How To Fix The Windows Update

Windows Update is an essential component of Windows 10, as it provides the ability to download and install the latest updates with bug fixes, security patches, and drivers. Also, it is the mechanism to obtain new feature updates and preview builds. However, there will be times when your device may not download or install updates because of a specific error message, Windows Update not connecting to the Microsoft servers, and other problems.

Usually, users may encounter this type of problem when the Windows Update agent-related services stop working, Windows 10 has an issue with the update cache, or some components are corrupted. In these situations, you can reset Windows Update on Windows 10 to fix most problems.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to reset the Windows Update components using the "Windows Update Troubleshooter" utility and the instructions to use Command Prompt to fix Windows Update manually to get security patches, drivers, and features downloading again on your computer. However, before using the Command Prompt option, make sure to use the instructions to install the most recent update manually, Service Stack Update (SSU), and repairing system files first.

How to reset Windows Update using Troubleshooter tool
How to fix Windows Update installing latest update manually
How to fix Windows Update installing latest Servicing Stack Update (SSU)
How to fix Windows Update repairing corrupted system files
How to reset Windows Update using Command Prompt

How to reset Windows Update using Troubleshooter tool

To reset Windows Update using the troubleshooter, use these steps:

Download the Windows Update Troubleshooter from Microsoft.
Double-click the WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab file to run the troubleshooter.
Select the Windows Update option.
Click the Next button.

Windows Update Troubleshooter
Click the Try troubleshooting as an administrator option (if applicable). Re-select your option and click the Next button again.
Click the Close button.
Open Windows Update Troubleshooter again.
Select the Windows Networking Diagnostics option to resolve any networking issues preventing updates from downloading.
Click the Next button.
Click the Close button.
Restart the computer.

Once the computer restarts, try to update Windows 10 one more time, and now it should work as expected.

How to fix Windows Update installing latest update manually

To install an update manually, which can help to fix problems with Windows Update on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open the Windows 10 update history website.
In the left pane, browse the latest update for your version of Windows 10 and note the update's KB number.

Quick tip: You can check your current version on Settings > System > About, and under the "Windows Specifications" section, confirm the version information.
Open the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
Search for the knowledge base (KB) number of the update.

Download Windows Update manually
Download the update for the version of Windows 10 that you have (32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)).
Double-click the file to install the update.
Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the device should have the latest update installed. The update should have also fixed the problem with Windows Update. You can check by clicking the Check for updates button on the Windows Update settings page.

How to fix Windows Update installing latest Servicing Stack Update (SSU)

To make sure the computer has the most recent Servicing Stack Update to fix Windows Update problems, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on About.
Under the "System type" section, check whether you have the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10.

Windows 10 architecture settings
Open the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
Download the most recent Servicing Stack Update for the version you have (32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)).
Double-click the file to install the update.
Restart your computer.

After you restart the computer, you should now be able to download and install the update using the Settings app.

How to fix Windows Update repairing corrupted system files

To repair system files using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC) tools to fix Windows Update problems, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following DISM command to repair corrupted system files and press Enter:
```
dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth            
```
Type the following SFC command to repair system files and press Enter:
```
sfc /scannow
```
Windows Update dism and sfc repair

After you complete the steps, the Windows Update components should have been repaired, and you can check for updates again to verify.

How to reset Windows Update using Command Prompt

To reset Windows Update manually using Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following commands to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Windows Update service, and Cryptographic service, and press Enter on each line:
```
net stop bits net stop wuauserv net stop appidsvc net stop cryptsvc
```
Stop Windows Update services

Quick tip: You may need to run the command more than once until you see the message that the service has stopped successfully.
Type the following command to delete all the qmgr*.dat files created by BITS from your PC. and press Enter:
```
Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\*.*"
```
Reset Windows Update commands
Type Y to confirm the deletion.
Type the following commands to clear the Windows Update cache to allow Windows 10 to re-download the updates, instead of using the files already downloaded on the system that might be damaged and press Enter on each line:
```
rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q
```
Quick tip: We are using the remove directory rmdir command with the/S option to delete the specified directory and all subdirectories within the main folder, and the option /Q is used to delete directories quietly without confirmation. If you get the message "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process," then repeat step No. 1 and try again, as one of the services might have restarted unexpectedly.

Type the following commands to reset the BITS and Windows Update services to their default security descriptor, and press Enter on each line:

sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU) sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)

Type the following command to move to the System32 folder and press Enter:
```
cd /d %windir%\system32
```

Type the following commands to register all the corresponding BITS, and Windows Update DLL files on the Registry and press Enter on each line:

regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll regsvr32.exe /s shdocvw.dll regsvr32.exe /s browseui.dll regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s gpkcsp.dll regsvr32.exe /s sccbase.dll regsvr32.exe /s slbcsp.dll regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll regsvr32.exe /s initpki.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng1.dll regsvr32.exe /s wucltui.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuweb.dll regsvr32.exe /s qmgr.dll regsvr32.exe /s qmgrprxy.dll regsvr32.exe /s wucltux.dll regsvr32.exe /s muweb.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuwebv.dll

Quick note: regsvr32 is a command-line tool that will help you to register ".DLL" files as command components in the registry, and we're using the /S option to specify the tool to run the command silently without prompting additional messages.

Type the following commands to reset the network configurations that might be part of the problem (but do not restart your computer just yet), and press Enter on each line:
```
netsh winsock reset netsh winsock reset proxy
```
Reset network adapter on Windows 10
Type the following commands to restart the BITS, Windows Update, and Cryptographic services, and press Enter on each line:
```
net start bits net start wuauserv net start appidsvc net start cryptsvc
```
Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update should have reset, and it should be working again on your Windows 10 device.

You can also use the above instructions to fix the problem when Surface Pro 7, Surface Book 4, Surface Laptop 4, or any other Surface cannot seem to download a new firmware update.