Windows 10/11 Upgrade Stuck at Checking for Updates

When you run an in-place upgrade of Windows 10 or 11 using the Media Creation Tool, ISO, or Installation Assistant, the upgrade process may get stuck at “Checking for updates.”

windows setup stuck checking for updates

On some systems, the dialog may get stuck for hours together.

This issue occurs if the Windows Update client on the computer is broken. Or a proxy/TLS/SSL/firewall misconfiguration blocks Microsoft Update servers, such as delivery.mp.microsoft.com.



Resolution

To workaround the issue, run Setup from the ISO, disconnect the device from the internet, and disable dynamic updates.

  1. Download the Windows ISO.
  2. Right-click on the ISO and click “Mount” to to mount it to a drive letter.
  3. Run Setup.exe from the mounted ISO drive-letter.

    windows 10/11 iso setup.exe

  4. Disconnect your computer from the internet.
  5. In the initial screen, click “Change how Setup downloads updates”
    windows setup stuck checking for updates - disable dynamic update
  6. Select “Not right now” (during Windows 11 setup) or “Not at the moment” (during Windows 10 setup.)

    windows setup stuck checking for updates - disable dynamic update

  7. Click Next, follow the instructions, and complete the repair installation.

Note: As you’ve disabled dynamic updates, only the base version (without the latest LCU) of Windows (find Windows version from ISO) will be installed. That means you’ll need to install the latest quality update, .NET Framework security update, and other updates via Settings → Windows Update after setup is finished.


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

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