Windows Update stuck on checking for updates

I'm having the following problem: Windows 10 computers seem to get stuck on checking for updates etc. when using Settings | Settings | Windows 10 . Update and Security, then select Check for Updates .

To fix this , I opened cmd and typed something usoclient startinteractivescan, which seemed to cause it to rescan and start downloading and/or installing, and it moved on from the stuck state.

I've read many posts about the usoclientUpdate Orchestrator Service process and schedule it as various system Task Scheduler tasks that are scheduled. usoclientUnfortunately , I can't find much information about it , and it's a command line option provided by Microsoft.

I'm guessing the problem has something to do with checking for updates during " active hours" and the GUI option "Check for Updates" doesn't allow it to proceed with anything.

In some environments , there may also be Group Policy settings that configure Windows 10 update configurations that may help with the process.

Also, a few years ago, I wrote something that you can try to fix this problem on other Windows OS. Downloading Windows Updates takes a long time , it's pretty comprehensive, and some of them may still apply to Windows 10.

Support Resources

• Command line equivalent of wuauclt in Windows 10 / Windows Server 2016

  Now, in order to force check Windows Update, follow the instructions below-

  1. Open a command prompt with administrator privileges.
  2. enterusoclient StartScan
  3. You will see that Windows Update in Settings.exe will start to refresh

  Note: USOClient.exeatC:\Windows\System32

  This will also force clients to report their status to the WSUS server (if configured).

  When using Sysinternal's Strings on UsoClient.exe, I found that there are more switches that can be used

  • StartScan: used to start scanning
  • StartDownload: Used to start downloading patches
  • StartInstall: for installing downloaded patches
  • RefreshSettings: Refresh settings if any changes are made
  • StartInteractiveScan: May require user input and/or open a dialog to show progress or report errors
  • RestartDevice: Restart the device to complete the installation of the update
  • ScanInstallWait: combined scan download and install
  • ResumeUpdate: Resume update installation at startup

  Note: If you configure WU to be fully non-interactive or try to run interactive mode on a non-interactive server, an error will be triggered (something like "AU cannot perform a non-interactive scan if AU is interactive - only" ).

• Management device restart after update