How Do I Stop Windows Update During An Update?

Mitch · Jan 14, 2026

Hello, I have been updating our PC's with KB5074109 and experienced problems in the 2 PC'S so far. Installation stalls at 93%. I want to stop the update in it's tracks and restore from a Macrium Image. I tried to stop the WU Service but that failed. Can someone please explain the correct way to stop an update when it's in progress please? I have 2 more PC'S to do so I would like to be prepared. Thanks again. Mitch.

Megahertz · Jan 14, 2026

Once started better not interrupt as system can fail if you do.
Let it finish, restart the computer and uninstall it.
If it fails, restore from a Macrium Image.

FrancoDT · Jan 14, 2026

Mitch said:
Hello, I have been updating our PC's with KB5074109 and experienced problems in the 2 PC'S so far. Installation stalls at 93%. I want to stop the update in it's tracks and restore from a Macrium Image. I tried to stop the WU Service but that failed. Can someone please explain the correct way to stop an update when it's in progress please? I have 2 more PC'S to do so I would like to be prepared. Thanks again. Mitch.

You can stop the update at any stage before the PC reboots by hitting the Pause updates button on the Windows update page. As long as you haven't rebooted you can stop the update even at 100%. If you restart after pausing and then resume updates it will start from the beginning again.

pseymour · Jan 14, 2026

If you're going to restore from an image anyway, you don't need to stop the update. Take the computer offline, restore the image, and then pause updates before connecting again.

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Mitch · Jan 14, 2026

Hi Thanks for the help. This update doesn't finish installing. It sat at 93% for over 45 minutes. This was also reported by others in the Patch Tuesday thread and has affected the 2 PC'S I have updated so far - 2 more to do. @pseymour are you saying I should just disconnect from the Internet and restore the Macrium image? I don't think you can pause Updates when they are I progress? I'm wondering if the 93% install problem is a MS issue connected to this month's update and if its better to wait and see if they resolve it. Thanks again for your help.

FrancoDT · Jan 14, 2026

Mitch said:
I don't think you can pause Updates when they are I progress?

Yes you can most definitely pause updates while they are in progress. I did it multiple times on multiple machines when MS tried to force install insider Dev builds on my machines even though they weren't on that insider channel.

JLArranz · Jan 14, 2026

I cannot see any problem in:

- Insert the Macrium Rescue Disk (or disc in my case).
- Reboot with the reset button.
- Press the Boot Menu key and choose the Rescue Disk.

I have done something comparable today although my issues were with a 3rd party app.

I'm not very expert in WU errors, but I think in this case I would filter it with wushowhide.diagcab or equivalent thing after restoring the image.

zbook · Jan 14, 2026

If you're planning to restore an image anything except BIOS upgrades can likely be disrupted.

One method for disruption is a hard reboot:

(option nine)

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pseymour · Jan 14, 2026

Right, that's what I'm saying. If you are going to restore an earlier image anyway, who cares if the update finishes or not?

FrancoDT · Jan 14, 2026

pseymour said:
Right, that's what I'm saying. If you are going to restore an earlier image anyway, who cares if the update finishes or not?

He probably wants to stop his which is hanging at 93% he said before he starts his restore though. Again, it can be paused at any stage before a reboot though.

antspants · Jan 14, 2026

pseymour said:
Right, that's what I'm saying. If you are going to restore an earlier image anyway, who cares if the update finishes or not?

I also don’t understand why one would need to pause an update when they are planning on wiping the OS. Just boot to rescue media and restore the Macrium image, regardless of what else is going on..
Disconnect from the internet (because if it’s a cumulative/security update it will start downloading the update automatically in the BG) before it boots to the restored OS and pause or disable updates until you’re ready.

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This tutorial will show you how to change the maximum days you can pause or effectively disable Windows Update for in Windows 11. Windows Update keeps Windows 11 updated by automatically downloading and installing the latest updates, drivers, and hotfixes released by Microsoft. If you have a...

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FrancoDT · Jan 14, 2026

pseymour said:
Right, that's what I'm saying. If you are going to restore an earlier image anyway, who cares if the update finishes or not?

antspants said:
I also don’t understand why one would need to pause an update when they are planning on wiping the OS. Just boot to rescue media and restore the Macrium image, regardless of what else is going on..
Disconnect from the internet (because if it’s a cumulative/security update it will start downloading the update automatically in the BG) before it boots to the restored OS and pause or disable updates until you’re ready.

Change Maximum Days to Pause Windows Update in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the maximum days you can pause or effectively disable Windows Update for in Windows 11. Windows Update keeps Windows 11 updated by automatically downloading and installing the latest updates, drivers, and hotfixes released by Microsoft. If you have a...

www.elevenforum.com

Maybe he doesn't have a backup for all his machines. Either way, its his machines to do with as he sees fit and is comfortable with.

pseymour · Jan 14, 2026

I want to stop the update in it's tracks and restore from a Macrium Image.

antspants · Jan 14, 2026

FrancoDT said:
Maybe he doesn't have a backup for all his machines. Either way, its his machines to do with as he sees fit and is comfortable with.

He said he want’s to/is going to restore, so surmise from that?

antspants · Jan 14, 2026

FrancoDT said:
Either way, its his machines to do with as he sees fit and is comfortable with.

Mitch is asking for help, so…

FrancoDT · Jan 14, 2026

antspants said:
He said he want’s to/is going to restore, so surmise from that?

antspants said:
Mitch is asking for help, so…

I'm just saying he may have it hanging on his other machines as well and his request for help was "Can someone please explain the correct way to stop an update when it's in progress please?"

CarlSD · Jan 14, 2026

'Stalled' at 93% during installation?

Well, I'm glad it wasn't just me that it happened to.

Well, relieved is what I probably should say.

Macrium to the rescue, thank goodness.

Mitch · Jan 15, 2026

Thanks for the replies. After I did a hard shutdown, I connected the Macrium usb drive with the backups. I tried to boot into Macrium using the Macrium Boot Menu but got a message that "Windows Can't Start". I connected my Rescue USB and booted into that and selected the backup usb from that and restored back. Ended up doing a Repair install. The 93% stall has happened on the 2 PC's I've updated so far so there must be something in the update that's causing it. Thanks for the help.

Mitch · Jan 16, 2026

I have had problems with this latest update hanging at 93% during installation . This happened on all 4 of our pcs. I hit the pause button and the message "Pausing Updates " appeared but didn't stop them. I opened Macrium to restore but when it tried to boot into WIN RE the message "Working On Updates, Please Keep Your Computer On" sat there. The only option was a hard shutdown which I hate doing. It seems impossible to stop these updates once they have started.

Megahertz · Jan 16, 2026

- Do a hard shutdown
- Boot from a Macrium USB rescue drive and load the saved image to the main drive (replace all partitions)

How Do I Stop Windows Update During An Update?

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