{"id":75016,"date":"2023-12-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/?p=75016"},"modified":"2025-01-31T00:57:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T05:57:33","slug":"discord-stuck-checking-for-updates-in-windows-fixes-to-try","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/discord-stuck-checking-for-updates-in-windows-fixes-to-try\/","title":{"rendered":"Discord Stuck Checking for Updates in Windows? 11 Fixes to Try"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Each time Discord<\/a> launches on Windows, it automatically checks for and installs new updates<\/a>. This ensures you can access the latest features, performance enhancements, and bug fixes. However, this also means you’ll be unable to use Discord if it gets hung up at the “Checking for updates” phase.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connectivity issues aside, there are several other reasons why Discord might get stuck updating. These range from simple technical glitches to cache corruption or conflicts with antimalware programs. This guide will walk you through various solutions to push Discord out of its update loop.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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1. Quit and Relaunch the Discord App\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like any other program, it’s not unusual for Discord to run into random issues as it starts up. A quick fix to get things moving again is to quit the stuck update process using the Windows Task Manager<\/a>. Here’s how:\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Right-click the Start menu<\/span> and select Task Manager<\/span>. Or, press Ctrl<\/span> + Shift<\/span> + Esc<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Under the default Processes<\/span> tab, locate and highlight Discord<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Select the End task<\/span> button.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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    You can now exit the Task Manager and re-launch Discord. If the problem persists, we recommend repeating the above steps before working on each of the following fixes.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Restart Your Computer\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The age-old IT advice of turning a device off and then back on isn’t just a clich\u00e9. It’s recommended because a standard reboot refreshes the system and resolves various disruptions\u2014from features like Fast Startup in Windows<\/a>\u2014that impede application functions. To restart your PC, open the Start menu<\/span>, and select Power<\/span> > Restart<\/span>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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    3. Clear the Discord Cache Folder\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Partially downloaded or corrupt Discord update files are another reason for Discord to freeze at “Checking for updates.” Hence, the logical next step is to clear the Discord cache. It’s located inside the hidden Roaming folder of your Windows user account<\/a>, but a fast way to get there and delete it is to:\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Press Windows<\/span> Key <\/span>+ R<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Type %<\/span>appdata<\/span>%<\/span> into the Run box and select OK<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. On the File Explorer window that opens, right-click the sub-folder labeled discord<\/span>, and select Delete<\/span>. If you want to keep a copy of the cache, rename the discord<\/span> folder to discord.old<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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      4. Run Discord Updater With Administrator Privileges\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Granting an application administrative privileges often resolves problems from permissions-related conflicts with the Windows file system. To do that with Discord, just:\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Type %<\/span>localappdata<\/span>%\/Discord<\/span> into a Run box and select OK<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Right-click the Update.exe<\/span> file and choose Run as administrator<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Select Yes<\/span> on the User Account Control (UAC) dialog.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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        If Discord updates normally, you should configure the application to always launch as an administrator<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        5. Check Discord’s Server Status\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        If the above solutions prove ineffective, the update issue might lie with Discord’s servers. To verify, check the Discord System Status page<\/a> or the Discord Status subreddit<\/a> for outages. If there’s a service disruption, particularly with the Gateway<\/span> system, monitor the page and relaunch Discord when everything is up and running.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

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        6. Check Your Internet Connection\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        If Discord’s servers aren’t the problem, it’s time to focus on your internet connection since Discord needs stable Wi-Fi or Ethernet to work correctly. Test the connection speed by browsing some websites, streaming a video, or using online tools like Fast.com<\/a>. If there are slowdowns:\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n