[SOLVED] Windows Update Cannot Currently Check for Updates

Windows Update Cannot Currently Check for Updates

Some computer users complained on forums that they have encountered an issue ‘Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because the service is not running. You may need to restart the computer.’ when they want to update the operating system. And in general, this issue may occur on Windows 7.

And now, we will show you how to solve the issue Windows update cannot check for updates because the service is not running. You can try the following solutions one by one.

Solution 1. Disable Anti-virus Software or Firewall Temporarily

In order to fix the issue Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, you can temporarily disable the third-party security software or the Firewall.

Even though the anti-virus software and the Firewall can help you to protect your computer and data against virus attack or other security threats, it may also prevent some applications from working normally.

Therefore, you can disable then temporarily and check for update. At the same time, you need to check whether the issue Windows update cannot currently check for updates is solved.

When the Windows update error is solved, you need to enable the anti-virus and Firewall again to keep your computer safe.

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Solution 2. Remove the Windows Update History

Now, we will go on to the second method to solve the issue Windows Update cannot check for updates Windows 7. And here, you can clear the Windows Upgrade history and try to restart the Windows Update service. At here, we will show you the detailed steps.

Step 1: Press Windows key and R key together on your keyboard to open the Run dialog and type services.msc in the box. Then click OK or hit Enter to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window, find out the Windows Update service and right-click it to select Stop to from the context menu to continue to stop the service.

Step 3: Then go on the following steps to remove the Windows Update history. Press Windows key and E key together to open Windows Explorer.

Step 4: Next, navigate to the following file path C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and find out the SoftwareDistribution folder.

Step 5: Select all files in the SoftwareDistribution folder and delete them.

Step 6: Next, you will receive a warning message and click Yes button to go on.

Step 7: After you have successfully deleted all files of the Windows Upgrade history, you can repeat the Step 1 to find out Windows Update service again. Then click Start in the context menu to restart the service.

When all the above steps are finished, you can restart your computer to check whether the issue Windows update cannot check for updates because the service is not running Windows 7 is solved.

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Solution 3. Register Windows Update Service

If any of the .dlls files involved the Windows Update service is not correctly registered, you may encounter the issue Windows Update cannot currently check for updates. Thus, you can try to register the Windows Update to solve the problem. And we will show you how to register Windows Update service step by step.

Step 1: Press Windows key and R key together to invoke Run dialog and type services.msc in the box. Then click OK to go on.

Step 2: Find out the Windows Update in the popup window and click Stop in the context menu to continue.

Step 3: Then click Start button of Windows 7 and type cmd in the search box and choose Run as administrator from the context menu to go on.

Step 4: In the pop-up command line window, type the following commands one by one and hit Enter after each command. Please click OK when each prompt occurs.

regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wuwebv.dll
regsvr32 wucltux.dll

Step 5: Now you can exit and close the command prompt window. And you need to enter Service window again and find out Windows Update by clicking Start in the context menu to start the Windows Update service.

After all steps are finished, you can restart your computer and run check for updates and check whether the issue the Windows cannot check for updates as the service is not running is solved.

Solution 4. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

As a matter of fact, to fix the issue Windows cannot check for update, you can try to run Windows Update Troubleshooter. And here, you can go on fixing the issue Windows Update cannot currently check for updates by following the steps.

If there is no Windows Update Troubleshooter in your computer, you can click here to download and install it.

Then we will show you how to launch the Windows Update Troubleshooter in Windows 7.

Step 1: Click Start button and type troubleshoot in the search box of Windows 7 and choose Troubleshooting to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window, choose Fix problems with Windows Update under the System and Security section to continue.

Step 3: Next, you can click the Next button to go on. Then Windows Update Troubleshooter will detect the problem automatically. This process may take some time and you need to wait patiently.

Step 4: If there are some problems with your computer, the Windows Update Troubleshooter will list the problems and fix them. After the whole process is finished, you can close Windows Update Troubleshooter and restart your computer to check whether the issue Windows update cannot currently check for updates is solved.

Solution 5. Update RST Driver

The issue Windows update cannot currently check for updates may be caused by the outdated RST driver. So, in order to solve the issue Windows 7 won’t update service not running, you can try updating the outdated or corrupted drivers.

Thus, you should update the RST driver manually by visiting the official Intel website and download the latest RST driver. Then install it on your computer. Please make sure the driver you choose is compatible with your computer.

After that, please reboot your computer to take effect and check whether the issue Windows update cannot currently check for updates is solved.

Solution 6. Reset Windows Update Repository

Now, we will show you the last method to the issue Windows update cannot currently check for updates. You can try resetting the Windows update repository.

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt windows and run it as administrator.

Step 2: In the Command Line window, input the following commands and hit Enter after each command.

• net stop bits
• net stop wuauserv

Step 3: Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the %WINDIR%.

Step 4: Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to SoftwareDistribution.old.

Step 5: Return to Command Prompt window, type the following commands.

• net start bits
• net start wuauserv

Step 6: Then restart your computer to take effect.

When all steps are finished, try to check whether the issue Windows 7 cannot check for update is solved.

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Useful Suggestion

After you have solved the issue Windows update cannot currently check for update, you had better create a system image to keep your PC safe. And when you encounter this issue again or some other problem, you can use the system image created before to restore your computer to a normal state directly.

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And now, we will show you how to create a system image to keep PC safe.

Step 1: Download and install the best Windows backup software on your PC, launch it and click Keep Trial to continue. In the popup window, click Connect in This Computer to enter its main interface.

Step 2: MiniTool ShadowMaker is designed to back up the operating system by default. And it also chooses the backup destination automatically.

In addition, you can also choose what you want to back up and decide where you want to save the backup image by clicking the Source and Destination tabs in the Backup page.

Importance:

1. The Schedule setting can help you to set the backup task on a regular basis so that it can safeguard your PC and data well. Moreover, it can help you to create an automatic file backup.
2. The Scheme which offers three types of backup scheme can help you to manage the disk space by deleting previous backup versions.
3. The Options can be used to set some advanced backup parameters. For example, it can help you to encrypt the data so as to provide further protection for the data.

Step 3: After successfully selecting the backup source and destination, click Back up Now to perform this backup action immediately. Then the backup task can be seen in the Manage page.

Step 4: When the backup is finished, you had better go to the Tools tab to click Media Builder feature to create a bootable disc or USB drive which can be used to enter the MiniTool Recovery Environment when you perform some recovery operations or when your computer can’t boot from the operating system.

When you have successfully created the system backup image, you can relax even though you meet the issue Windows update cannot currently check for updates again.

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Bottom Line

In this post, we have introduced 6 methods to solve the issue Windows Update cannot currently check for updates. And if you encounter the same Windows update failed issue, you can take these four methods and have a try.

In addition, if you have any better solution to fix the issue Windows Update cannot check for updates Windows 7, you can share it on the comment zone.

And if you have any problem with the MiniTool ShadowMaker, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the email support@minitool.com.

Windows Update Cannot Currently Check for Updates FAQ