The Windows Update service is not running. Resolving the error "Windows Update cannot currently search for updates because the service is not running"
If, when you try to start searching for updates, you receive the following message:
Windows Update currently cannot search for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer.
Then most likely the problem is that the Windows Update service is not really running. However, a system failure is also possible when, despite the service being running, the Update Center still stubbornly complains that it is not running. We will analyze both options in the article below.
Open the Start menu and type the phrase " Command line". In the search results that appear, find Command Prompt, right-click on it, and in the menu that appears, select " Run as administrator". You can read more about this in our article:
Now let's check if the Windows Update service is running. In the command line that opens, enter the following command:
Sc query wuauserv
And press the Enter key, and then look at the command line output. If the “Status” line contains the value “RUNNING”, then you can proceed to the next paragraph of the article, but if there is a value other than “RUNNING”, then enter two commands in turn:
Sc config wuauserv start=auto sc start wuauserv
You can then use Update Center to check for system updates. If the error persists, then move on to the next solution to the problem.
If the service is enabled but the error remains
It also happens that the Windows Update service is running, but Windows Update still thinks that it is not running and refuses to look for updates. In this case, you need to do the following:
By analogy with the method described above, launch Command Prompt as an administrator and enter the following commands there:
Sc stop wuauserv
With this command we turn off the Windows Update service.
Then, rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, which is in the root of the Windows folder:
Rename "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution" "SoftwareDistributionOld"
After these manipulations, reboot the computer and check the functionality of the update center.
In some cases, a problem with Windows Update may occur even when the service itself is enabled. When this happens, the user receives the following errors: “Windows Update cannot currently search” or “Windows Update cannot currently be started.” What to do?
First and most importantly, check if the update service is enabled. In Control Panel, go to Windows Update, then to Settings. Here, select “Install updates automatically” or “Download updates, but I decide whether to install them.”
Next, go to the official Microsoft website and download a utility called Fix It. It helps to automatically restore operating system settings. Just download the utility, install it on your computer and run it. Then follow the instructions. The good thing about the utility is that it does everything automatically and you don’t have to do anything.
If the utility does not help or for one reason or another you cannot use it, then you can do some steps yourself. (click “Start”, write cmd in the “Search programs and files” line, then right-click on the command prompt icon and select “Run as administrator”.
When the command prompt opens, you need to enter several commands (after each of them, press the Enter key):
net stop cryptsvc
ren c:\windows\system32\catroot2 catroot2old
net start cryptsvc
Try installing updates.
You can also try the netsh winsock reset command (necessarily as an administrator), it may also help.
Surprisingly, the problem can often lie in the hard drive controller driver. The driver itself can be found on the website of your motherboard manufacturer.
One unusual method was found on the Internet. You need to run a bat file with the text:
net stop wuauserv
rmdir %windir%\softwaredistribution /s /q
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 /s atl.dll
regsvr32 /s wups.dll
regsvr32 /s wups2.dll
regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll
regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll
net start wuauserv
To do this, create a text document (notepad) on your desktop, copy the text and save. Rename the extension from txt to bat. Next, click on the file, right-click and select “Run as administrator.” Restart your computer and then try to install updates.
If all else fails, download the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows utility from the Microsoft website. There are different versions of the utility for different versions of operating systems, all of them are available on the Microsoft website.
ATTENTION! You perform all actions at your own peril and risk; the site administration is not responsible for the published material!
If you have been using Windows operating systems for a long time, then you have probably experienced this kind of error at least once, which did not allow your system to fully update and slowed down the entire OS workflow. That is why today we will tell you how you can deal with the error updating Windows OS of almost any version, because not one operating system is immune from such an error. Let us immediately draw your attention to the fact that rebooting the system or “rolling it back” most likely will not help, so be prepared for this!
Method number 1.
You need to download a utility from the official Microsoft website that allows you to fix the error that has arisen. This utility is called Microsoft Fix It. There are many versions of these utilities on the Microsoft website, so you can choose what you need for a specific OS:
Now you need to click on the “Next” button and wait until the system scan is fully completed, the error is detected and corrected. Most often, the error is hidden behind damage to the SoftwareDistribution folder.
Once the utility tells you that the problem has been resolved, you will need to close it and check for updates again. In some cases, you may need to restart your computer.
If the error " Windows Update is currently unable to search for updates...” continues to be present on your system, then you need to move on to the next step to fix it.
Method number 2.
We stop the “Windows Update” service using simple steps: press the hot keys Win + R >>> the “Run” window opens, enter the command “services.msc” (without quotes) in the search bar >>> press “Enter” ":
Now you have to find a service called “Windows Update” and stop it:
After you have stopped the Windows Update service, you need to delete or rename the temporary update folder in the same window. This is done very simply: go to the folder called “Windows” on the disk on which the Windows operating system is installed >>> find a folder called “SoftwareDistribution” and simply delete it or, as stated above, rename it to something like “SoftwareDistributionOLD ":
Now all you have to do is restart the service called “Windows Update”, and then search for updates.
That's all, now you know how to deal with the error quickly and easily." Windows Update is currently unable to search for updates...”, which before that bothered you quite a lot and there was no escape from it.
Users of Windows 7 and 8.1 operating systems have recently encountered an issue. When updating, the system displays the error: “Windows Update cannot currently search for updates because the service is not running. You may need to restart your computer." However, the system recommendation does not help solve the problem. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with two current methods.
Solve the problem using Microsoft Fix It
To fix this error, you can use the Microsoft Fix It system utility. To do this, go to the manufacturer’s website https://support.microsoft.com/ru-ru/kb/2730071 and select software in accordance with your operating system.
We are waiting for the program to detect and fix the problem.
Reboot the computer. Go to “System Update” again and click update.
Correcting the error manually
To solve this problem, you should disable the Windows Update service. To do this, press “Win + R” and enter the “services.msc” task into the command line. Click “OK”.
Find “Windows Update” (it’s at the very bottom) and right-click on “Stop”.
You need to delete or better yet rename the update folder. To do this, go to the “C” drive, select the “Windows” folder and look for the “SoftwareDistribution” folder. It needs to be deleted or renamed.
Now run “services.msc” again and turn on “Windows Update”. Reboot the computer. The error will be fixed.
