HP Support Assistant Stuck on Checking for Updates? How to Fix It

If HP Support Assistant is stuck on “Checking for updates,” close it, restart your PC, and run the scan again. If it is still stuck, check your internet and Windows Update, then uninstall HP Support Assistant and install a fresh copy from HP. If even that fails, you can skip the app and download drivers by hand from HP’s support site.

This guide focuses on HP Support Assistant getting stuck while checking for updates. It covers troubleshooting steps for HP laptops and desktops running Windows 11 or Windows 10. Screens, menu names, and available options may vary by app version and PC model.

 

Quick Answer

1. Close HP Support Assistant fully, restart the PC, and scan again.
2. Check that your internet works and that no firewall or VPN is blocking the app.
3. Check Windows Update, install the recommended updates, and restart if prompted.
4. Uninstall HP Support Assistant, restart, and install the latest version from HP’s website.
5. Still stuck? Download your drivers by hand from HP’s driver page for your exact model.

Do the steps in this order. The first three are quick and cover the simple cases. Reinstalling is the bigger step, so save it for after those.

Is the Update Check Stuck, or Is Something Else Going On?

“Stuck” can mean a few different things. The fix depends on which one you have, so look at your screen first.

 

What you see	What it likely means	What to do
“Checking for updates” never ends	The scan cannot finish. This is the problem this guide covers.	Start with Fix 1.
It found updates, but the download sits at 0% or stops	The scan worked. The download is the problem.	Check your internet, then try the download again. See Fix 2.
An update says “Installing” for a long time	An install is in progress.	Leave it alone and keep the PC plugged in. Restart only if it asks.
It keeps asking for a restart	An update may be waiting to finish.	Restart, then check Windows Update. See Fix 3.
The scan finishes and says nothing is available	Not a stuck scan. Your PC may simply be up to date.	See the FAQ below.

Why Is HP Support Assistant Stuck on Checking for Updates?

HP does not publish one clear cause. After reading several HP Community threads on this problem, the reasons that come up again and again are:

• An old version of HP Support Assistant that no longer works properly.
• A weak or blocked internet connection, including a firewall that stops the app from reaching HP’s servers.
• Windows updates waiting to install, or a restart you have not done yet.
• A damaged install of the app itself.

One thing to know before you start: those threads are community posts, and many of them are from 2016 to 2020. People shared what worked for them. That does not mean it will work for everyone. In a few threads, reinstalling did nothing, and in one 2016 thread the problem was fixed only when HP released a newer version of the app. So if one fix does not work, move on to the next one.

How to Fix HP Support Assistant Stuck on Checking for Updates

Fix 1: Restart your PC and scan again

Close HP Support Assistant. Then restart your PC from the Start menu. A normal restart might clear your small hangs that build up in the background, and it may also finishe any update that was waiting for a restart. After you sign in, open the app and run the update check again. Give it some time before you decide it is stuck.

Fix 2: Check your internet connection

The scan needs to reach HP over the internet. If your connection drops out or is very slow, the app can sit on “Checking” for a long time.

• Open a website in your browser to confirm the internet works.
• Switch from Wi-Fi to a cable, or the other way round, and try again.
• Turn off any VPN for a moment and scan again.
• Check whether your firewall or security software is blocking HP Support Assistant. An HP employee suggested checking exactly this, along with installing the latest version of the app, in a 2020 HP Community thread.

If you use a work or school computer, the network may block the app on purpose. In that case, ask your IT team.

Fix 3: Check for pending Windows updates and restarts

Check Windows Update for incomplete updates or a pending restart before trying the HP scan again. When that happens, other tools can act strangely. In one HP Community thread about an update check that never completed, the expert asked the user to check Windows Update, and also suggested a BIOS update if the problem stayed. Checking Windows Update is a simple step and costs nothing.

On Windows 11: open Settings, then Windows Update, and select Check for updates.

On Windows 10: open Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update, and select Check for updates.

Install the recommended Windows updates and restart if prompted. Then open HP Support Assistant and scan again. If Windows Update itself is stuck, that is a separate problem and needs its own fix.

Note: Standard support for Windows 10 Home and Pro ended on October 14, 2025. Continued security updates depend on extended support coverage.

Fix 4: Uninstall and reinstall HP Support Assistant

Reinstalling may resolve damaged application files or an outdated installation. This is a bigger step, so try it after the three fixes above. An HP Community expert gave this advice for an update-check failure: check the installed version, uninstall, restart, then install the latest version. Keep in mind that in that thread the poster had already reinstalled without success, so it does not fix every case.

1. Open Settings and go to Apps. On Windows 11, choose Installed apps. On Windows 10, choose Apps & features.
2. Find HP Support Assistant, select it, and choose Uninstall.
3. Restart your PC before installing the fresh copy.
4. Download the latest version of HP Support Assistant from HP’s own website. Do not use a random download site.
5. Install it, open it, and run the update check.

 

You may also see HP Support Solutions Framework in your list of apps. In some installs it appears alongside HP Support Assistant. Do not remove it just because it is there. Only remove it if HP’s own page for your PC tells you to.

How to Get HP Driver Updates Without Support Assistant

You do not need HP Support Assistant to get drivers. It is a convenience tool. If it keeps failing, go straight to HP.

1. Find your product name or number. HP has a page that shows how to find the product and serial number on an HP PC.
2. Open HP’s software and driver download page and enter your product.
3. Make sure the Windows version shown matches yours (Windows 11 or Windows 10).
4. Download only updates that match your exact product and Windows version. Read the installation instructions before running each installer.
5. Restart when a driver asks for it.

This is also how the expert in the 2016 thread above told the poster to work around the app, by getting updates one at a time from the model’s drivers page. This lets you look for model-specific updates without relying on HP Support Assistant. Warning: if you update the BIOS, keep your laptop plugged in and do not turn it off during the update.

What to Do If the Update Check Still Will Not Finish

If you have tried every fix above, here is what is left.

• Check that you have the latest app version. In the 2016 thread mentioned earlier, the problem was fixed when HP released a newer version of the app, and the poster had to wait for it.
• Try a different network. A phone hotspot is a quick way to rule out your router or your internet provider.
• Use the manual driver method above. It is often the faster way out.
• Contact HP Support if the issue continues. Include your PC model, Windows version, HP Support Assistant version, a screenshot of the stalled scan, and the fixes you have already tried.

If the app will not open at all, that is a different problem. See our guide on HP Support Assistant not opening on Windows 11.

FAQs

How long should HP Support Assistant take to check for updates?

HP does not give an official time. A normal scan should finish without you waiting a long time. If it has been on “Checking” for a good while with no change, close it, restart your PC, and try again.

Why does HP Support Assistant keep asking for a restart?

A restart prompt usually means an update is waiting to finish. It does not always mean the scan failed. Restart your PC, then check Windows Update to make sure nothing else is waiting.

Is “No updates available” the same as a stuck update check?

No. A stuck check never ends. “No updates available” means the scan finished and found nothing. If you think there should be updates, compare with the driver page for your model. For more help, read our guide on HP Support Assistant not showing updates.

Do I need HP Support Assistant to update my drivers?

No. You can download drivers directly from HP’s driver page for your model. The app only makes it easier by finding updates for you.

Is it safe to uninstall HP Support Assistant?

Yes. Removing it does not stop your PC from working, and you can install it again from HP’s website. If you want to know what the app does before you decide, read our explainer on what HP Support Assistant is.

Final Takeaway

Start simple. Restart, check your internet, and run Windows Update. If the scan is still stuck, uninstall the app, restart, and install a fresh copy from HP. If it still will not finish, skip the app and download your drivers from HP’s driver page. Your PC does not need HP Support Assistant to stay updated.