Windows Update is a service that allows users of the Windows operating system to obtain the latest security updates and other patches to keep their system up to date. However, if the Windows Update service is not running, users will be unable to search for updates. This article explains why the service is not running and how to troubleshoot the issue.
Windows Update Service Not Running
When the Windows Update service is not running, users will not be able to search for updates. This is because the Windows Update service is responsible for downloading the latest security updates and patches from the Microsoft servers. Without the service running, the system will not be able to access the updates.
The Windows Update service can be disabled in the Windows Services Manager. To enable the service, open the Services Manager by searching for it in the start menu and double-clicking the result. Find the Windows Update service in the list, right-click it and select “Start”.
Troubleshooting Updates Search
If the Windows Update service is running but the system is unable to search for updates, there are a few things that can be done to troubleshoot the issue.
First, check the status of the Windows Update service. To do this, open the Services Manager and check that the service is running. If it is not running, start the service as described above.
If the service is running, try running the Windows Update troubleshooter. To do this, open the Settings app and select “Update & Security”. From here, select “Troubleshoot” and then “Windows Update”. This will run a troubleshooter which will attempt to resolve any issues with the Windows Update service.
If the troubleshooter does not resolve the issue, try resetting the Windows Update components. To do this, open a command prompt as an administrator and run the following commands:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserverThis will reset the Windows Update components. After running these commands, try searching for updates again.
If the Windows Update service is not running, users
Dear users and followers,
We regret to inform you that the Windows Update service is currently not available due to a service failure. Upon attempting to search for updates, you will be notified with a message indicating that Windows Update cannot check for updates at this time.
This error occurs due to the malfunction of the background service that is responsible for checking, downloading, and installing updates. As a result, the Windows Update service has been disabled until the issue is resolved.
In the mean time, Windows offers a troubleshooting process and workarounds to help you continue to manage your updates. You may try the Selective Startup mode to resolve this issue. Selective startup disables all third-party services and startups. Here is how to enable Selective Startup:
1. Press Windows Key + R on the keyboard.
2. Type in msconfig and press enter.
3. Select the General tab.
4. Choose Selective startup.
5. Uncheck Load startup items.
6. Click the Services tab.
7. Check Hide all Microsoft services.
8. Click Disable all.
9. Click on Apply and OK.
Once the above steps have been completed, restart your computer and then attempt to check for Windows Updates. You can also check Windows Update manually or download necessary updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Our teams are currently looking into the root cause of this issue and working towards making Windows Update available again as soon as possible. Please stay tuned for any further information.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
The Windows Team
