Windows 11 Setup Stuck on “Getting a Few Things Ready”? Try These Fixes

Windows 11 Setup stuck on “Getting a few things ready” after installing an update or a recent upgrade? The “Getting a few things ready” message appears while Windows Setup prepares the installation, checks your PC, and gets the files and settings needed to continue.

This process can take some time while Windows prepares everything before you can start using the system. However, if the screen remains unchanged for a long time and Setup does not continue, something may be preventing the process from completing. It could be caused by corrupted system files, a problem with your user profile, a failed update, incompatible drivers, or damaged installation files.

In this guide, we’ll explain why Windows 11 Setup gets stuck on this screen and show you practical ways to get past “Getting a few things ready” and complete the installation.

Why Is Windows 11 Stuck on “Getting a Few Things Ready”?

Windows 11 can get stuck on “Getting a few things ready” when Setup cannot complete one of the tasks required to finish the update or upgrade. The exact cause can vary depending on what changed on your PC before the problem appeared.

Some common reasons include:

• Corrupted system files that prevent Windows Setup from completing its tasks.
• A failed or incomplete Windows Update that leaves the installation in an inconsistent state.
• User profile problems: A damaged user profile or incorrect permissions can sometimes interfere with the setup process.
• Damaged installation files: If the files Windows Setup needs are incomplete or corrupted, the process may stop before reaching the next stage.
• Incompatible drivers: An outdated or incompatible device driver may prevent Windows from completing the upgrade.
• Third-party software: Antivirus programs, system utilities, or other background software can sometimes interfere with Windows Setup.
• Not enough free storage: Windows needs sufficient free space to unpack files and complete the installation.

1. Give Windows Setup Some Time to Finish

Before trying any troubleshooting steps, make sure Windows Setup is actually stuck. The “Getting a few things ready” screen can remain visible while Windows processes files and prepares the system for the next stage.

If you have just started an update or upgrade, wait for a while before restarting or shutting down the PC. The time required can vary depending on your PC’s hardware, the size of the update, and how much background work Windows needs to complete.

If the screen has remained unchanged for a very long time, there is no sign of activity, or the computer repeatedly returns to the same message after restarting, you can assume that Setup is no longer progressing and continue with the fixes below.

Tip: If possible, keep the PC connected to power and avoid interrupting the installation while Windows is still showing signs of activity.

2. Disconnect Unnecessary USB Devices

If Windows 11 Setup is stuck on “Getting a few things ready,” temporarily disconnect any USB devices you don’t need during installation.

External hard drives, USB flash drives, printers, docking stations, card readers, and other connected hardware can sometimes interfere with Windows Setup, especially when their drivers or firmware are incompatible with the upgrade.

Leave only the essential devices connected, such as your keyboard, mouse, display, and network connection. Then restart the PC and check whether Windows Setup can continue.

If the PC is completely frozen and you cannot restart it normally, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

If the problem disappears after removing a particular device, reconnect your devices one at a time after Windows finishes the upgrade. This can help identify the hardware causing the problem.

3. Start Windows in Safe Mode

If Windows keeps returning to “Getting a few things ready” after a restart, try starting Windows in Safe Mode. This loads Windows with only the basic drivers and services, which can help if a third-party driver or program is interfering with the upgrade.

If you cannot reach the Windows desktop, you can enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):

1. Turn on your PC and wait for the Windows logo to appear.
2. Press and hold the power button to turn it off.
3. Repeat this process two or three times.
4. On the next startup, Windows should enter Automatic Repair.
5. Select Advanced options.
6. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
7. Select Restart.
8. Press 4 or F4 to start Safe Mode.

Once Windows starts in Safe Mode, restart the PC normally and check whether Windows Setup can continue.

4. Check Available Storage Space

Windows needs enough free space on the system drive to unpack installation files, apply the update, and complete the upgrade. If the C: drive is nearly full, Windows Setup may get stuck on “Getting a few things ready” or fail to continue.

If you can access the Windows desktop, check how much free space is available:

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
2. Select This PC from the left pane.
3. Check the available space on the C: drive.
4. If the drive is almost full, free up some space before trying the Windows 11 setup again.

You can remove temporary files and other unnecessary data by going to:

Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files

After freeing up some space, restart the Windows 11 setup process and check whether it moves past “Getting a few things ready.”

5. Uninstall the Latest Windows Update

If you see the “Getting a few things ready” screen after a recent Windows Update, the update may be preventing Windows from completing startup or setup.

You can remove the latest update from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) when you are unable to reach the Windows desktop.

1. From the “Getting a few things ready” screen, restart your PC.
2. If Windows does not start normally, interrupt the startup process a few times to open Automatic Repair.
3. Select Advanced options.
4. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
5. Select Uninstall Updates.
6. Choose to uninstall the latest quality update.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

Windows will remove the most recent quality update while leaving your personal files in place. Once the PC starts normally, check whether the “Getting a few things ready” problem has been resolved.

6. Run Startup Repair

If Windows cannot start properly after getting stuck on “Getting a few things ready,” Startup Repair can check for common problems that prevent Windows from booting.

You can run it from the Windows Recovery Environment:

1. Restart your PC and enter Automatic Repair.
2. Select Advanced options.
3. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
4. Select Startup Repair.
5. Choose your Windows account if asked.
6. Enter your account password and let Windows complete the repair.

Startup Repair checks problems with important startup files and configuration settings and attempts to fix them automatically.

When the process finishes, restart your PC and check whether Windows starts normally instead of returning to the “Getting a few things ready” screen.

7. Repair Corrupted Windows System Files

Corrupted or damaged Windows system files can interfere with updates and upgrades. If Windows Setup gets stuck on “Getting a few things ready,” repairing these files is worth trying before moving to more advanced troubleshooting.

Windows includes two built-in tools for this: System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM).

1. Press Windows + S and search for Command Prompt.
2. Select Run as administrator.
3. Enter the following command and press Enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

4. Wait for the scan to finish. It can take several minutes, so don’t close the Command Prompt window while it is running.
5. When it completes, run:

sfc /scannow

6. Wait until SFC reaches 100% and reports the result.

Once both commands finish, restart your PC and try the Windows 11 setup again. If corrupted Windows files were preventing Setup from continuing, repairing them may allow the installation to proceed normally.

8. Run CHKDSK to Check the System Drive

If the Windows drive has file-system errors, Setup may have trouble reading or writing the files it needs. Running CHKDSK can check the drive for these errors and repair them.

You can run it from Windows Recovery Environment without starting Windows normally.

1. Open Automatic Repair and select Advanced options.
2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Find the drive letter where Windows is installed. In WinRE, it may not be C:.
4. Enter this command, replacing C: with the correct drive letter if necessary:

chkdsk C: /f

5. Press Enter and wait for the scan to finish.
6. Close Command Prompt and restart the computer.

If CHKDSK finds and fixes file-system errors, try starting Windows Setup again and check whether it can get past “Getting a few things ready.”

9. Reset Windows Update Components

If the problem started after a failed Windows Update, resetting the Windows Update components can help. This clears the cached update files and allows Windows to download fresh copies.

If you can get back into Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc
net stop msiserver

Then rename the two update cache folders:

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

Start the services again:

net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptsvc
net start msiserver

Restart the PC and try the Windows 11 setup again.

If you cannot access the Windows desktop because the computer is still stuck on “Getting a few things ready,” skip this method for now and proceed to the next solution.

Still Stuck on “Getting a Few Things Ready”?

If Windows 11 is still stuck on “Getting a few things ready” after trying the fixes above, the problem may be due to a damaged Windows installation or an update that cannot complete normally.

At this point, you may need to use Windows 11 installation media to access additional recovery options or repair Windows. If you can still access your files, back up your important data before attempting a repair or reinstallation.

Avoid immediately choosing a clean installation if you want to keep your apps and personal files. Check the available installation and recovery options carefully before continuing.

Frequently Asked Questions