Trouble installing Surface updates?

If updates won't install, you get an error message, or your Surface freezes while its updating, here are a few things to try.

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

If you’re having trouble installing an update, try running the Windows Update automatic troubleshooter, which can fix some common update problems:

  1. Select Start icon for Windows logo icon > Settings icon for Settings app icon > System icon for Taskbar docking icon > Troubleshoot icon for Repair icon , or select the button below.

    Go to Troubleshoot

  2. Select Other troubleshooters icon for Repair icon . Next to Windows Update icon for Sync icon , select Run.

Check your date and time settings

If your date and time settings aren’t correct, you may see Windows Update error 80072F8F when checking for updates, or updates may not install correctly.

To check your date and time settings, go to Start icon for Windows logo icon , and select Settings icon for Settings app icon > Time & language icon for Time and language icon .

Charge your battery

Note

This section doesn’t apply to Surface Studio (it doesn’t have a battery).

Make sure your battery is charged to at least 40 percent before trying to install updates.

If you see Windows Update error 8024004C, or if your Surface battery won’t charge above 40 percent, remove and reinstall the battery driver. Here’s how:

  1. Plug in your Surface.
  2. Select Search icon for Search icon on the taskbar, enter device manager, and in the search results, select Device Manager.
  3. Select the arrow next to the Batteries category.
  4. Double-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery or Surface Battery, and under the Driver tab, select Uninstall device > OK.
  5. Select Start icon for Windows logo icon > Power icon for Power button icon > Restart icon for Update and restore icon . Restarting will reinstall the driver for you.

If the battery charges above 40 percent after you reinstall the driver, try installing updates again.

If your battery still won’t charge above 40 percent, your Surface might need service. For more help, How to get service for Surface.

Note

For more info on Surface batteries and power, see How to charge Surface.

Restart your Surface

Warning

Interrupting updates while they’re in progress could damage your Surface. If an update seems to be stalled and your Surface doesn’t restart automatically, wait at least 20 minutes before trying to restart your Surface yourself.

If you’re seeing any of these errors, restarting your Surface might fix the problem:

  • Update error 80248007
  • Update installation freezes for more than 20 minutes
  • Update stays on "Getting Devices Ready..." screen for more than 20 minutes
  • Update stays on "Please wait while we install a system update" screen for more than 20 minutes
  • Update history shows "pending restart"
  • Update history shows update “failed”

If you get one of these errors, try each of the restart solutions below, in the order listed.

Solution 1: Restart your Surface

Select Start icon for Windows logo icon > Power icon for Power button icon > Restart icon for Update and restore icon (or Update and restart icon for Update and restore icon ).

After your Surface restarts, try installing updates again. If you’re still having a problem, try Solution 2.

Solution 2: Force a restart

Select Start icon for Windows logo icon > Power icon for Power button icon > Shut down icon for Power button icon and wait a moment for your Surface to shut down. Then press and hold the power button for 20 seconds. If you see the logo screen appear after a few seconds, continue to hold for the full 20 seconds until you see the logo screen again. See Force a shut down and restart your Surface for more info.

After your Surface restarts, try installing updates again. If you’re having trouble installing updates, you may need to install updates manually.

Install Surface updates manually

If you’re still having trouble installing Surface updates, try downloading an update file and installing it manually. For more info, see Download drivers and firmware for Surface.

Note

  • The update files are for Surface hardware and firmware only. You can’t install Windows updates this way.

If you’re still having trouble installing updates, you may need to reset or recover your Surface.