My surface laptop 4 is stuck on an update from a long time ago how do I fix this?

Hi Judi,

That does sound strange seeing a 2018 update stuck on your Surface Laptop 4, especially since the device came out years later. I totally get how annoying it is when updates block newer ones from coming through. Let’s walk through a few easy steps to clear that out and get your laptop back on track.

Here are some alternative solutions you can try to Clear the Stuck Update

Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter

This built-in tool can fix common update issues automatically.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters

Click on Windows Update and run it.

Manually Clear Old Update Files

Sometimes, leftover files can confuse Windows.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type:

Go to:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Delete everything inside that folder.

Then restart the services:

Remove the pending.xml File

This file can hold instructions for updates that didn’t finish.

Go to:

C:\Windows\WinSxS\

Find pending.xml and rename it (e.g., pending.old.xml) or delete it.

Reset Windows Update Components

This gives Windows Update a fresh start.

Run these in Windows Terminal (Admin):

(Optional) Repair System Files

Just to make sure everything’s running smoothly:

Final Step: Restart and Check for Updates

Once you’ve done all that, restart your laptop and go to: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates

Let me know if you’d like a script to automate these steps or if anything’s unclear I’ve got your back!