What to Do When Windows Gets Stuck at “Installing Application”

Have you ever encountered a situation where your Windows PC gets stuck on the message:

“Installing application…”

—and it doesn’t move forward no matter how long you wait?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to troubleshoot and fix this problem—even if your PC appears frozen or unresponsive.

Step 1: Wait a Few Minutes

Sometimes, installing an application can temporarily slow down your PC. It’s especially common if:
・　The app is large or complex
・　Your PC has low specs or older hardware
・　Your internet connection is unstable

Wait for 5–10 minutes before assuming the system is frozen.

Step 2: Check with Task Manager

If the system is not completely frozen, open Task Manager to see the status of the application.

How to Open Task Manager

・　Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly
・　 Or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select “Task Manager”

✔ Check if the app shows “Not Responding”. Also, look at CPU and memory usage. If the system resources are maxed out, you may need to force-quit the app.

Right-click the app and choose “End Task.”

After Ending the Task

① Restart the PC to refresh system resources.

② Check if the installer file is damaged or incompatible with your Windows version.

③Re-download the installer from the official website and try again.

If the Issue Repeats

Still stuck? Consider the following checks:

Step 3: Force Restart

If your system becomes completely unresponsive, try restarting the PC:

・If the Start menu is responsive:
Go to Start → Power → Restart

・If nothing responds:

Press and hold the power button until the PC shuts off. Wait a few seconds and power it back on.Warning: Forcing a shutdown during installation can be risky. Only do this if all else fails.

Step 4: Boot into Safe Mode

If the same screen appears after rebooting multiple times, try starting Windows in Safe Mode:

How to Enter Safe Mode (Windows 10/11)

・　Turn on the PC and force it to shut off as the Windows logo appears. Do this 3 times.
・　“Automatic Repair” will appear → Click “Advanced Options”
・　 Then go to “Troubleshoot” → “Advanced Options” → “Startup Settings” → Click “Restart”
・　Press 4 on your keyboard to start in Safe Mode

✔ In Safe Mode, you can uninstall problematic apps or run System Restore.

Step 5: Use System Restore

If all else fails, restore your system to a previous working state using System Restore:
・　Go to Start → Settings → System → About → System Protection　

・　Click on “System Restore”
・　Choose a restore point and follow the prompts

Note: This only works if a restore point was created before the issue occurred.

Summary Table

Always stay calm and take each step carefully. Avoid forcing shutdowns unless absolutely necessary during installations.

Tip: Backing up your system regularly helps you stay safe during installation errors.

▶ External SSDs for safe backups:

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💡 Looking for more tips? Check out our full list of Windows Help Guides.

タグ: Windows troubleshooting, Windows installation stuck, Safe Mode Windows 11, Task Manager tips, Application freeze Windows, System restore Windows, App not responding fix