Windows 10 is frozen in the "Preparing Upgrade" stage.
Windows 10 is frozen in the "Preparing Upgrade" stage.
Windows 10 has been downloaded and the license accepted. The process is pausing at "Preparing Upgrade." Since you haven’t started the installation yet, the screen shows "Preparing the installation" on the left and "Preparing the upgrade" on the right. This behavior is typical during setup. If it doesn’t change, wait a few minutes and try again. If the issue persists, proceed with the installation once the pause ends.
Opting for the official Windows update page is often faster than using the update tool. You can also visit http://microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 for more details.
The issue is that I haven't installed yet. In fact, I won't be doing the actual upgrade today. The Windows update started downloading on its own. The Windows 10 app mentioned three steps would happen once the download was finished: 1. Wait for the device to be ready 2. Accept the license agreement 3. Pick a time to upgrade. I'm stuck after step 2.
It seems like you're stuck and unsure of what to do next. Take your time, and consider checking the instructions carefully.
Click the X at the top to check cancellation options (it usually takes about 2 minutes). Then use the link I previously shared.
It is unlikely a force quit will result in positive outcomes; it often leads to negative impacts.
I believe you'll need to restart, though I don't think it's fully replacing anything right now—just a quick check.