How To Stop The Important Updates Are Pending Message In Windows 10

“I keep getting the prompt: “Important updates are pending”. Why am I getting this prompt instead of the computer automatically installing it outside of active hours?”

Download DriverFix (verified download file).
Click Start Scan to find all problematic drivers.
Click Update Drivers to get new versions and avoid system malfunctionings.
DriverFix has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.

Windows Update provides important service packs and patches, as well as other pertinent updates necessary for the Windows operating system and other software to function as they should.

The feature can also be used to update drivers for commonly used hardware devices, and all these are routinely released on Patch Tuesday, usually, the second Tuesday of each month, though Microsoft can also release urgent fixes on other days as they arise.

If you’re unable to use the automatic updating feature, you can check for new updates on a weekly basis, most of which are installed automatically.

However, Windows Update needs input from time to time, so you’ll get a notification icon on the taskbar in such cases.

When you get the “Important Updates are Pending” popup screen regularly, it could be that the update process was slow either due to the internet speed or a slow system, so the process will remain under ‘pending’ and each time you log in, you’ll get the ‘Important Updates are Pending’ popup as an automatic prompt.

Microsoft has configured Windows Updates in such a way that you can now disable updates, but it is mandatory to install them.

You can pause these updates temporarily, but most users find it annoying to restart the system leaving their work unattended to, while they wait for the whole update process to complete.

If not properly configured, Windows will restart your computer at its own time, sometimes without notifying you, and after a reboot, it can take so much time to update your system, whether you’re in a hurry or not.

When you get the Important Updates are Pending popup screen, try the solutions below to resolve the issue in Windows 10.

Fix Windows Update issues with one of these great tools!

FIX: Important Updates are Pending pop-up screen

Reset the reboot flag
Download and run the latest System Update Readiness Tool
Run System restore
Run an SFC scan
Reset Windows Update components
Install pending updates
Schedule an update
Check Group Policy Editor Options
Turn off notification balloons
Check Event Viewer
Stop Windows Update completely
Disable update on restart using Group Policy
Bypass updates using the command line

1. Reset the reboot flag

The first thing to do in this case is to reboot your computer, if you haven’t done so, then reset the reboot flag. To do this:

Right-click Start and select Run
Type regedit and press enter
In the registry editor, find ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftUpdates
Double click UpdateExeVolatile key
Configure the key with a value of 0

Can’t access Registry Editor? Things aren’t as scary as they seem. Check out this guide and solve the issue quickly.

2. Download and run the latest System Update Readiness Tool

There are two parts to installing an update: running in the context of the WUA or at shutdown/startup. In the WUA context, the installation finishes successfully and the WUA logs it as successful.

However, if that process remains or fails at shutdown/startup, then the update is not installed. The WUA doesn’t report this failure because it doesn’t understand it.

This happens as a defect in the patching mechanism when the servicing stack and agent are written and/or maintained by two different groups so none of them know what the other does.

In this case, download and run the System Update Readiness Tool to see what it says about the computer.

This System Update Readiness Tool is used because inconsistencies are found in the Windows servicing store, which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software.

It checks your computer for such inconsistencies and tries to resolve issues if found.

Download the System Update Readiness tool by clicking the download link that corresponds to the version of Windows running on your computer. Always download the latest version and check if your computer runs 32/64-bit of Windows.
Click Download on the Download Center webpage
Click Open or Run and follow the installation instructions
In Windows Update Standalone Installer dialog box, click Yes. Wait until it completes the installation. It may take up to 15 or so minutes
Click Close once it says Installation Complete
Reinstall the update or service pack you wanted to install previously

3. Run System restore

The Important Updates are Pending popup screen can be caused by a security app block or corrupted system files.

Run System restore to get your computer back to a point before the issue began. To do this:

Click Start and go to the search field box and type System Restore
Click Create a Restore Point in the list of search results
Enter your administrator account password or grant permissions if prompted to
In the System Restore dialog box, click Choose a different restore point
Click Next
Select a restore point created before you experienced the problem
Click Next and then Finish

Check out our detailed guide to create a System Restore Point like a real technician!

4. Run an SFC scan

This will fix any file system corruptions it finds during the scan.

Click Start, type CMD in the search box
Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
Type sfc/scannow
Press Enter

Epic guide alert! Everything you need to know about System File Checker is right here!

5. Reset Windows Update components

The steps here are part of modifying the registry. Ensure you follow these steps correctly, and carefully. Back up the registry before you modify it, then restore it if a problem occurs.

Click Start and type CMD in the search box
Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
Click Yes when asked for permissions
Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services by typing the following commands at a command prompt:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Press Enter after each command you type
Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder by typing the commands below in the Command Prompt then press Enter after each command you type:
ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
Restart the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services by typing the following commands in the command prompt:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Type Exit in the Command Prompt to close it

Learn everything there is to know about the Windows Update Reset Script from our detailed guide!

net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver

6. Install pending updates

Disable any security apps or software installed on your computer, temporarily, and check for updates via Windows Updates on your Settings.

Install the pending updates again, and restart your computer to see if the ‘Important Updates are Pending’ popup screen disappears.

7. Schedule an update

Instead of ignoring the Important Updates are Pending pop-up screen, you can schedule the updates for a later time when you’re freer to let the computer update automatically.

Usually, Windows gives you the option to Restart now, Pick a time, or Snooze to get the update reminder later in about three or so days. So schedule the time you feel works for you then let it update then.

8. Check Group Policy Editor Options

The Group Policy Editor Options for Windows Updates can be configured in this way:

Go to the search bar and type Group Policy Editor
Select Edit Group Policy from search results
Click Computer Configuration
Click Administrative Templates
Click Windows Components
Click Windows Update folder
Set Configure Automatic Updates to enable the Allow non-Administrator to receive update notifications settings for you

Check out our guide on how to fix Windows 10 automatic update problems!

9. Turn off notification balloons

Go to the search bar and type Group Policy Editor
Select Edit Group Policy from search results
Choose Computer Configuration
Click Administrative Templates
Select Start Menu and Taskbar
Click Turn off all balloon notifications

10. Check Event Viewer

If you get the ‘Important Updates are Pending’ popup screen, something may be preventing it from restarting. Check Event Viewer for any clues.

Confirm if the update was successfully installed by checking Settings>Update & Security>View.

Looking for the best Windows 10 event log viewer? Here are our top picks.

11. Stop Windows Update completely

Right-click Start and select Run
Type services.msc and press Enter
Search for Windows Installer and Windows Update
Stop both services to stop all pending Windows installations

12. Disable update on restart using Group Policy

Enable the Do not display ‘Install Updates and Shut Down’ option in Shut Down Windows dialog box in Group Policy to make install updates and shut down option disappear. The normal shutdown only option will be displayed.

Disabling update and shutdown option in Group Policy is a permanent option, which means the shutdown and update/restart and update options won’t be shown in the shutdown dialog box.

Go to Settings>Windows Update and select Install Updates and restart your computer from here.

Go to the search bar and type Group Policy Editor
Select Edit Group Policy from search results
Click Computer Configuration
Select Administrative Templates
Click Windows Components
Click Windows Update

13. Bypass updates using the command line

You can do this temporarily to bypass updates on restart/shutdown by stopping Windows Update service before restarting or shutting down your computer. To do this:

Right-click Start and select Run
Type net stop wuauserv to stop the Windows Update service
Type shutdown –s –t 0 to shut down the system at once

To restart the system, type shutdown –r –t 0. You can also run all commands simultaneously by typing: net stop wuauserv && shutdown –r –t 0 so you can shut down or restart your system without installing updates.

Let us know if you managed to fix the Important updates are pending issue on your computer by leaving a comment in the section below.

FIX: Important Updates are Pending pop-up screen#

1. Reset the reboot flag#

2. Download and run the latest System Update Readiness Tool#

3. Run System restore#

4. Run an SFC scan#

5. Reset Windows Update components#

6. Install pending updates#

7. Schedule an update#

8. Check Group Policy Editor Options#

9. Turn off notification balloons#

10. Check Event Viewer#

11. Stop Windows Update completely#

12. Disable update on restart using Group Policy#

13. Bypass updates using the command line#