Quick fix: If Windows 11 feature update interrupted (power loss, crash), reboot. Windows usually auto-resumes. If it doesn’t: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Update Assistant resumes from where left off (uses cached files). For corrupted state: Microsoft Update Assistant or in-place upgrade via ISO usually fixes.

Feature updates (Windows 11 22H2 to 23H2, 23H2 to 24H2) take 30-60 minutes. Interrupted by: power loss, force restart, crash, BSOD. Windows handles most cases automatically. For stubborn fails: manual intervention.

Symptom: Want to resume an interrupted Windows 11 feature update.
Affects: Windows 11.
Fix time: ~45 minutes.

What causes this need

Feature updates run in phases: download → verify → prepare → install → reboot → configure. Interruption at install / configure phase is risky:

Boot may fail (Recovery loop).
Update may be applied partially.
System may roll back to previous version.
Specific files corrupted.

Method 1: Wait for auto-resume

The first step.

Boot the PC after interruption.
Windows tries to auto-resume install or roll back to previous version.
If rolled back: you’re on previous Windows version. Update Assistant re-applies on next attempt.
If installed but unstable: Windows boots but has issues. Continue to Method 2.
For PC stuck on boot: force restart 3 times to enter Recovery. Pick Troubleshoot → Advanced options.
For Recovery shows “Go back to previous version”: use it if within 10 days of feature update.
For PC won’t boot at all: continue to Method 3.

This is the auto-resume.

Method 2: Manually trigger update from Settings

For when partial install.

Once at desktop: Settings → Windows Update.
Click Check for updates.
If update detected as pending: click Resume or Download.
Windows resumes from cached files (in C:\$Windows.~BT).
Faster than full re-download.
For Update Assistant interrupted specifically: re-run Update Assistant. Likely it resumes.
For Update Assistant restarting from zero (loops): see “Update Assistant restarts download” article for fix.
For after partial install with errors: SFC + DISM repair before retrying:
```
sfc /scannow
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
```

This is the manual resume.

Method 3: In-place upgrade via ISO

For when normal resume fails.

Download Windows 11 ISO from microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
Mount: right-click .iso → Mount. Note drive (e.g., F:).
Run setup.exe from mounted drive.
Pick Download and install updates.
Pick Keep files and apps. Walk through wizard.
Wait 30-60 minutes. Multiple reboots.
After: Windows reinstalled, all data preserved. Same as if a feature update completed normally.
For Media Creation Tool: alternative installer. Same effect.
This is the safest recovery from interrupted feature updates.
For Surface devices: Surface Recovery Image USB (from Microsoft) handles complex interrupted states.

This is the comprehensive fix.

How to verify the fix worked

winver shows the new Windows build.
Settings → Windows Update → Update history shows feature update as Installed.
System functional. Apps and files intact.
No leftover update files (Disk Cleanup → Windows Update Cleanup to confirm).

If none of these work

If PC won’t boot: Recovery Environment: force restart 3 times to enter. Pick System Restore or Go back to previous version. For complete boot failure: boot from Windows 11 USB. Pick Repair your computer → Startup Repair. For BitLocker: have recovery key ready. May need to enter during recovery. For chronic update failure: clean install Windows 11. Lose installed apps but data preserved if you back up first. For specific error code: search at support.microsoft.com. For corporate-managed PCs: WSUS / Intune may have specific recovery path. Contact IT. For hardware issues: failed disk causes update interruptions. Test drive health. Last resort: Microsoft support: support.microsoft.com for activation and recovery help.

Bottom line: Reboot first — Windows usually auto-resumes. Or Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates → resume. For stubborn: in-place upgrade via Windows 11 ISO + setup.exe with “Keep files and apps.”