---
title: "Solution: Windows Installation Stuck at 0%, 64%, or 100% – How to Proceed"
description: "Getting stuck at a specific percentage during a Windows install (such as 0%, 64%, or 100%) is a fairly common situation during both clean installs and upgrades. It can be caused by installation media issues, hardware conflicts, or system settings. In many cases, it’s not truly frozen—just delayed."
url: https://help.activekeys.com/en/articles/46-solution-windows-installation-stuck-at-0percent-64percent-or-100percent-how-to-proceed
collection: "Windows Troubleshooting"
updated: 2026-02-12
language: en
---

# Solution: Windows Installation Stuck at 0%, 64%, or 100% – How to Proceed

Getting stuck at a specific percentage during a Windows install (such as 0%, 64%, or 100%) is a fairly common situation during both clean installs and upgrades. It can be caused by installation media issues, hardware conflicts, or system settings. In many cases, it’s not truly frozen—just delayed.

**🔍 Common reasons the install appears stuck**

This usually happens due to:

-   Damaged or incomplete installation media (USB/ISO)
    
-   Conflicts caused by connected devices (printers, hubs, receivers, etc.)
    
-   Memory or storage problems (RAM faults or disk errors)
    
-   The installer working in the background (especially when it shows 100%)
    
-   Firmware or BIOS settings that need updating (including Secure Boot / TPM settings on supported systems)
    

**✅ What to do next**

1.  Wait a bit longer (especially at 100%)  
    At **100%**, Windows may still be finishing tasks in the background (drivers, setup tasks, final checks). If you’re stuck at 100%, wait **at least 30–45 minutes** before assuming it’s frozen.
    
2.  Disconnect unnecessary devices  
    Unplug anything that isn’t needed for installation, such as:
    

-   External drives
    
-   Printers
    
-   USB hubs
    
-   Wireless dongles/receivers
    

Then restart the installation process.

3.  Recreate the installer USB  
    If you haven’t already, rebuild your bootable USB using Microsoft’s installation tool:
    

-   Create a fresh installer USB (8 GB+ recommended)
    
-   Use a different USB drive if possible
    
-   Plug it directly into the PC and prefer a **USB 2.0 port** when available
    

4.  Optional (advanced): Update BIOS / reset firmware settings  
    On some systems, outdated firmware or misconfigured BIOS settings can cause installation freezes. If you’re comfortable doing so, check your device manufacturer’s support page for a BIOS update or reset BIOS settings to defaults. If your device supports Secure Boot/TPM, confirm those settings are correctly configured for your Windows version.