[Full Guide] How to Fix Windows Update Troubleshooter Not Working

Windows Update Troubleshooter

It is extremely important to keep your operating system up to date because the new updates contain some new features to further optimize performance. What’s more, they are capable of patching up crucial security holes and reducing the risk of exploits.

At times, Windows Update may not work well as expected. When it occurs, it is time to run Windows Update Troubleshooter. Windows Update Troubleshooter is aimed to help you to identify and fix problems with Windows Update. The troubleshooter will analyze your system and provide effective fixes for the issues it detects.

Running Windows Update Troubleshooter is a pretty easy task. Here are two ways to run this utility. One is to run it from Windows Settings, the other is via Control Panel.

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Step 1. Download this tool and follow the installation wizard to install it.

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Step 2. Click on Keep Trial and then go to the Backup page.

Step 3. In this page, you can select the backup source and destination:

• Backup source – go to SOURCE > Folders and Files > select files you would like to back up.
• Backup destination – go to DESTINATION > choose a storage path for your backups (an external hard drive or USB flash drive is recommended).

Step 4. Click on Back Up Now to start the process or choose Back Up Later to delay the task. If you select the latter one, the delayed task will remain in the Manage page.

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Way 1: via Windows Settings

Step 1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.

Step 2. Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.

Step 3. Scroll down to find Windows Update, hit it and press Run the troubleshooter.

Way 2: via Control Panel

Step 1. Type control panel in the search bar and hit Enter.

Step 2. In the drop-down menu beside View by, select Small icons.

Step 3. Scroll down to find Troubleshooting and hit it.

Step 4. Under System and Security, click on Fix problems with Windows Update.

Step 5. Tap on Next to start running this tool.

Windows Update Troubleshooter Not Working

After running Windows Update Troubleshooter, this utility will try to fix the issue or offer you some useful solutions. Despite its powerful functions, there are plenty of problems that you can encounter when using it. You may find that Windows Update Troubleshooter stops working or gets stuck in loop as follows:

• Windows Update Troubleshooter stuck on solving problems
• Windows Update Troubleshooter stuck on checking for pending restart
• Windows Update Troubleshooter stuck at initializing the diagnostic

When the troubleshooter cannot work or gets stuck in loop, it might lead to further errors. Considering this, it is imperative to address this problem as soon as possible. Here are some workarounds that you can have a try when you encounter Windows Update Troubleshooter not working on Windows 10/11.

How to Fix Windows Update Troubleshooter Not Working?

Fix 1: Run SFC & DISM Scan

Windows Update Troubleshooter not working might indicate that some system files are corrupted. In this case, employing the System File Checker (SFC) and Deploy Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools is a good option to fix any faulty or corrupted system files.

Step 1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.

Step 2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 3. Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

Step 4. If Windows Update Troubleshooter is still not working or the SFC scan failed, you can perform a DISM scan. Launch Command Prompt with administrative rights and run the following command:

DISM /online /cleanup-image /Scan Health

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

Step 5. Wait for it to complete and reboot your Windows machine.

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Fix 2: Clear DNS Cache

Windows Update Troubleshooter needs to require many necessary files from the internet, so you must make sure that the internet connection is stable enough. If the DNS cache stored on your computer is outdated or corrupted, Windows Update Troubleshooter will be unable to connect to the internet hence stopping working. Here’s how to flush your DNS cache to improve your internet connection:

Step 1. Type cmd in the search bar to locate Command Prompt and right-click on it to choose Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press the Enter key.

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Fix 3: Modify Local Group Policy Settings

Some incorrectly configured settings in Local Group Policy Editor can also result in Windows Update Troubleshooter stuck in loop. To tackle this issue, you need to find the specific settings and modify them.

Step 1. Press Win + R to evoke the Run box.

Step 2. Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter to launch Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 3. Navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Troubleshooting and Diagnostics > Scripted Diagnostics

Step 4. Under Scripted Diagnostics, you can see three entries in the right side. Right-click on each entry respectively > choose Edit > check the Enable option > tap on Apply.

Step 5. Reboot your computer to see if Windows Update Troubleshooter not working is fixed.

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Fix 4: Enable Cryptographic Services

If Cryptographic Services is not running or it has stopped for some unknown reasons, Windows Update Troubleshooter will not work properly. If this is the case, you should restart Cryptographic Services.

Step 1. Press Win + S to evoke the search bar.

Step 2. Type services and hit Enter.

Step 3. In Services, scroll down to find Cryptographic Services and right-click on it to choose Properties in the drop-down menu.

Step 4. Set Start type to Automatic and hit Start.

Step 5. Click on Apply & OK and then reboot your computer.

Fix 5: Run Disk Cleanup

Windows Update Troubleshooter not working can also be triggered by the temporary files stored on your computer. You can use the Disk Cleanup utility to free up more space on the hard drive. Here’s how to use this tool to remove unnecessary files:

Step 1. Type disk cleanup in the search bar and hit Enter.

Step 2. In the popping-up window, select the drive that you want to clean up and press OK.

Step 3. Check the files you want to delete such as Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin, Temporary Files and more.

Step 4. After making your decision, hit OK to start the cleanup process.

Fix 6: Perform System Restore

Performing a system restore can help to revert your system to a previous restore point when everything on your computer works fine. This feature can help to reverse system files, installed applications, system settings and Windows Registry.

If any newly installed software, new driver, or update prevents Windows Update Troubleshooter from working flawlessly, you can use System Restore to bring your system back to the point when there are no huge changes on your computer.

Step 1. Type control panel in the search bar and hit Enter.

Step 2. Scroll down to find Recovery and hit it.

Step 3. Under Advanced recovery tools, click on Open System Restore > Next.

Step 4. Select a restore point and hit Next to start restoring your computer to a restore point when Windows Update Troubleshooter functions properly.

Fix 7: Reset This PC

If none of the methods above does the trick for Windows Update Troubleshooter not working, the last resort is to reset your computer. Reset This PC will reset your computer to the factory default state and install a clean version of Windows. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Press Win + I altogether to open Windows Settings.

Step 2. In the settings menu, scroll down to look for Update & Security and hit it.

Step 3. In Recovery, click on Get started under Reset this PC.

Step 4. Then, there are two options for you – Keep my files and Remove everything. Here, we recommend you to choose the first option to keep your personal files.

Step 5. In the next window, you will see a list of programs that will be removed from your computer and you can reinstall them after the resetting process is complete. Click on Next to continue.

Step 6. Follow the guidelines on the screen to finish the rest process.

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Windows Update Troubleshooter Not Working FAQ