Windows Update is turned on by default in Windows 10/11 and is responsible for delivering security and other important updates to your Windows 10/11 from Microsoft. The Windows Update in Windows 10 and 11 can also automatically download and update device drivers.
When Windows Update is working without any issues, it automatically downloads and installs updates when updates are available.
At times, the Windows Update might stop checking for updates or might fail to download available updates. If Windows Update is not working as it’s supposed to in Windows 10, you can use the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter to find and resolve issues that stop Windows 10 from updating.
The Windows Update troubleshooter looks for the following issues when you run the same on your Windows 10/11 PC:
# Default Windows Update data location
Windows Update might not work if the location where Windows Update stores data has been changed. If the default location has been changed, the troubleshooter automatically tries to set the default one.
# Potential Windows Update database error
Database errors often stop Windows Update from keeping your Windows 10 update to date. If an error is found, it will be fixed automatically.
# Incorrectly configured Windows Update components
If one or more Windows Update settings are not configured correctly, Windows Update might not work correctly. If the troubleshooter finds one or more incorrectly configured components, it will fix them automatically.
NOTE: Windows Update troubleshooter is part of Windows 10, and you don’t need to download it. However, if the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter fails to open, you can visit this official link to download the troubleshooter.
Method 1 of 2
Run Windows Update troubleshooter via Settings in Windows 10/11
Step 1: Launch the Settings app. On Windows 10, go to Update & security > Troubleshoot page. If you are on Windows 11, go to the System > Troubleshoot page.
Step 2: On Windows 10, in the Get up and running section, click on the Windows Update to launch the Windows Update troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen directions to troubleshoot and fix Windows Update issues.
If troubleshooters are not showing up, click on the Additional troubleshooters link to view all the built-in troubleshooters.
On Windows 11, click on the Other troubleshooters and then click the Run button next to the Windows Update to start the Windows Update troubleshooter.
Method 2 of 2
Run Windows Update troubleshooter in Windows 10/11
Step 1: Open Control Panel by typing Control Panel in Start search and pressing Enter key.
Step 2: Change the Control Panel View by to Small icons (see picture below) and then click Troubleshooting.
Step 3: In the left pane of the Troubleshooting window, click View all link to view all built-in troubleshooters in Windows 10/11.
Step 4: Click on Windows Update to launch Windows Update troubleshooter.
Step 5: Click the Next button to let the troubleshooter look for problems. If you’re asked to run the troubleshooter as admin, click Try troubleshooting as an administrator to run with admin rights.
Step 6: The troubleshooter will attempt to fix the issues mentioned above with Windows Update. Once done, you may close the troubleshooter.
I hope this helps!
Donna H Kennedy says
cloud will not accept my correct Apple ID password and is blocking all other work. What can I do?
Jacqueline Gregg says
Can’t run the update troubleshooter. All I have is a blue screen asking for what keyboard. Once I select US, I get another blue screen that says choose an option. I have tried all of them and nothing has worked. My laptop was running fine before this update. This is an HP Pavilion that came with windows 8.1 and upgraded to windows 10. I have no recovery DVD for windows 10. I need some help with this.
Stone says
I’ve tried everything I know, I tried the troubleshooter, the app store will not download updates, I played solitaire collection for a year with no problem, all of a sudden, it no longer worked, gave me some error code.
sepenggalinfo.com says
i still confuse how to solve this problem,,it is not work on my Laptop and i don’t know how to fix this problem.
Ozgur says
Nice! Thank you.
Hector DeJesus says
After using the Windows Update Troubleshooter several times it found and repaired Windows Registry errors.
However this did not repair my problem, after some hours I finally got an error message that included a code number. The reason according to Microsoft that Windows Update was failing was because I did not have the Windows Firewall enabled. Since Norton Internet Security usually takes over control of the firewall, I though this might not apply to me.
To my surprise Norton was not “managing” the Windows Firewall, which was disabled. I enabled it which fixed my Windows Update issues.
I have re-installed Norton Security, but after several security patches, it again stops managing the Windows Firewall. So i now have both enabled. The Norton forums could not provide any solutions.