Windows stuck on 'Getting ready' screen after an update
Windows updates can look frozen but still be running in the background. Wait at least 45 minutes before doing anything. If the screen still hasn't changed after an hour, hold the power button for 10 seconds to shut it down, then restart it. This tells Windows to try the update again from the beginning.
When Windows installs a major update, it shows 'Getting ready' while it's installing files. This can take a very long time. Sometimes 45 minutes or more. If you force it off too early, the update breaks and you have to try again. The safest approach is to wait, and only restart if nothing has changed for a full hour.
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Skip — I just want a technicianCommon mistakes to avoid
- Restarting the computer after 5 minutes because the screen looks frozen. Updates can take an hour, so be patient before forcing a restart
- Unplugging the computer instead of using the power button to shut it down. This can corrupt the update worse than a normal shutdown
Signs you need professional help
- The update failed twice in a row and your computer won't start You see error messages on the blue screen and don't know what they mean Windows won't get past 'Getting ready' even after waiting for 2 hours
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