, music and television shows, is pretty buggy. Most of the time apps download from there just fine. More often than it should, app updates in the Windows Store hang, stranding you on older versions and holding up even new app installs.

How to Fix Stuck Windows 10 Updates (1)

Here’s how to fix stuck Windows Store updates in Windows 10.

Before we begin, know that there are two methods here for fixing stuck Windows Store updates and downloads and neither of them are particularly pretty. Microsoft’s own fix for the issue involves users diving into Command Prompt, an app that only the most hardcore of users have encountered.

Honestly, if you’re not big on Windows Store apps and don’t want them anyway, you can ignore the suck Windows Store updates until Microsoft has a better way of addressing the issue.

Fix Stuck Windows Store Updates with Command Prompt & Run

The Microsoft Answers Community offers up this complicated and slightly dicey fix for stuck Windows Store updates in Windows 10.

First, press the X key and the Windows key on your keyboard at the same time.

Then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the list of options.

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Type: net stop bits then hit enter.

Type: net stop wuauserv then hit enter.

Type: net stop appidsvc then hit enter.

Type: net stop cryptsvc then hit enter.

Type: Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak then hit enter.

Type: Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak then hit enter.

Type: net start bits then hit enter.

Type: net start wuauserv then hit enter.

Type: net start appidsvc then hit enter.

Type: net start cryptsvc then hit enter.

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Restart your Windows 10 device and check to see if app updates are working for you. Some users report that this fix got their Windows Store working again. I’m not a big fan of it because it tasks users with going into screens that are probably out of their comfort zone. Users could accidentally mess up system files too. I tried this method and still had plenty of apps stuck.

Fix Stuck Windows Store Updates with a Reset

When Microsoft’s fix didn’t work I remembered that Windows 10 — like Windows 7 — has a dedicated reset button that allows users to keep all of their files and reinstall Windows around those files. Its situations like this stuck Windows Store update issue that button was built for.

Before you choose to go down those route know that if you use reset you’ll need to reinstall all of your desktop applications. This includes things like iTunes and Microsoft Office 2013. Most programs you can re-download from their maker’s websites, but if you have any software on disc that you installed, be sure to have it on hand. What you’ll end up with after the reset is a completely fresh version of Windows 10 with just your files.

Press the Windows button on your keyboard to bring up the Start Screen.

Click or tap on Settings in the bottom-left corner of the Start Screen.

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Click or tap on Update & Security.

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Click or tap on Recovery in the menu on the left side of your screen. It’s the fourth option from the top.

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Click or tap on Get Started under Reset this PC.

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Click or tap on Keep My Files.

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Once your device has finished reinstalling Windows you’ll have Windows Store downloads working again. Good luck with Windows 10 and the new Windows Store.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Keisha (@DRLillystweets)

    09/19/2015 at 12:38 pm

    I got access denied @ the software distribution step and appidsvc said the application identity service is not started

  2. Cliffacampbell

    09/20/2015 at 10:19 am

    0=19my buddy’s aunt makes $82 /hour on the internet . She has been without work for eight months but last month her payment was $14597 just working on the internet for a few hours.
    published here… See More

  3. Paolo Pino

    10/05/2015 at 2:21 am

    same as Keisha, acces denied, even if run command prompt as admin?

    • Karl Blessing

      11/14/2015 at 5:26 pm

      Ditto, Access Denied with Administrator Command Prompt

  4. Ghost

    11/20/2015 at 5:10 pm

    The first fix with cmd worked for me. Bits wasnt stopping when i first tried so i restarted pc and tried right away. Had a few services that werent started yet, and Access Denied on the SoftwareDist.bak part, but i opened windows store after i finished and the downloads had restarted. I let them finish and they all completed successfully. Ty.

  5. BatMac58

    12/12/2015 at 12:30 pm

    Excellent article – needed reboot to safe mode to get access to rename catroot.
    Many thanks – appears the corruption during a 7 to 10 upgrade may be a less than rare issue.

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