Solution: We Couldn’t Complete the Updates – Undoing Changes

The “We Couldn’t Complete the Updates, Undoing Changes” error is a frequent issue that occurs when Windows fails to finish a software update. This error can appear on Windows 10 and Windows 11 for various reasons, such as insufficient hard drive space, issues with the Windows Update service, or problems with the software being updated.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to fix this error and successfully complete your Windows updates.

Common Causes of the “We Couldn’t Complete the Updates, Undoing Changes” Error

The “We Couldn’t Complete the Updates, Undoing Changes” error typically appears when you attempt to install Windows updates or upon the first reboot after the installation process. While this issue doesn’t have a single cause, the most common reasons for this error include:

• Insufficient disk space: Windows updates can be large, requiring sufficient free space on your system. If there isn’t enough room on your hard drive, the update process won’t be able to complete.
• Interruption during the update process: Windows updates may fail due to factors like sudden power outages, low battery, or accidentally unplugging your computer during the installation.
• System file corruption: Corrupted system files can prevent updates from installing properly. This may occur from recent app installations, misconfigured system settings, or even malware infections.

To resolve this issue efficiently, consider using reliable partition manager software like EaseUS Partition Master Professional. This tool helps you extend disk space, fix system file corruption, and address boot errors during Windows updates.

How to Resolve the “We Couldn’t Complete the Updates Undoing Changes” Error

The good news is that the “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes” error can often be resolved with a few simple steps. If you’re facing this issue, follow these solutions to fix it:

1. Run Startup Repair

Startup Repair is a built-in Windows tool that can help resolve problems caused by corrupted system files, which may be preventing the successful completion of your Windows Update. To use this tool, you’ll need to boot into the Advanced Options menu.

If you can’t start Windows normally, try using Safe Mode to determine whether a hardware or software issue is causing the problem. This could also help resolve the black screen with cursor issue on Windows.

Here’s how to run Startup Repair:

• Reboot your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On some devices, you may need to press the Fn key as well. Tip: If you can’t access WinRE using the keyboard shortcut, turn your computer on and off about 3 times until it automatically enters the repair environment.
• Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. This tool will check for startup issues and attempt to fix them automatically.

• Let the repair process run, and then restart your computer. Once completed, check if the “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes” error message still appears.

2. Use SFC and DISM Scans

If you’re facing issues with corrupted system files, you can utilize the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans to identify and repair any system problems.

Here’s how to perform these scans:

• Enter WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) and navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

• When the Command Prompt window appears, type in the following command and press Enter:
  sfc /scannow
  Wait for the SFC scan to finish scanning your computer.

• Once the SFC scan is complete, enter the following command and press Enter:
  DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  This will trigger the DISM scan to repair any further issues.

• After both scans finish, close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer. Check if the “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes” error has been resolved.

3. Use System Restore

You can use System Restore to revert your computer to a previous state when everything was functioning properly. This is particularly helpful if you recently installed an app or made system changes that might have triggered the “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes” error.

Important Warning: Using System Restore may cause you to lose recently installed applications. Be sure to check which programs and drivers will be affected during the process before proceeding.

Here’s how to perform a System Restore:

• Enter WinRE and navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.

• If you have multiple versions of Windows installed, choose the one you want to restore.

• Click Next, then select a restore point that you wish to recover from. After selecting it, click Next again.
• Review the details of your restore point and ensure that your system was functioning well at the selected time. Once confirmed, click Finish to initiate the restore process.

Once System Restore is complete, your computer will reboot with the configuration from the chosen restore point. Check to see if the update issue has been resolved.

4. Delete the SoftwareDistribution Folder

Many users have successfully resolved the “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes” error by deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder. This folder stores temporary files related to Windows Updates, and if it becomes corrupted, it can block updates from being installed properly.

Follow these steps to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder:

• Enter WinRE and navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings.

• To enter Safe Mode, click Restart in the bottom-right corner, then press the corresponding function key:
  • F4: Enable Safe Mode.
  • F5: Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
  • F6: Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

• After your computer reboots into Safe Mode, press Windows + R on your keyboard, type “cmd” (without quotes), and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the elevated Command Prompt.
• Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each line:
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop bits
  • net stop cryptSvc
  • net stop msiserver
• Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E, and navigate to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder.

• Select all files within the folder by pressing Ctrl + A, then press the Delete key on your keyboard to remove them.

After deleting the temporary files in the SoftwareDistribution folder, restart your computer and check if the update issue is resolved.

5. Start the App Readiness Service

If the App Readiness service is disabled, it can cause issues with Windows Updates installation. To resolve this, ensure you’ve booted your computer in Safe Mode (follow the instructions above) before proceeding with the steps below:

• Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run utility. Type “services.msc” and click OK to launch the Services window.

• Scroll down and locate the App Readiness service. Right-click on it and select Properties.

• In the Properties window, use the Startup type drop-down menu and set it to Automatic.
• After enabling the service, restart your computer and check if the “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes” error is resolved.

By starting the App Readiness service, you should be able to resolve the issue and complete your Windows updates successfully.

6. Disable Automatic Windows Updates

In certain situations, disabling automatic Windows updates can help prevent the “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing changes” error from recurring.

• Open the Services window by following the steps from the previous method.
• Locate the Windows Update service from the list and open its Properties.

• Set the Startup type to Disabled, then click Apply and OK to confirm the changes.
• Reboot your computer. If the error no longer appears after disabling automatic updates, it’s recommended to keep this service disabled. However, don’t forget to manually check for Windows updates regularly to stay up to date.

7. Reset Windows

If none of the previous steps have resolved the issue, you may want to try a Windows reset. This will reinstall Windows from scratch, giving you a fresh, clean system without any corrupted files.

One more thing

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