how to fix windows update service

Hi Mossab,

Thanks for reaching out. Here are steps on how to get Windows Update running again.

To fix the Windows Update service, start by running the Windows Update Troubleshooter in Settings. If that doesn't work, manually set the Windows Update service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service to "Automatic" in the services.msc console, and restart them. Further steps include deleting the contents of the SoftwareDistribution folder and running the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) and DISM commands in an elevated Command Prompt to repair corrupted system files. 

Step 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

• For Windows 10: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters and select Windows Update.
• For Windows 11: Go to Settings > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters and click Run next to Windows Update.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to let the troubleshooter find and fix issues automatically.

Step 2: Manually set services to Automatic

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Find Windows Update in the list, double-click it, and set the Startup type to Automatic.
• If the service is not running, click Start.
• Repeat the same process for Background Intelligent Transfer Service to ensure it is set to Automatic and running.
• Click Apply and then OK.  

Step 3: Clear the SoftwareDistribution folder

• This folder can become corrupted and prevent updates. Clearing it forces Windows to create a fresh one.
• Press Win + R, type services.msc, find and stop the Windows Update service.
• Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
• Delete all files and folders inside this directory. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
• After deleting the files, restart the Windows Update service from services.msc

Step 4: Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Command Prompt (Admin)".
• Type sfc /scannow and press Enter to scan and repair corrupted system files.
• If SFC finds issues, type the following command and press Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
• Wait for both processes to complete, then restart your computer. 

Let me know what results you get.