Windows Update is a really useful tool that helps you keep your computer up to date and protected.
Once set up correctly (here I’ll explain how to use Windows Update best ), you can automatically receive from Microsoft all the latest updates useful for improving your system and for the security of your computer.
But sometimes problems arise.
For example, Windows Update does not start , Windows Update crashes while downloading , Windows Update does not install updates etc …
So what to do if Windows Update doesn’t work ?
Fortunately, there are some solutions that allow in the vast majority of cases to solve problems with Windows Update .
I present them to you below.
Solution 1: Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter
The first solution is very simple to activate and fast, and it works in most cases.
Microsoft offers a program called Tool Troubleshooting Windows Update issues , which in a few minutes and automatically verifies what are the problems Windows Update and resets the files necessary for the proper functioning of Windows Update .
Let’s see how to solve Windows Update problems with this program.
First, click on the link to download the version of the program suitable for your operating system:
- Windows 10 : Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 : Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Windows Vista, Windows XP : Windows Update Troubleshooter
Depending on your browser’s download settings, a window may open where you need to confirm that you want to download the file.
Then download it where you prefer and run the program (by clicking twice with the left mouse button on the downloaded file) .
Alternatively, you can also launch it directly, using the Diagnostic Troubleshooter wizard .
Once started, the first screen will open:
Click on Next .
The tool will scan the files that ensure that Windows Update works for any problems:
During the analysis, which can take several minutes, the Windows Update troubleshooter not only automatically detects problems, but also corrects any problems found.
When the scanning and fixing of the issues are finished, you will see a summary screen appear.
The tool informs you of the problems found and whether they have been fixed or not :
If you want to get more information about the problems found , click on View detailed information . The tool will show you a list with more details on what has been analyzed and fixed or not:
If all problems have been resolved, click Close and test Windows Update , which should now work correctly.
If, on the other hand, the tool failed to fix all the problems (as in the image above), try testing Windows Update anyway .
If Windows Update still doesn’t work, don’t despair, there are various solutions to try.
First, you can re-launch the Troubleshooter and check if Windows Update is working. Experience has shown that sometimes a second scan can fix problems that the first scan didn’t fix.
Solution 2: Manually Reset Windows Update Service Components
If the troubleshooter doesn’t fix it even after a second scan, I recommend that you try a second solution to fix Windows Update problems, also suggested by Microsoft : reset and restart all components of the Windows Update service .
Windows Update is run by two services : Windows Update and BITS ( Background Intelligent Transfer Service – the Intelligent Transfer Service in the background ).
Sometimes, particularly after uninstalling anti-virus programs or after computer infections and virus removals and the like, the BITS service may not work properly, thus causing Windows Update problems.
Microsoft therefore recommends that you reset and restart this service (and other essential Windows Update components). The process to do this takes time (about 15-20 minutes) and a minimum of attention:
1) Open the command prompt as administrator (Start, type cmd in the search box , right click and select Run as administrator );
2) Once the prompt starts , type the following commands and press Enter (one command at a time), to stop the BITS service, the Windows Update service, and the cryptographic service :
sc stop bits
sc stop wuauserv
sc stop appidsvc
sc stop cryptsvc
3) Delete the qmgr * .dat files . To do this, type the following command (including the quotes) in the command prompt and press Enter:
Del “% ALLUSERSPROFILE% \ Application Data \ Microsoft \ Network \ Downloader \ qmgr * .dat”
4) In the command prompt now type the following command and press Enter:
CD / d% windir% \ system32
5) Now you need to re-register the BITS files and Windows Update files (DLL libraries). Then open the command prompt and type the following commands, pressing Enter (always one command at a time!):
regsvr32.exe atl.dll
regsvr32.exe Urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe Mshtml.dll
regsvr32.exe Shdocvw.dll
regsvr32.exe browseui.dll
regsvr32.exe jscript.dll
regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll
regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll
regsvr32. exe msxml.dll
regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll
regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll
regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe softpub.dll
regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll
regsvr32.exe Dssenh.dll
regsvr32.exe Rsaenh.dll
regsvr32.exe Gpkcsp .dll
regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll
regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll
regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll
regsvr32.exe ole32.dll
regsvr32.exe shell32.dll
regsvr32.exe initpki.dll
regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
regsvr32.exe wups.dll
regsvr32.exe wups2.dll
regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll
regsvr32. exe qmgr.dll
regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll
regsvr32.exe muweb.dll
regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll
6) Now you need to reset the network configuration , which may have been compromised by viruses or patches. Type and hit Enter after each command:
netsh winsock reset
If your computer has Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 now type the following command in the prompt and press Enter:
netsh winhttp reset proxy
If your computer has Windows XP, type the following command in the prompt and press Enter:
Proxycfg.exe -d
7) Now clear the Windows Update cache by typing the following commands and pressing Enter (after each command):
rmdir% systemroot% \ SoftwareDistribution / S / Q
rmdir% systemroot% \ system32 \ catroot2 / S / Q
8) Restart the services disabled in step 2 by typing the following commands (pressing Enter after each command):
sc start bits
sc start wuauserv
sc start appidsvc
sc start cryptsvc
If you have Windows Vista, you need to delete the BITS queue by typing the following command in the command prompt and pressing Enter:
Bitsadmin.exe / reset / allusers
9) Reinstall the latest Windows Update Agent now (be careful to choose the correct version for your operating system. Here is the guide to understand if your operating system is 32 or 64 bit )
10) Restart your computer and check if Windows Update is working properly .
Solution 3: Rename Backup Copies of Software Distribution Folders
If Windows Update continues to give an error, you should repeat the procedure indicated in the previous point (solution 2), but after performing point 3) (deleting the qmgr * .dat files ) you must add an additional action before continuing with point 4.
3.2) Then open Command Prompt and type the following commands , pressing Enter after each command:
Ren% systemroot% \ SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
Ren% systemroot% \ system32 \ catroot2 catroot2.bak
3.3) Still in the command prompt now type the following commands , always hitting Enter after each command:
sc.exe sdset bits D: (A ;; CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC ;;; SY) (A ;; CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO ;;; BA) (A ;; CCLCSWLOCRRC ;;; AU) (A ;; PULCSWRPWRPDT ;;)
sc.exe sdset wuauserv D: (A ;; CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC ;;; SY) (A ;; CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO ;;; BA) (A ;; CCLCSWLOCRRC ;; AU) (A ;;
At this point, continue with the process indicated in the previous paragraph, starting from point 4) .
Solution 4: Check the Error Code on the Windows Update Support Page
Microsoft offers guidance on how to resolve specific Windows Update problems associated with specific error codes.
The error code is provided by the Windows Update Troubleshooter (see first solution).
For example, my error code was 0x80070057:
Then open the Microsoft technical support page specifically dedicated to Windows Update problems (available only in English).
Select your operating system:
Now select the correct error code in the list:
Microsoft will explain where your error originates and show you specific instructions to fix that given Windows Update error.
The instructions are unfortunately only available in English .
Solution 5: Ask the Windows Community for Support
Microsoft offers the opportunity to get support from experts and other users in the Microsoft Community .
If you are serious about getting an error code, type the code into the community search box and try to read the solutions others have used to solve your same problem:
If you don’t find helpful answers, I recommend that you report your problems in the Community and ask for support from a moderator or other experienced users.
There is a specific page for Windows Update issues , but support requests can also be entered from the Community home (you have to register – registration is free).
Conclusions
The solutions to fix Windows Update problems that I proposed above are safe and recommended by Microsoft, and they work in the vast majority of cases .
However, there are other possible solutions to Windows Update problems, but they are usually almost always covered by the Windows Update Troubleshooter, or the manual procedure I indicated above, or the specific instructions, provided by Microsoft, related to your error code.
Still other solutions , while popular online, are useless or even harmful. For example, although it is recommended by many sites , removing or cleaning the SoftwareDistribution folder is actually useless and could pose risks to the stability of Windows Update, and I strongly advise against it.
