Windows 11 updates are supposed to improve your PC with new features, security patches, and bug fixes. But sometimes the update process doesn’t go smoothly. One of the most frustrating problems is when your Windows 11 update gets stuck on the “Restarting” screen. The laptop or desktop keeps restarting, stays on a black or blue restarting screen for too long, or looks like it is frozen and not moving forward.
If you are facing this issue, don’t panic. In most cases, the update is either still working in the background, or something has caused it to hang. The good news is that there are several safe solutions you can try to recover your system without losing your data.
In this guide, you will learn why Windows 11 updates get stuck on restarting, how long you should wait, and the best methods to fix it step-by-step in simple language.
Why Windows 11 Update Gets Stuck on Restarting Screen
When Windows 11 installs updates, it has to restart to apply changes. During restart, Windows performs important tasks in the background, such as:
Installing new system files
Updating drivers
Applying security patches
Configuring Windows services
Cleaning old update files
Finalizing system settings
Sometimes the restarting screen stays for a long time because Windows is still completing these tasks. Other times, it becomes stuck due to errors.
The most common reasons include:
Low free space on the C drive
Driver conflicts (graphics, WiFi, chipset)
Third-party antivirus interference
Corrupted system files
Interrupted update process due to power loss
Faulty external USB devices connected
Windows Update service malfunction
How Long Should You Wait on the Restarting Screen?
Before forcing a shutdown, you should wait a reasonable amount of time. Windows updates can take longer depending on your PC’s speed and the size of the update.
A safe waiting time is usually:
20–30 minutes for small updates
45–90 minutes for bigger updates
Up to 2 hours on older HDD computers
If your PC has a drive activity light that keeps blinking or your fans change speed, Windows is likely still processing.
If it has been stuck for several hours without any change, it is time to take action.
Step 1: Check If Your PC is Actually Frozen
Even if the restarting screen looks stuck, Windows may still be running processes.
You can try these simple checks:
See if the mouse pointer moves (if visible)
Press Caps Lock and check if the keyboard light responds
Listen for fan sound changes
Wait 10 minutes and see if anything progresses
If there is no response at all, continue with the next step.
Step 2: Disconnect External Devices (Quick and Very Effective)
External devices often cause update problems, especially during restart.
Disconnect everything except essentials:
USB drives and external hard disks
Printer and scanner
USB WiFi adapters
Bluetooth dongles
Game controllers
Extra monitors
Keep only:
Power cable
Keyboard and mouse
After removing these devices, wait again for 10–15 minutes. Many PCs resume the update after removing a problematic device.
Step 3: Force Restart (Safe Method)
If Windows 11 is stuck on restarting for too long, forcing a restart is often necessary.
Follow this safe method:
Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds
Wait 15 seconds
Turn the PC on again
After turning it on, Windows may show:
“Working on updates”
“Please wait”
“Undoing changes made to your computer”
“Preparing Automatic Repair”
Do not interrupt these screens. Let Windows finish what it is doing.
Step 4: Wait for Automatic Repair to Appear
Sometimes Windows cannot complete the update and it automatically triggers repair mode.
If you see “Preparing Automatic Repair,” let it load fully. Then you’ll see a screen with options.
Click:
Advanced options
Troubleshoot
From here you can repair, rollback, or boot into Safe Mode.
Step 5: Use Startup Repair (Best for Boot Problems)
Startup Repair fixes Windows boot issues that happen after updates.
To use it:
Go to Troubleshoot
Select Advanced options
Click Startup Repair
Choose your account and enter password if required
Windows will scan the system and repair startup issues automatically.
This method works well if the update caused boot files or startup services to break.
Step 6: Boot into Safe Mode and Remove Update Blockers
If the PC boots but gets stuck again when restarting, Safe Mode can help.
To enter Safe Mode from recovery screen:
Go to Troubleshoot
Click Advanced options
Select Startup Settings
Click Restart
Press 4 for Safe Mode
Press 5 for Safe Mode with Networking
Once in Safe Mode, focus on removing common update blockers:
Uninstall third-party antivirus
Disable VPN tools
Remove system tuning apps
Disable unnecessary startup programs
After removing the blockers, restart your PC normally and see if the update completes.
Step 7: Uninstall the Latest Update (If Restart Stuck Happened After Update)
Sometimes a specific update causes Windows to get stuck during restarting.
To uninstall it:
Go to Troubleshoot
Click Advanced options
Select Uninstall Updates
You will see two choices:
Uninstall latest quality update
Uninstall latest feature update
If the issue happened after a regular patch update, choose the quality update option.
After uninstalling, restart your PC and check if it boots normally.
Step 8: Run System File Repair (SFC and DISM)
Corrupted files can break the update cycle and cause Windows to hang on restarting.
You can run repair commands from Safe Mode or normal Windows if it boots.
Steps:
Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Run:
sfc /scannow
Wait for it to finish.
Then run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Restart your PC after these commands complete.
This is one of the best solutions when Windows is stuck due to missing or damaged system components.
Step 9: Reset Windows Update Components
If Windows Update is stuck repeatedly at restarting, your update components might be corrupted.
Steps to reset:
Open Command Prompt as Admin
Stop update services:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc
net stop msiserver
Rename update folders:
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
Start the services again:
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptsvc
net start msiserver
Restart your computer and try Windows Update again.
Step 10: Free Up Space on the C Drive
Low storage is a silent reason for restarting issues.
Windows needs space during updates to unpack files and finalize installation.
Try to keep:
Minimum 25–30GB free
40GB free is better
To clean space:
Open Settings
Go to System > Storage
Click Temporary files
Delete safe items like cache and temporary files
Avoid deleting important personal files.
Step 11: Update Drivers After Recovery
If your system boots after fixing the restarting issue, don’t ignore driver updates. A driver problem may have caused the stuck screen in the first place.
Drivers that should be updated first:
Graphics driver
Chipset driver
Storage controller driver
WiFi and Bluetooth drivers
You can update them using Device Manager or the official website of your laptop/PC manufacturer.
Step 12: Disable Fast Startup (Prevents Restart Loop)
Fast Startup sometimes causes restart and boot issues after updates.
To disable it:
Open Control Panel
Go to Power Options
Click Choose what the power buttons do
Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
Uncheck Turn on fast startup
Save changes
Restart your PC and check if Windows behaves normally.
Step 13: Perform a Clean Boot to Prevent Update Conflicts
If updates keep getting stuck, background services may be interfering.
Clean boot steps:
Press Windows + R
Type msconfig
Go to Services tab
Check Hide all Microsoft services
Click Disable all
Go to Startup tab
Open Task Manager
Disable unnecessary startup items
Restart PC
Now try updating again.
After the update works, you can restore services later.
Step 14: Use System Restore (If Available)
If Windows update stuck on restarting continues, System Restore can roll back system changes.
To access System Restore:
Go to Troubleshoot
Advanced options
System Restore
Choose a restore point before the update started.
This will not remove personal files, but it may remove recently installed apps or drivers.
Step 15: Last Option (Reset This PC or Reinstall Windows)
If nothing works, you may need stronger recovery options.
The safest is Reset This PC with “Keep my files.”
Steps:
Go to Troubleshoot
Click Reset this PC
Choose Keep my files
This reinstalls Windows while keeping personal data, but apps may be removed.
A full clean install should only be done if you have complete backups and the system is unbootable.
Final Thoughts
Windows 11 update stuck on restarting screen can feel scary, but most of the time it is fixable without losing data. The key is to stay calm, wait a reasonable amount of time, and then follow safe steps like disconnecting external devices, forcing a restart properly, and using Windows Recovery tools like Startup Repair and Safe Mode.
If the issue happens again, focus on the root causes such as low disk space, driver conflicts, antivirus interference, or corrupted system files. Resetting Windows Update components and running SFC and DISM repairs also helps in many cases.
