Windows Update slowing down the computer

Symptoms

• Slowdown started right when 'Working on updates' or a download notification appeared
• High disk or CPU usage tied to Windows Update process in Task Manager
• PC speeds back up after a restart following the update
• Update seems stuck at the same percentage for a long time

Likely causes

• CommonAn update actively downloading or installingThis is disk- and CPU-intensive by nature and is temporary.
• CommonA large feature update configuring itself after restartFeature updates (not just security patches) can take considerably longer.
• PossibleAn update stuck or failed partway throughA corrupted download can cause repeated retries that hog resources.
• PossibleLimited free disk space slowing the install processUpdates need working space to stage files before applying them.
• PossibleUpdate running alongside other heavy background tasksAntivirus scans or syncing at the same time compound the slowdown.

What to do

1. Check Settings > Windows Update to see current progress, and let it finish if it's actively working.
2. Avoid forcing a shutdown during an update, since that can cause bigger problems than the slowdown.
3. If it seems stuck at the same percentage for over an hour, wait a bit longer, since large updates can look stalled while working.
4. If it's truly stuck for many hours, restart the PC once, then let Windows attempt to recover the update on the next boot.
5. Free up disk space if Settings > System > Storage shows the drive is nearly full.
6. After the update finishes, restart once more to let any final configuration complete.
7. Pause other heavy background tasks (large downloads, antivirus scans) until the update is done.
8. If updates repeatedly fail or hang, run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter from Settings > System > Troubleshoot.

Tools and parts

• None required

When to call a pro

If an update fails repeatedly or the troubleshooter can't fix it, a technician can manually repair the update components.

Safety