Fix “We Couldn’t Complete the Updates” Undoing Changes in Windows 11

You install a Windows 11 update, restart your PC to complete the installation, and instead of loading the desktop, you see the message: “We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes made to your computer.” This usually means Windows couldn’t finish installing the update for one or more reasons, so it automatically rolled back the changes to prevent your PC from becoming unstable or unbootable. The problem can occur for several reasons, including corrupted Windows update files, damaged system files, incompatible drivers, insufficient free disk space, or issues with the Windows Update components. In this guide, you’ll learn the most effective ways to fix the “We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes made to your computer” error in Windows 11, successfully install pending updates, and keep your PC secure and up to date.

What Windows Couldn’t Complete the Updates?

This error appears when Windows 11 cannot complete an update installation. Instead of leaving your PC in a partially updated or unstable state, Windows automatically rolls back the changes and restores the previous version of the system.

Several issues can prevent an update from installing correctly, including:

• Corrupted Windows Update files: Damaged or incomplete update files stored on your PC can cause the installation to fail.
• Corrupted system files: If essential Windows system files are missing or damaged, the update process may stop before it finishes.
• Insufficient storage space: Large cumulative and feature updates require enough free disk space to download, unpack, and install successfully.
• Outdated or incompatible device drivers: Faulty drivers, especially for storage controllers, graphics cards, or network adapters, can interfere with the update process.
• Problems with Windows Update services: If services such as Windows Update or Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) are not running correctly, updates may fail to install.
• Third-party antivirus or security software: Some security programs can block or interrupt Windows Update while it is replacing system files.
• Unexpected interruptions: Power outages, forced shutdowns, or restarting the PC while an update is installing can leave the update incomplete and trigger an automatic rollback.

1. Restart Your Computer and Try Installing the Update Again

Sometimes the update fails due to a temporary glitch during installation. Restarting your PC clears temporary glitches and gives Windows Update another chance to install successfully.

If your PC is stuck on the “Undoing changes” screen: Press and hold the Power button for about 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. If Windows starts normally, follow the steps below to check for updates again.

To check for updates again:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Windows Update from the left pane.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Download and install any available updates.
5. Restart your PC when prompted.

If the same update fails again and Windows rolls back the changes, move on to the next solution.

Quick Tip: Disconnect unnecessary USB devices such as external hard drives, printers, USB hubs, and memory cards before installing updates. Faulty or incompatible peripherals can sometimes interfere with the update process.

2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If restarting didn’t help, run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter. It checks for common problems that prevent updates from installing correctly. It can detect and repair issues with Windows Update services, cached update files, and other components that may cause Windows to roll back an update.

To run the Windows Update Troubleshooter:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Find Windows Update and click Run.
4. Wait while Windows detects and fixes any problems.
5. Restart your PC if prompted.

After the restart, go to Settings > Windows Update, click Check for updates, and try installing the update again.

3. Check Available Storage Space

Windows updates need enough free disk space to download, unpack, and install update files. If your system drive is almost full, the installation may fail, and Windows will undo the changes to protect your PC.

To see how much free space is available:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Storage.
3. Check the available space on your C: drive.

If you’re running low on storage, remove unnecessary files or apps to free up space. You can empty the Recycle Bin, delete temporary files, uninstall programs you no longer use, or move large files to another drive.

• Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Go to System > Storage.
• Wait for Windows to analyze your storage usage.
• Select Temporary files.
• Click Remove files.

After freeing up some space, restart your computer and try installing the update again.

Quick Tip: Keeping at least 20 GB of free space on your system drive helps Windows install feature updates more reliably.

Fix 4: Repair Corrupted System Files Using SFC and DISM

Windows Update relies on many protected system files to install updates successfully. If any of these files are missing or corrupted, the update may fail, causing Windows to roll back the changes. Running the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools can repair damaged system files and the Windows component store.

• Click Start, type cmd. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
• Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
• Wait for the scan to reach 100%. This may take several minutes.
• Next, run the DISM restore health command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Wait for the process to complete. It may appear to pause at certain percentages, which is normal.
• If corrupted files are found, Windows will repair them automatically.

Once both scans are complete, restart your computer and try installing the Windows update again.

Note: The RestoreHealth command requires an internet connection because it may download healthy system files from Windows Update if needed.

5. Reset Windows Update Components

Windows Update stores downloaded update files in a local cache and relies on several background services to install updates. If these files become corrupted or one of the services stops working correctly, Windows may fail to install updates and display Undoing changes made to your computer”.

Resetting the Windows Update components clears the update cache, restarts the required services, and forces Windows to download a fresh copy of the update.

To reset Windows Update components:

1. Open Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Stop the Windows Update services by running these commands one at a time:

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

3. Rename the update cache folders:

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

4. Restart the services:

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

5. Restart your computer.

After your PC restarts, open Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Windows will create new update folders automatically and download a fresh copy of the update.

Note: Renaming the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders doesn’t delete your Windows updates. It only removes the cached update files, which Windows recreates automatically the next time you check for updates.

6. Temporarily Disable Third-Party Antivirus Software

Some third-party antivirus programs can interfere with Windows Update by blocking or scanning files during installation. This may cause the update to fail, forcing Windows to undo the changes.

If you’re using antivirus software other than Microsoft Defender, temporarily disable its real-time protection before installing the update.

To disable your antivirus temporarily:

1. Open your antivirus program.
2. Locate the Real-time Protection, Protection, or Shield settings.
3. Temporarily disable the protection. Most antivirus programs let you turn it off for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or until the next restart.
4. Open Settings > Windows Update.
5. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
6. Restart your PC if prompted.

Once the update finishes installing, re-enable your antivirus software to keep your computer protected.

Note: If you use Microsoft Defender, you don’t need to disable it. Defender is fully compatible with Windows Update and usually isn’t the cause of this problem.

7. Install the Update Manually Using the Microsoft Update Catalog

If a specific Windows update keeps failing, you can download and install it manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. This bypasses the normal Windows Update process and often resolves problems caused by corrupted update cache or issues with Windows Update services.

To install a Windows update manually:

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Note the KB number of the update that’s failing (for example, KB5062553).
3. Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
4. Search for the KB number.
5. Download the update that matches your Windows 11 version and system type (x64 or ARM64).
6. Double-click the downloaded .msu file and follow the on-screen instructions.
7. Restart your computer after the installation finishes.

If the update installs successfully, return to Windows Update and check for any remaining updates.

Tip: If you’re not sure which version of Windows 11 you’re running, press Windows + R, type winver, and press Enter. The window that opens will display your Windows version and OS build.

8. Uninstall the Recently Installed Windows Update

If the “We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes made to your computer” error started after installing a recent Windows update, that update may be causing the problem. Removing it can restore normal update functionality until Microsoft releases a fix.

To uninstall a recent Windows update:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update > Update history.
3. Scroll down and click Uninstall updates.
4. Select the most recently installed Quality Update.
5. Click Uninstall and follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Restart your computer.

After restarting, check Windows Update again. If the same update is offered, pause Windows updates for 7 days, then try again after Microsoft releases a newer version.

If you can’t sign in to Windows: Boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) by interrupting the startup process three times or using Windows installation media. Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates and remove the latest Quality Update or Feature Update.

8. Repair Windows 11 with an In-Place Upgrade

If none of the previous solutions work, your Windows installation may have deeper corruption that’s preventing updates from installing correctly. Performing an in-place upgrade reinstalls Windows 11 over your existing installation while keeping your personal files, installed applications, and most settings intact.

This process replaces damaged system files with fresh copies and often resolves persistent Windows Update errors without performing a full reset or clean installation.

To perform an in-place upgrade:

1. Download the latest Windows 11 Installation Assistant or Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s official website.
2. If you downloaded the ISO, right-click it and select Mount. (or run the Installation Assistant).
3. Open the mounted drive and run setup.exe.
4. Click Next and accept the license terms.
5. When prompted, choose Keep personal files and apps.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair installation.

The process may take 30 minutes or longer, and your PC will restart several times.

Once Windows is repaired, open Settings > Windows Update and check for updates again. In most cases, updates that previously failed will install successfully.

Note: Although an in-place upgrade keeps your files and applications, it’s still a good idea to back up important data before you begin.

How to Prevent Windows Update Installation Problems

You can reduce the chances of seeing the “We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes made to your computer” error again by following a few simple practices:

• Keep at least 15–20 GB of free space on your Windows drive before installing major updates.
• Install Windows updates regularly instead of delaying them for long periods.
• Keep your device drivers and third-party software updated.
• Avoid forcing your PC to shut down while Windows is installing updates.

These steps help Windows 11 install updates more reliably and ensure your PC stays protected with the latest security improvements and bug fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions