Windows Update is the service that keeps Windows 10 and other Microsoft products upwardly-to-date on your computer. Unfortunately, it has a history of issues, with update errors existence a mutual occurrence. But rarely, diverse reasons—such as incorrectly configured or conflicting settings—tin can also prevent it from running on your reckoner altogether.

If you continue receiving an error claiming that the Windows Update service (or a related service) is not running on your figurer, the list of fixes that follow should assist you become it functioning normally again.

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes a born troubleshooter that can automatically diagnose and resolve issues with Windows Update. You must run it start before excavation into the rest of the fixes.

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.

2. Select Update & Security.

3. Select Troubleshoot on the sidebar.

4. Select the choice labeled Additional troubleshooters.

5. Select Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.

Restart Calculator

Restarting your PC helps affluent the organisation memory and works every bit a quick prepare for random service-related issues that crop upwards in Windows 10. So if you haven't already, try doing that now and follow by running Windows Update manually (open up the Outset carte du jour and go to Settings > Update & Security > Bank check for updates).

Re-Configure the Windows Update Service

If Windows Update still fails to run, yous must bank check if it's set up to run automatically in Windows 10. You must likewise double-check the settings for other related services.

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

two. Type services.msc and select OK.

3. Correct-click Windows Update and select Properties.

4. Prepare the Startup type to Automatic and select Apply. Follow that by setting Service condition to Running.

five. Select OK to relieve the changes.

vi. Repeat steps 3–v for the post-obit services:

  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service
  • Cryptographic Services

7. Restart your computer.

Check for Computer Viruses

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

Using the built-in Windows Security applet should help yous to find and remove malware. But since Windows Update isn't running, it may non have the near up-to-engagement antimalware definitions to perform a comprehensive browse of your computer.

And so the best mode to deal with that is to use a dedicated tertiary-party malware remover such as Malwarebytes. Try running a quick scan, and follow that with a organization-broad check for computer viruses.

Disable Third-Party Antimalware Service

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

To dominion that out, try pausing any antivirus software via the Windows 10 system tray. Then, run Windows Update manually.

Reset Windows Update

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

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

two. Blazon cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch the Control Prompt with administrative privileges.

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

cyberspace stop wuauserv

four. Run the two commands beneath to delete the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders:

rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /south

You must confirm your activeness by pressing Y > Enter.

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

net start wuauserv

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

Delete Temporary Files

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

1. Open up the Start menu and select Settings.

2. Select Organization.

iii. Select Storage on the sidebar.

4. Option the option labeled Temporary files.

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

6. Select Remove files.

Run SFC Scan and DISM Tool

If Windows Update fails to run due to general file corruption or other stability-related problems in Windows 10, y'all tin can try to fix them using the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tools.

Run SFC Browse

1. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell panel.

ii. Type the following command:

sfc /scannow

iii. Press Enter.

Run DISM Scan

1. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell panel.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

3. If the DISM tool detects any problems, run the two commands as follows:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Update Windows 10 Manually

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

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

2. Type winver and select OK.

3. Note down the Windows 10 version—e.m., 21H1.

4. Visit the Windows 10 update history website and annotation down the latest KB (Knowledge Base of operations) ID for your Windows 10 version.

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

6. Select and download the latest update for your Windows 10 version.

7. Run the downloaded installer to apply the update.

Optionally, consider installing the latest Servicing Stack Update for your Windows x version. That can help fix boosted issues with Windows Update. Yous can search for and download it from the Microsoft Update Itemize website.

Use the Windows Update Assistant

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

After downloading the applet to your PC, simply run it and select Update Now.

Roll Back or Reset Windows

If you continue to experience problems, y'all might desire to perform a organization restore. That helps roll dorsum whatever recent changes to the operating system that prompted the result to occur. Y'all can besides effort uninstalling the previous Windows update.

Finally, resetting Windows ten to factory defaults should work as a last-ditch measure to fix the Windows Update service for good.