Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

Users are reporting a new issue where Windows 10 loads to a blue screen which says “Preparing Security Options” and you won’t be able to use your keyboard, and you be stuck on that screen. This problem has a history which goes way back to Windows 7, but thankfully there are quite a few solutions which seem to fix this issue. Generally, Windows 10 Preparing Security Options error message is displayed on welcome or log off-screen.

Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

There is no particular cause for this error message as some would say that it’s a virus issue other would say its a hardware issue, but one thing is for sure that Microsoft doesn’t acknowledge this issue because the fault is at their end. So without wasting any time let’s see how to Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options with the help of below-listed troubleshooting guide.

Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

Note: Before continuing, make sure to remove all external USB Devices. Also, create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Perform System Restore

1. Press Windows Key + R and type sysdm.cpl then hit enter.

system properties sysdm | Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

2. Select the System Protection tab and choose System Restore.

system restore in system properties

3. Click Next and choose the desired System Restore point.

system-restore

4. Follow the on-screen instruction to complete system restore.

5. After reboot, you may be able to Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options.

Method 2: Manually uninstall recently installed updates

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & Security.

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & security icon

2. From the left-hand side, select Windows Update then click on “View installed update history“.

from the left hand side select Windows Update the click on View installed update history

3. Now click on Uninstall updates on the next screen.

Click on Uninstall updates under view update history

4. Finally, from the list of recently installed updates, double-click on the most recent update to uninstall it.

uninstall the particular update in order to fix the issue | Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

5. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 3: Disable Fast Startup

1. Press Windows Key + R then type control and hit Enter to open Control Panel.

control pannel

2. Click on Hardware and Sound then click on Power Options.

Click on Power Options

3. Then, from the left window pane select Choose what the power buttons do.

Click on Choose what the power buttons do in the top-left column

4. Now click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.

Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable

5. Uncheck “Turn on fast startup” and click on Save changes.

Uncheck Turn on fast startup and click on Save changes

Method 4: Run SFC and CHKDSK

1. Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

2. Now type the following in the cmd and hit enter:

Sfc /scannow
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows

SFC scan now command prompt | Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

3. Wait for the above process to finish and once done, restart your PC.

4. Next, run CHKDSK to Fix File System Errors.

5. Let the above process complete and again reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 5: Run Automatic/Startup Repair

1. Insert the Windows 10 bootable installation DVD and restart your PC.

2. When prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key to continue.

Press any key to boot from CD or DVD

3. Select your language preferences, and click Next. Click Repair your computer in the bottom-left.

Repair your computer

4. On choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.

Choose an option at windows 10 automatic startup repair

5. On Troubleshoot screen, click the Advanced option.

select advanced option from troubleshoot screen

6. On the Advanced options screen, click Automatic Repair or Startup Repair.

run automatic repair

7. Wait till the Windows Automatic/Startup Repairs complete.

8. Restart and you have successfully Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options.

Also Read: How to fix Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC.

Method 6: Rebuild BCD

1. Using above method open command prompt using Windows installation disk.

Command prompt from advanced options | Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

2. Now type the following commands one by one and hit enter after each one:

bootrec.exe /FixMbr
bootrec.exe /FixBoot
bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

bootrec rebuildbcd fixmbr fixboot

3. If the above command fails, then enter the following commands in cmd:

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd

bcdedit backup then rebuild bcd bootrec

4. Finally, exit the cmd and restart your Windows.

5. This method seems to Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options but if it doesn’t work for you then continue.

Method 7: Restart Windows Update service

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode using any of the listed methods.

2. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

services windows

3. Locate the following services:

Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
Cryptographic Service
Windows Update
MSI Installer

4. Right-click on each of them and then select Properties. Make sure their Startup type is set to Automatic.

make sure their Startup type is set to Automatic.

5. Now if any of the above services are stopped, make sure to click on Start under Service Status.

6. Next, right-click on Windows Update service and select Restart.

Right-click on Windows Update Service and select Restart | Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

7. Click Apply, followed by OK and then reboot your PC to save changes.

See if you can Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options, if not then continue with the next method.

Method 8: Disable Credential Manager Service

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode using any of the listed methods.

2. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

services windows

3. Right-click on Credential Manager Service and then select Properties.

Right-click on Credential Manager Service and then select Properties

4. Set the Startup type to Disabled from the drop-down.

Set the Startup type to Disabled from the drop-down of Credential Manager Service

5. Click Apply, followed by OK.

6. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 9: Rename SoftawareDistribution

1. Boot into safe mode using any of the listed methods then press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Now type the following commands to stop Windows Update Services and then hit Enter after each one:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

Stop Windows update services wuauserv cryptSvc bits msiserver

3. Next, type the following command to rename SoftwareDistribution Folder and then hit Enter:

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder | Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

4. Finally, type the following command to start Windows Update Services and hit Enter after each one:

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Start Windows update services wuauserv cryptSvc bits msiserver

5. Reboot your PC to save changes and see if you can Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options.

Method 10: Reset Windows 10

1. Restart your PC a few times until you start Automatic Repair.

Choose an option at windows 10 automatic startup repair

2. Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything.

Select the option to Keep my files and click Next

3. For the next step, you might be asked to insert Windows 10 installation media, so ensure you have it ready.

4. Now, select your Windows version and click on only the drive where Windows is installed > remove my files.

click on only the drive where Windows is installed

5. Click on the Reset button.

6. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the reset.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options but if you still have any questions regarding this post then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

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