How to fix pending restart for updates in Windows?
Jul 09, 2025 am 01:34 AMWhen encountering the problem of Windows update stuck in the "reboot-restart" state, you can try the following methods to solve it: First, check whether the three services of Windows Update, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and Cryptographic Services are running normally. The startup type should be "automatic". If it is not running, you can start manually or execute command reset through a command prompt; second, clean up the update cache in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder; then check whether there is any third-party software interfering with the update process. It is recommended to temporarily close the relevant software test whether the problem is alleviated; finally, advanced users can try to delete the RebootRequired and PendingFileRenameOperations key values ??in the registry to clear the pending update mark. Before operation, please back up the registry and select system restore according to the situation.
Windows updates are stuck in the "reboot required" state, which is a problem that many people will encounter. This situation usually occurs when the system prompts you that the update has been installed but needs to be restarted to complete, but even if you restart it many times, the prompt still exists. The solution is actually not complicated, but it needs to be checked for several key links.

Check whether the Windows Update service is running normally
In many cases, the "pending restart" problem is because the Windows Update-related services are not running normally. You can manually check the status of these services:
- Press
Win R
to open the run window, enterservices.msc
to enter to enter - Find the following three services in the list:
- Windows Update
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
- Cryptographic Services
Make sure their startup type is "Auto" and that the current status is "Running". If not, right-click "Start" or "Restart".

If the service fails to start, you can try running the command prompt as an administrator and execute the following command to reset the service configuration:
net stop wuauserv net stop bits net stop cryptsvc net start wuauserv net start bits net start cryptsvc
Clean software distribution folders and update caches
Sometimes the update file is downloaded incompletely or corruptly, which can lead to the system being misjudged as "waiting for restart". At this time, you can try to manually clean up the update cache:

- Stop the three services mentioned above first
- Open Explorer and enter the path:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
- Delete all contents in this folder (you can rename the folder and create a new empty folder with the same name)
- Then restart those three services
This step is equivalent to clearing all temporary files related to the update and allowing the system to start obtaining update information again.
Check whether third-party software interferes with the update process
Some antivirus software, system optimization tools, and even driver management software may intercept or modify the behavior of Windows Update. If you have recently installed this type of software, it is recommended to temporarily close or uninstall it to see if the problem is alleviated.
Common "suspects" include:
- CCleaner
- IObit series tools
- Some domestic security software
- Third-party driver updater
You can first switch to a clean startup state (only start the necessary services) to test whether there is still a problem with "pending restart".
Modify registry keys (for advanced users)
If none of the above methods work, you can also try modifying the registry to clear the pending update tag. Please back up the registry before operation:
Open the Registry Editor (regedit), expand the following paths:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update
Find the following two key values:
-
RebootRequired
-
PendingFileRenameOperations
If these two key values ??are present, you can delete them directly or set their values ??to empty. After completion, restart the system to see if it returns to normal.
Basically these commonly used methods. Most of the time, the problem lies in service abnormalities or cache residues, and it can be basically solved by checking it in order. If you accidentally change the system settings and the consequences are uncertain, it is recommended to restore the factory settings or use the system restore point to roll back.
The above is the detailed content of How to fix pending restart for updates in Windows?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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