Windows Update is the service that keeps Windows 10 and other Microsoft products up-to-appointment on your computer. Unfortunately, it has a history of bug, with update errors beingness a common occurrence. Just rarely, various reasons—such equally incorrectly configured or conflicting settings—can also prevent information technology from running on your calculator altogether.

If you go along receiving an error challenge that the Windows Update service (or a related service) is not running on your reckoner, the list of fixes that follow should aid you become it functioning normally over again.

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows ten includes a built-in troubleshooter that tin can automatically diagnose and resolve issues with Windows Update. You must run it first earlier digging into the rest of the fixes.

1. Open up the Showtime menu and select Settings.

2. Select Update & Security.

3. Select Troubleshoot on the sidebar.

4. Select the selection labeled Additional troubleshooters.

5. Select Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.

Restart Computer

Restarting your PC helps flush the organization memory and works every bit a quick gear up for random service-related issues that crop up in Windows 10. So if y'all oasis't already, try doing that now and follow past running Windows Update manually (open the Start bill of fare and go to Settings > Update & Security > Cheque for updates).

Re-Configure the Windows Update Service

If Windows Update notwithstanding fails to run, y'all must bank check if it's set upward to run automatically in Windows x. Y'all must also double-check the settings for other related services.

i. Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

ii. Type services.msc and select OK.

3. Right-click Windows Update and select Properties.

4. Set the Startup type to Automatic and select Utilize. Follow that by setting Service status to Running.

5. Select OK to relieve the changes.

6. Repeat steps 3–5 for the following services:

  • Groundwork Intelligent Transfer Service
  • Cryptographic Services

7. Restart your calculator.

Check for Figurer Viruses

Harmful software is some other reason that prevents the Windows Update service from running in Windows 10.

Using the born Windows Security applet should help y'all to detect and remove malware. Only since Windows Update isn't running, it may not have the near up-to-date antimalware definitions to perform a comprehensive scan of your estimator.

So the all-time way to deal with that is to use a dedicated third-party malware remover such as Malwarebytes. Try running a quick scan, and follow that with a system-wide cheque for computer viruses.

Disable Third-Political party Antimalware Service

Conversely, a third-party firewall or anti-malware utility can stop up blocking Windows Update.

To dominion that out, endeavor pausing any antivirus software via the Windows 10 organization tray. So, run Windows Update manually.

Reset Windows Update

Windows Update stores downloaded data temporarily in a specifically designated binder labeled SoftwareDistribution. Deleting information technology might assist rule out a corrupt or obsolete update cache from causing issues. But before yous do that, you must stop the Windows Update service (assuming that it'south running and hasn't crashed).

ane. Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

2. Type cmd and printing Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch the Control Prompt with administrative privileges.

3. Run the commands as follows to disable the Windows Update service:

net terminate wuauserv

iv. Run the two commands below to delete the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders:

rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /s

You must ostend your activity by pressing Y > Enter.

5. Run the following command to restart the Windows Update service:

internet start wuauserv

If the steps above didn't help, try resetting all Windows Update-related components manually. We recommend checking the relevant back up article by Microsoft for specific instructions.

Delete Temporary Files

Deleting files from previous operating organisation updates may also help get the Windows Update service up and running again on your PC.

1. Open the Start card and select Settings.

2. Select Arrangement.

3. Select Storage on the sidebar.

4. Pick the option labeled Temporary files.

5. Bank check the box next to Windows Update Cleanup.

6. Select Remove files.

Run SFC Browse and DISM Tool

If Windows Update fails to run due to full general file corruption or other stability-related issues in Windows 10, you can attempt to ready them using the SFC (Arrangement File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tools.

Run SFC Scan

one. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell console.

2. Type the post-obit command:

sfc /scannow

3. Printing Enter.

Run DISM Scan

1. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell panel.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

three. If the DISM tool detects any issues, run the two commands as follows:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Epitome /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Epitome /RestoreHealth

Update Windows ten Manually

Rather than using Windows Update, yous can download and install the latest updates for Windows 10 manually via the Microsoft Update Catalog website. That might help fix the service for subsequent updates.

1. Printing Windows + R to open up the Run box.

ii. Blazon winver and select OK.

iii. Note downwards the Windows ten version—e.1000., 21H1.

four. Visit the Windows 10 update history website and notation downwards the latest KB (Knowledge Base) ID for your Windows 10 version.

5. Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website and search for the KB ID.

vi. Select and download the latest update for your Windows x version.

vii. Run the downloaded installer to apply the update.

Optionally, consider installing the latest Servicing Stack Update for your Windows 10 version. That tin can help fix additional issues with Windows Update. You lot tin can search for and download information technology from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

Utilise the Windows Update Assistant

If the Windows Update service all the same fails, you lot tin can use the Windows Update Assistant to force-install the latest feature update for Windows 10.

Later downloading the applet to your PC, just run it and select Update At present.

Coil Back or Reset Windows

If you keep to experience issues, you might want to perform a system restore. That helps gyre back whatsoever contempo changes to the operating organisation that prompted the issue to occur. Yous can also try uninstalling the previous Windows update.

Finally, resetting Windows 10 to mill defaults should work as a final-ditch measure to fix the Windows Update service for good.