Solved: Fix PC Stuck on Cleaning Up Windows 10

Help! My PC stuck on cleaning up Windows 10

 corrupt Windows download, too many unwanted files on the computer, etc. If the PC stuck on cleaning up Windows 10 for a long time, we need to take some measures to fix this problem.

Following the installation of Windows updates, your computer may display a number of alerts during the starting sequence. "Cleaning up." is one of the messages you may see on the screen. Do Not Shut Down Your Computer." The display message varies depending on your system. There are many reasons for Windows 10 stuck on cleaning up.

Of course, these are not the only reasons that may cause this issue, others like corrupt Windows download and too many unwanted files on the computer can also trigger this problem.

How to fix PC stuck on cleaning up Windows 10

What can we do when the Windows is stuck in cleaning up? In this part, we will offer you several ways to fix this problem, and if one of them helps you solve the problem, we also have advice to show you how to prevent data loss while you confront this situation.

│Method 1. Wait patiently for the cleanup task to complete

When Windows 10 stuck on cleaning up, it may caused by a large amount of junk files in the computer, and it will take time to delete all of them from the PC. So, you can wait a little longer, and if this task is not over yet, please turn to the method 2.

│Method 2. Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode

Safe Mode refers to a computer operating mode that uses minimal system files and device drivers to run the operating system. Please follow the steps below to open Safe Mode in Windows 10 or 11.

Step 1. Press the computer power button to restart the computer several times until the computer interface prompts you to press one of the "F1-F8" keys to open the Windows Recovery environment, then click "Troubleshoot".

Step 2. Then select the "Advanced Options" and click "Startup Settings".

Step 3. You will go to Startup Settings, press the number key where "Enable Safe Mode" is located to start your PC in Safe Mode. (here we press "4".)

│Method 3. Turn on the Startup Repair

There is a feature called "Startup Repair" in the Windows RE, when your computer fails to start normally due to an unknown failure, this function will scan system files, registry settings, etc., and try to help you fix the problem by yourself. The detailed steps are as follows:

Step 1. Follow the steps mentioned in Method 2 to open "Troubleshoot".

Step 2. Click "Startup Repair" and enter the password in the new interface to proceed.

│Method 4. Open the System Restore

System Restore refers to a restore location established when the system is restored. When a problem occurs in the system, it can be restored to the state when the restore point was created. So when Windows 10 stuck on cleaning up, we can open the system restore point. However, don't try it lightly, as you may revert to an older version and lose all existing data.

│Method 5. Repair Corrupted System Files

Corrupted Windows system files may be the source of the problem. In such a case, you may repair your Windows system files using two command-line utilities: SFC, System File Checker, and DISM, Deployment Image Servicing and Management. SFC is a program that scans your system for damaged files and repairs them. However, if SFC is unable to locate the faults, DISM can assist you. It will examine your system thoroughly and repair any faulty files.

Step 1. Follow the same steps as Method 2 to enter the Startup Settings, but choose "Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt".

Step 2. Let your PC run after you set the order, when CMD is open, type the following command and press Enter.

sfc /scannow

After the verification is 100% done, you may examine the scan results to see if there are certain faults found.

If the sfc /scannow command is unable to resolve examine the Hide All Microsoft Services box, you can use DISM to fix the Windows system image. Type the following command:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After that, you can check whether you still encounter the issue.

│Method 6. Run a Clean Boot

A Clean Boot might help you avoid program incompatibilities while installing Windows updates.

Step 1. Type msconfig in the Run box, and click OK.

Step 2. Then go to the Services tab. Check the Hide All Microsoft Services box.

Step 3. To save the adjustment, click the Disable All option and then Apply.

Step 4. Select the Startup tab and then click Open Task Manager.

Step 5. Select the first enabled program in the Task Manager tab and click Disable. You must disable each enabled program one by one. Close Task Manager and click OK after deactivating all apps.

After that, you may restart the machine to update Windows once again.

Further reading: Back up your system/disk to prevent data loss

After resolving the issue of "stuck at Cleaning up. Do Not Turn Off Your Computer," you should create a system backup to restore your system if it crashes. To create a system backup, it is highly recommended that you use AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional - a fantastic and professional disk management software that makes backing up your system or whole disk simple and safe.

Step 1. Download this computer operating system clone software, then install and open it. In “Clone”, select “Clone Disk”.

Step 2. Here, choose a suitable method based on the differences mentioned above (choose the first method as an example).

Step 3. Select the disk where the cloned file is located (take Disk 1 as an example).

Step 4. Here, select the target disk you plan to clone to.(take Disk 2 as an example). If your target disk is an SSD, you can check “Optimize the performance of SSD”.  The purpose of this is to improve the SSD read and write speed.

Step 5. In this step, you can adjust the size of the target disk partition. If it is cloned to a smaller hard drive, then the first item is not selectable.

Step 6. You can preview all operations this time in this window. Click “Apply” to submit for execution.

Another thing you can do in your daily work to protect your computer is to clean up PC regularly, because sometimes, the accumulation of unnecessary system files may also lead to PC being stuck on an update. You can also trust AOMEI Partition Assistant, the PC cleaner can scan and filter junk files on your disks, you don't need to manually find those unneeded files and carry the risk of cleaning files mistakenly.

Final word

In this article, We share the reasons why PC stuck on cleaning up Windows 10 and how to fix it. In order to make users safer and faster to clean junk files, a PC storage cleaner is also provided. And this tool has the Server edition for Windows Server users, if your Windows Server computer confront the same problem, you can try this handy tool on that machine.

FAQs about PC stuck on  cleaning up Windows 10

Is it normal for the "Cleaning up Windows 10" process to take a long time?
The duration of the cleanup process can vary depending on factors like the amount of data on your system and the performance of your hardware. However, if it seems to be taking an unusually long time, it's advisable to follow the troubleshooting steps mentioned above.

Can I cancel the "Cleaning up Windows 10" process?
In most cases, it's not recommended to interrupt the cleanup process. However, if the process has been stuck for an extended period, you can try restarting your computer. If the issue persists, follow the steps outlined in the FAQs to address the problem.

What should I do if none of the suggested solutions work?
If you've tried all the steps mentioned in the post and still encounter issues, it might be a good idea to seek assistance from Microsoft support or consider performing a system reset or reinstalling Windows 10. Before taking such steps, ensure you have a backup of your important data.