Why Are My Windows 10 Apps Stuck Saying ‘Updates Are Underway’?
Why Are My Windows 10 Apps Stuck Saying ‘Updates Are Underway’?
3 Answers

Got some apps stuck while trying to update on Windows 10? Yeah, it’s one of those days, right? When that happens, it often boils down to network hiccups, pesky cache files, or even some glitchy drama from the Microsoft Store itself. But don’t worry—there’s a good bunch of tricks you can pull to fix this.
Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves!
1. Get Your Internet Connection Checked Off
First off, make sure your internet connection isn’t playing hide and seek with you. A shaky connection is like trying to watch microwave popcorn pop—frustrating and pointless. Give it a test by loading a webpage or streaming a video.
2. Time for a Reboot
Sometimes all your computer needs is a good ol’ restart. Think of it like giving your system a coffee break. Once it’s back up, cross your fingers and check if those apps have got their act together.
3. Give Microsoft Store the Cold Shoulder, Then Welcome It Back
You’ll want to confuse it a bit. Sign out and then sign back into your Microsoft Store account. Here’s how:
- Fire up the Microsoft Store.
- Click your profile pic up at the corner and wave goodbye with the “Sign out.”
- Then, let it miss you for a couple of seconds before hitting it with a “Sign in.”
4. Jiggle the Microsoft Store Cache
Like clearing out old junk from the trunk, sometimes those cache files need a fresh start:
- Hit
Windows + R
to bring up that Run dialog. - Type in
wsreset.exe
and slam that Enter key. Let the magic unfold as the store cache hits reset.
5. Use Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter
Because, hey, built-in troubleshooters aren’t always useless:
- Hop into Settings (
Windows + I
). - Head to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
- Make those apps shiver by running the “Windows Store Apps” troubleshooter.
6. Keep Windows All Rared Up and Updated
There might be some updates ready to rescue you:
- Sprint over to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Smash “Check for updates.” If you see downloads pop up, let them in and reboot again.
7. Reset Microsoft Store App
Now if things are still a mess, it’s time to unleash the reset:
- Dig into Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
- Scroll to “Microsoft Store” like you’re skimming through a bad novel.
- Click on “Advanced options,” then hit these troublemakers with “Reset.”
8. Call on PowerShell to Reinstall Microsoft Store
If all else fails, PowerShell is your last resort. Trust me, it’s kind of fun:
- Right-click on Start and hook the “Windows PowerShell (Admin).” Welcome aboard!
- Sneakily uninstall with:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Remove-AppxPackage
- Then, pull a magic trick with a reinstall:
Add-AppxPackage -register "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsStore*\AppxManifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode
There You Have It!
Follow these tips and you’ll probably have your apps updating problem sorted by the end of the day. But if your tech woes persist, go tap Microsoft’s support on the shoulder and see if they can lend you a hand.
In short: If your Windows 10 apps are being stubbornly stuck, you’re gonna want to tweak your internet connection, restart the PC, sign out/in of Microsoft Store, hit wsreset.exe, launch the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter, and make sure Windows is up to date. It’s a bit of a ride, but it’ll get you there.

So, you’re stuck with your Windows 10 updates going nowhere, right? It’s a pretty common headache and usually ties back to something messing with your system or apps interfering with how Windows does updates. You know the drill: endless loading screens, frozen progress bars, or being trapped in those maddening update loops. Here’s the lowdown on what’s causing it and how you can fix it:
What’s Messing Things Up & How to Fix It
1. Windows Update Service Issues
The Windows Update service (wuauserv) and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) are like the traffic cops for your updates. If they crash or just give up, you’re going nowhere fast.
- What to Do:
- Fire up PowerShell as Admin and shut those services down for a bit:
- Clear out the downloaded clutter: Go to
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
and empty out the Download and DataStore folders. - Once they’re clean, get the services rolling again:
net stop wuauserv net stop bits
net start wuauserv net start bits
2. Update Cache Is Corrupt
Old or messed-up cache files in SoftwareDistribution
can be a giant roadblock.
- Fix It:
- Do the steps from Section 1 to pause services and clear out the cache.
- For good measure, run Disk Cleanup (
cleanmgr
) to toss out the temporary files.
3. Network Setting Headaches
Sometimes, proxy settings, DNS issues, or firewall hitches can throw a wrench into your update attempts.
- Quick Fix:
- Reset the network:
- Get a clean slate with DNS:
ipconfig /flushdns
- Tune off any VPN or proxy tools temporarily.
netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset
4. Corrupted System Files
Junked system files can halt your updates in their tracks.
- The Fix:
- Time for DISM and SFC scans:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth sfc /scannow
5. Third-Party Software Playing Interference
Sometimes the very software that’s supposed to protect your computer, like antivirus programs or optimization tools, can block update processes altogether.
- How to Handle:
- Give these programs a break by temporarily disabling them.
- Get rid of any recent third-party apps via Settings > Apps.
6. Problems with Microsoft Store Apps
For apps like Teams and Edge, if they start acting buggy, it might be because their app packages are corrupted, or you’ve got WinAppSDK errors (0x80073CFA) popping up.
- What You Can Do:
- Zap the issue by reinstalling the affected apps:
- Manually hunt for Store updates.
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
Doing the Detective Work
- Built-In Windows Update Troubleshooter:
Head to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update. - Clean Boot:
Usemsconfig
to switch off non-Microsoft services/startup items, which could help spot software conflicts. - Manually Install Updates:
Sometimes you might need to download updates directly from the Windows site.
Stay One Step Ahead
- Keep at least 20GB of free space on your disk for those hefty updates.
- Set updates to run when you’re not busy – less risk of interruptions.
- Check on Microsoft’s health dashboard for any service hiccups.
If you’ve tried it all and no dice, you could hit the reset button on Windows Update components using the Windows Update Medic Service or do an in-place upgrade via the Media Creation Tool. And hey, if the problem just won’t budge, consider having a pro take a look, as it might be hardware trouble.

Alright, dealing with Windows 10 apps stuck on that pesky ‘Updates are underway’ screen can be a real headache, right? Don’t worry, though—I’ve got some tricks that might help you out of this jam.
First off, it might sound like a no-brainer, but make sure your internet connection is solid. Any hiccups there and your updates might just freeze up on you. If that’s all good, try turning your computer off and on again—classic move but you’d be surprised how often it works!
Still no luck? Give the Windows Update Troubleshooter a whirl. Just navigate to Settings, then Update & Security, hit Troubleshoot, and go for the Additional troubleshooters. You should find the Windows Update option there—let it do its thing.
Here’s another one: check for any corrupted system files that might be messing things up. Fire up Command Prompt as an admin, type in sfc /scannow
, and let it scan away for any bad files.
Now, if you’ve got your sleeves rolled up, maybe it’s time to clear out the Windows Update Cache. Again, open Command Prompt as admin, stop the Windows Update service with net stop wuauserv
, delete all files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
, and then kick the service back into gear with net start wuauserv
.
If you think there might be some software skulking around in the background and causing trouble, try performing a clean boot. Just search for msconfig
, head to System Configuration, find the Services tab, then hide all Microsoft services and disable everything else. Don’t forget to restart!
Still stuck? Sometimes those updates just need a little push. Head over to the Microsoft Update Catalog, find the update by its KB number, and download it. Double-click that bad boy and install it manually.
Well, if you’re still pulling your hair out after all that, maybe it’s time to bug Microsoft Support or dive into some forums where folks have been through the same strife.
And remember, these aren’t just dry steps—each of them could be the key to unlocking that update logjam. So, give them a go and keep your system running like a charm.