Windows Update is stuck, failing with cryptic errors, or constantly scanning. This performs a complete reset of the Windows Update components, often fixing persistent issues.

The Fix

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Why it works

  • This stops the core Windows Update services, renames the folders where updates are stored and cataloged, and then restarts the services, forcing Windows to rebuild these components from scratch.

Verify

  • After running the commands, reboot your computer.
  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. It should now correctly detect and download updates.

Notes

  • Requires Administrator privileges.
  • Old update history will be lost after renaming SoftwareDistribution.old.
  • You might need to wait a few minutes after restarting services for the system to fully rebuild its update catalog.

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