Updates are an essential part of any Windows PC. So if something goes wrong with them, it's best to sort it out as soon as possible with Windows Update.
Windows Updates matter for plenty of reasons, such as keeping malware definitions current, fixing bugs, and more. If you can't install a new update, you're running Windows in a pretty risky way.
So here are the best ways to fix Windows Updates not working.
1. Update your device drivers
Device drivers are the software that makes the various hardware components in your Windows PC work. If your device drivers have been out of date for a while, they can run into unavoidable conflicts with new updates.
Generally, device drivers are updated automatically along with other Windows updates. If that doesn't happen, though, you should find and update your device drivers manually.
2. Use the Windows Update troubleshooter
Windows Update is the app that oversees all of your Windows update processes. Like any other tool on Windows, it occasionally hits errors or glitches.
If this isn't a recurring problem with Windows, the troubleshooter may be able to get you past it. The Windows troubleshooter is an all-in-one repair tool that can quickly clear up minor errors.
To run the Windows Update troubleshooter, follow the steps below:
- Go to the search bar in the Start menu, type settings, and select the best match.
- Click Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- From there, run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
Once you do this, the tool will look for any problems with your PC's updates. If it finds any, it will fix them automatically.
3. Check your Internet connection
You've been downloading for a while but don't see much progress. Even though there's no formal error dialog, you don't see the updates downloading either.
In a case like this, your Internet connection may be broken. It's best to check and fix the Internet connection on your PC first. Once you've confirmed that your connection works normally, or set up a working one, go to the update tool and try the updates again.
If you still get errors with Windows updates, don't panic! Move on to the next method below.
4. Check your date and time settings
Check the date and time settings on your PC. If something is off with these settings, you're bound to run into problems updating your Windows PC.
The reason is that Windows Update needs your correct date and time before it downloads and installs new updates. This is important for establishing the integrity of the updates, and so for preventing tampering or unauthorized access.
So change your date and time settings on Windows if it looks like it's showing the wrong time.
5. Free up disk space
In most cases, if Windows runs low on disk space, you'll get a message or notification. It will state clearly that you can't download a new update without free space.
Even if you don't get any message, though, you should still clear out everything unnecessary that's filling up your Windows storage.
There are plenty of ways to free up disk space on a Windows PC. Try whatever works for you, then run the updates again and see whether you hit any problems.
6. Perform a System Restore
No single method solves all of your real-world problems, but when it comes to Windows PCs, System Restore is probably the next thing to reach for.
A free tool from Microsoft, System Restore takes your PC and its settings back to a point where all the apps and settings you used were working well, as long as you created a restore point earlier. In this case, by performing a system restore on Windows, you can get rid of the Windows Update error on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.
7. Delete the Software Distribution Folder
The Software Distribution Folder is a special folder that holds the temporary files needed to carry out Windows updates. If these old files are left unchecked, they can sometimes cause problems with your regular Windows updates. Deleting the old files from the Software Distribution Folder is known to fix all sorts of update problems on your PC, so it's well worth a try.
You can easily delete the folder using Command Prompt. Here's how:
- Go to the search bar in the Start menu, type cmd, and launch it with admin rights by right-clicking it and selecting Run as administrator.
- Now you first have to stop the Windows Update Service. Enter the following command to do that and press Enter:
net stop wuauserv - Next, enter the following command to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and press Enter:
net stop bits - Open File Explorer and go to the following path:
C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution - Select the contents of the folder and click Delete.
That's it, the Software Distribution Folder will be deleted. Now restart Windows Update and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service using the commands net start wuauserv and net stop bits respectively. Your Windows PC should update normally from here.
