To facilitate this, Windows 10 updates have a Cleanup feature that gets rid of the old files to make way for the new ones. But some users have reported the Cleanup feature not starting beyond launching.
What causes Windows Update to get stuck on cleaning up?
The main driving force behind Window Update’s Cleanup feature is the Disk Cleanup tool itself. Any time the cleanup is stuck at zero percent, there’s something wrong with the app.
Your Windows computer has too many files: It’s entirely possible that because you have so many files that need to be parsed, it will take Disk Cleanup a long time to finish. Your computer is experiencing slow performance: As a consequence of too many files, Windows may experience a performance drop because it’s all too much to process. Corrupt files may be getting in the way: We recommend repairing and restoring corrupted files to get past this obstacle and ensure things run smoothly.
What can I do if Windows 11 is stuck on Cleaning up – 0 percent complete?
Before trying out any of the solutions, we recommend the following:
Wait it out. Perhaps you have so many files on your hardware that it takes your computer extra time to finish. Create a restore point in case things go south and you have a way to bring your computer back to its previous state. Turn off or uninstall your antivirus. It’s been reported that sometimes antivirus software will get in the way of important Windows functions. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter to identify the problem and resolve it. The software has been known to have its issues, so we recommend running a debug tool to fix it. Install any new Windows updates currently available, specifically in Safe Mode. Microsoft frequently rolls out fixes in its updates.
1. Run a series of commands
Stopping and restarting the services in the solution clear out the Windows Update cache so the system can redownload the files instead of using the ones already on the drive. Those files may be damaged.
2. Perform a clean boot
3. Run an SFC scan
This solution is recommended to be performed after the clean boot, but you can do this at any time and see similar results.
How can I fix the 0 percent clean-up issue in Windows 11?
In case of facing this issue on this OS, do not hesitate to run the troubleshooter and SFC scan on Windows 11, as described below. SPONSORED Note that this straightforward solution is the best for Windows 11, but you can also try it out on Windows 10. Also, whenever Windows Update’s cleanup feature gets rid of old files, it puts them in a folder called Windows.old. Older versions of Windows tend to be more stable, so this folder is handy to have in case you want to revert. But you can get rid of it, if you choose, to free up space on your hardware. We also recommend checking out our best memory cleaner list. These apps clear out all the extra fluff software manufacturers may add. In return, you’ll experience much faster performance. Feel free to comment below if you have questions about other Windows 10 problems. And please tell us if there’s a specific guide for any error or app you’d like to see.
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