Generally, Windows Update does its task in the background when you set this feature to run automatically. But, many users try to check and install the available updates when their device is running slowly or infected by any malicious components.

Sometimes, due to the software conflict, you may notice the Windows 7 update stuck on the screen of “Checking for updates”. 

Some users have reported that the Windows Update either won’t begin or get stuck on a certain point. Often, the downloading process might get stuck for several hours as well.

If you are experiencing the same situation, try to resolve Windows Update error on your own.

How to Deal when Windows 7 Update is Stuck While Downloading?

These are the most effective methods that you can try in order to resolve the Windows Update error. So, check these methods carefully.

Method 1: Utilize the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows Update Troubleshooter is a utility that comes up with every version of Windows Operating System. This utility is specially designed to resolve the Windows Update related bugs and glitches. 

Therefore, whenever you find any issue with the Windows Update, try to use the built-in Troubleshooter. To run this utility, follow the instructions below.

• Press the Start icon and open the Start menu.
• Write “troubleshooting” inside the search field.
• From the next screen, choose the “Troubleshooting” option. 
• Afterward, navigate to the “System and Security” section and select the “Fix problems with Windows Update”.
• From the pop-up window, go to the “Advanced” section and locate the “Apply repairs automatically” option.
• Now, choose the “Run as Administrator” from the appeared menu and hit the “Next” button to proceed further.
• Stick to further instructions in order to complete the troubleshooting.

Now, Windows Update Troubleshooter will start to scan your entire device. It will also try to detect the problem that restricts downloading the latest updates. Once it detects the exact problem, it will automatically remove those bugs and glitches.

Method 2: Reset the DNS Server Settings

You might also get stuck with the Windows Update related error if there is any network issue. To prevent such instances, try to reset the DNS server settings. So, follow the underlying instructions to do this task.

Step 1: 

Press the combination of the Windows logo +  R key to launch the Run window. On the dialog box, write “control” and hit the Enter key. From the top search result, choose the Control Panel and invoke the window.

Step 2: 

After you access the Control Panel window, select “View by” and choose “Category”. Next, choose the “View network status and tasks” from the resulting menu.

Step 3: 

Once the popup window appears, navigate to the “Change adapter settings”. Then choose your current network and hit the “Properties” option. Under the “Properties” window, select the Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) and view its properties.

Step 4: 

Thereafter, tap on the “Obtain an IP address automatically” and enter the undermentioned DNS server addresses. 

Preferred DNS server: Type Google Public DNS address: 8.8.8.8

Alternative DNS server: Write Google Public DNS address: 8.8.4.4

Once you are done with these instructions, save the recent modifications by tapping on the “Apply” as well as the “OK” button.

Now, reboot your device to verify whether the Windows 7 update stuck or the issue has been resolved.

Method 3: Restart the Windows Update Service

In this procedure, we suggest you restart the Windows Update service. To proceed with this method, you need to follow the instructions underneath.

On the Run dialog box, write “services.msc” and hit the Enter key to execute the command. Once the Services window invokes, scroll through the available services and try to locate the Windows Update.

After you locate the Windows Update, tap on it and choose the “Stop” button, if it is showing the running status. Next, press the combination of the Windows logo + E key to launch the File Explorer.  

Inside the address bar, enter the following:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore 

From the DataStore folder remove all the files. Next, on the File Explorer, enter the following path into the address bar and choose the OK button. C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download 

Inside the Download folder, eliminate all the files and folders. Further, navigate to the Services window, right-tap on Windows Update and restart the service by tapping on the “Start” button.

Method 4: Scan your device For Malicious Components

You can also confront the problems that can make Windows 7 update stuck if your device has been infected by any malicious components. In order to disinfect those components, use the Windows Defender utility. To proceed with this method, follow the underlying instructions.

• On the Settings app, open the “Update and Security” menu.
• Under this section, locate and choose the Windows Defender.
• From the appeared menu, choose the “Windows Defender Security Center”
• Next, locate and select the “Virus and threat protection module”.
• Now, begin the scanning process by tapping on the “Quick Scan” option from the queue menu.

Windows Defender will start to locate the malicious components that may prevent you from installing the available Windows Updates. After detecting the malware, it will disinfect them automatically.

Method 5: Use the System File Checker

If the system files get corrupted or damaged, you may get stuck with Windows 7 update while downloading. To get rid of this situation, you need to repair those corrupted system files. 

For this purpose, use the System File Checker which is specially designed to repair the corrupted system files. To do this task, follow these instructions.

• On the Run dialog box, write “cmd” and hit the Enter key.
• Right-tap on the Command Prompt and hit the “Run as Administrator” option.
• When the Command Prompt invokes with Administrator’s rights, write “sfc/scannow” and hit the Enter button.

System File Checker will now look for the corrupted files and repair/replace them as per the requirement.

Method 6: Run the DISM Scan

If the System File Checker fails to repair the corrupted system files, then you might need to run the DISM tool. It is another powerful built-in utility.

To perform this scan, open the Command Prompt in Admin Mode and enter the following command. “DISM scan and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth”. Afterward, hit the OK button to execute the command.

Method 7: Execute the System Restore

In case, you are still unable to solve the error making Windows 7 update stuck, then something might be wrong on your device. When this occurs, executing the system restore can be a wise choice for you. 

In order to execute the system restore, you can follow the under mentioned instructions.

• On the Control Panel, scroll down and select the “System and Security”.
• Under the “System and Security” section, hit the “System” icon.
• Afterward, navigate to the “Control Panel” and select “System protection”
• From the appeared menu, choose the “System Restore”.
• In the next screen, select a specific restore point when your device didn’t have any error.
• Stick to the on-screen instructions to complete the restoration process.

As soon as you perform these instructions, your device will reboot automatically and System Restore will revert to its previous configuration.

We hope, after performing these methods you will be able to resolve the Windows Update error on your own. Now, you can install the Windows updates without facing any error. On the other hand, you can also download the updates from the Microsoft Catalog.