Windows Update is the backbone for maintaining the health, security, and performance of a Windows operating system. It automatically delivers the latest patches, feature updates, and security fixes directly to your computer. When it stops working, your system becomes vulnerable to unpatched threats and misses important improvements. To reduce your overall exposure to threats alongside keeping Windows updated, also see our guide on setting up Windows Security on Windows 10, which covers the built-in real-time protection layer.
Windows Update relies on three interconnected services to function: the Windows Update service itself, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), and Cryptographic Services. When any one of these falters, the entire update process can stall. Restarting them manually resets the connection and typically resolves update errors. If you’re planning to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, see our guide on testing Windows 11 compatibility before applying major updates, since hardware requirements like TPM 2.0 must be in place first.
Quick Answer
Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. In Services Manager, right-click Windows Update, then BITS, then Cryptographic Services and select Restart for each. Alternatively, open Command Prompt as administrator and run net stop wuauserv, net stop bits, net stop cryptsvc — then net start wuauserv, net start bits, net start cryptsvc. If Restart is grayed out for any service, choose Start instead.
Importance of Windows Update
Windows Update is more than just delivering new features. It is a vital component in ensuring your operating system remains secure, bug-free, and efficient. Regular updates patch vulnerabilities, enhance performance, and sometimes introduce new features to improve user experience. Keeping Windows Update services running correctly ensures your system benefits from these improvements automatically.
Why Windows Update Services Might Stop
One primary reason is service disruption. The interconnected nature of Windows Update means that if one component fails, it can have a domino effect on the others. For instance, if the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) faces a glitch, it can prevent the main Windows Update service from accessing the necessary update files.
Corrupted update files serve as another potential roadblock. If an update file doesn’t download correctly or faces an interruption, it may not get processed, causing the service to stall.
External factors, such as server outages on Microsoft’s end, can also play a role. Sometimes the issue is not with the user’s system but with the source of the updates.
Conflicts with third-party software or malware can also interfere with the update services. Overzealous security software might misidentify an update component as suspicious and block its operation, while malware actively tries to prevent updates to exploit system vulnerabilities. If Windows Defender’s scanning process is consuming excessive CPU alongside update issues, our guide on fixing Antimalware Service Executable high CPU usage explains the available remedies.
Steps to Restart Windows Update Related Services
There may be times when Windows Update services need a manual restart. Follow either method below to reset the necessary components and get Windows Update back on track.
Using Windows Services Manager
- Access the Run dialog: Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously. This brings up the Run box.
- Open Services Manager: Type “services.msc” in the box and hit the Enter key.
- Locate the Services: Scroll down the list to find the Windows Update service. Also look for Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and Cryptographic Services.
- Restart the Services: For each service, right-click on the name and select Restart from the dropdown menu.
If the Restart option is grayed out, choose Start instead.
Via Command Prompt
- Open Command Prompt with Admin Rights: Search for “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-click on Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
- Stop the Services: Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc - Restart the Services: After stopping them, restart each service using:
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptsvc
By following these steps, you can take a proactive approach to potential hiccups within your Windows Update services, ensuring your system remains up to date and secure.