How to Fix Windows Update Components Error in Windows 10 / 11

Windows Update is an important process for the Windows OS to keep your system up-to-date and performing at its best at all times. If you miss updates on a regular basis, your computer may slow down or even crash, Therefore, it’s important for your Windows Update system to work properly at all times. However, sometimes, the Windows Update component may not work properly and you may error messages while downloading or installing updates, thus resulting in failed update installation. The good news is, the Windows update components error in your Windows 10 PC can be fixed. Let’s see how.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

 

Step 1: Press the Win + R keys together to launch the Run command box.

Step 2: In the Run command search field, write cmd and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter shortcut keys to open Command Prompt with administrator rights.

Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, run the below command one after another and press Enter after each one:

 

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
net stop appidsvc
Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
net start appidsvc

 

Step 4: Now, right-click on Start menu and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

 

Start Menu Right Click Windows Powershell (admin)

 

Step 5: In the Windows Powershell (Admin) window, type the below command and press Enter:

 

wuauclt.exe /updatenow

 

Windows Powershell (admin) Run Update Command Enter

 

Once done, restart your PC and try updating your Windows. It should be working fine now.

 

Method 2: Run the Windows Troubleshooter

 

Step 1: Press the Win + R shortcut key on your keyboard to open the Run command.

Step 2: Write control.exe /name Microsoft.Troubleshooting in the Run command search box and hit Enter to open the Troubleshoot pane in the Settings window.

 

Run Command Control.exe Name Microsoft.troubleshooting Enter

 

Step 3: In the Troubleshoot page in the Settings window, go to the right side, scroll down and select Additional troubleshooters.

 

Troubleshoot Additional Troubleshooters

 

Step 4: In the next window, under the Get up and running section, click on Windows Update and select Run the troubleshooter.

 

Additional Troubleshooters Get Up And Running Windows Update Run The Troubleshooter

 

Now, Windows will start looking for any issues, and if any found, will be repaired automatically.

Reboot your PC and try installing updates.



 

Method 3: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter in Clean Boot State

 

In this method, you would firstly need to boot the PC in Clean Boot State.

 

Step 1: Right-click on Start and select Run to open the Run command window.

 

Start Right Click Run

 

Step 2: In the Run command window, type msconfig in the search field and hit Enter to open the System Configuration utility.

 

Msconfig

 

Step 3: In the System Configuration window, select the General tab.

Select the radio button next to Selective startup and uncheck the box next to Load Startup Items.

Now, check the box next to Load system services and Use original boot configuration.

 

System Configuration General Selective Startup Check Load Startup Items Uncheck Load System Services Use Original Boot Configuration Check

 

Step 4: Now, go to the Services tab and check the box next to Hide all Microsoft services.

Then, click on Disable all.

Press Apply and then OK to save the changes and exit.

 

System Configuration Hide All Microsoft Services Check Disable All

 

Step 5: Restart your PC and download the Windows Update Troubleshooter from the below link:

 

https://aka.ms/wudiag

 

Step 6: Click on the download file to open the Windows Update utility.

Select Windows Update from the list and click Next to run it in the clean boot state.

 

Windows Update Utility Windows Update Next

 

It will now start detecting any issues with the Windows Update and if any issues found, it will fix it automatically.

Restart your PC and try checking for Windows Update. It should be working now.

 

Method 4: Run a System File Checker

 

Step 1: Press the Win + X hotkey and select Run. This will open the Run command box.

Step 2: In the Run command window, write cmd in the search field and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter shortcut keys to open Command Prompt in elevated mode.

 

Run Command Cmd Ctrl + Shift + Enter

 

Step 3: In the Command Prompt (admin) window, run the below command and hit Enter:

 

sfc /scannow

 

Command Prompt (admin) Run Sfc Scannow Command Enter

 

The process takes a while, so wait for sometime till it’s over. It will scan your system files and if any issues found, will repair them on the spot.

Once done, restart your PC and your Windows Update should be working now.

 

Method 5: Use DISM to repair any damaged files

 

Step 1: Right-click on Start menu and select Run to open the Run command box.

 

Start Right Click Run

 

Step 2: In the search field, type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together on your keyboard.

 

Run Command Cmd Ctrl + Shift + Enter

 

Step 3: It opens the Command Prompt in the admin mode. Execute the below command in the Command Prompt window:

 

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

 

Command Prompt (admin) Run Dism Command Enter

 

Let the scan complete. It will detect and repair any issues found with the system.

Now, reboot your PC and check if the Windows Update issue is resolved.

 

 

Method 6: Recovery options

 

Step 1: Press the Win + I keys together on your keyboard to open the Settings window.

Step 2: In the Settings window, click on the Update & Security options.

 

Settings Update & Security

 

Step 3: In the next window, go to the left side of the pane and select Recovery.

 

Settings Update & Security Recovery

 

Step 4: Now, go to the right side of the window, scroll down and under the Advanced start-up section, click on Restart now.

 

Recovery Advanced Start Up Restart Now

 

Step 5: It will take you to Advanced startup options screen. Here, in the Choose an option screen, click on Troubleshoot.

 

Choose And Option Troubleshoot

 

Step 6: Next, click on Advanced options.

 

Troubleshoot Reset This Pc Advanced Options Startup Repair

 

Step 7: From the Advanced options, select Startup settings.

 

Advanced Options Startup Repair Startup Settings Command Prompt

 

Step 8: In the Startup Settings screen, click on the Restart button at the bottom.

 

Startup Settings Restart Startup Repair 1

 

Step 9: Now, press the F4 key on your keyboard and your Windows will restart in safe mode.

Now, press the Win + E shortcut key to open the File Explorer.

Step 10: In the File Explorer window, navigate to the below path:

 

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

 

Now, select all the contents of this folder and hit Delete.

 

File Explorer Navigate To Software Distribution Select All Content Delete

 

Now, reboot your PC and the Windows Update problem should be resolved.

 

Method 8: Install latest updates manually (Using Update History)

 

Step 1: Click on the below link to open the Windows update history website:

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/windows-10-update-history-0d8c2da6-3dba-66e4-2ef2-059192bf7869

 

Step 2: In the Windows update history page, on the left side of the pane, click on your Windows 10 version.

 

Windows Update History Left Side Look For Your Windows 10 Version

 

*Note – To know how to check your Windows version and OS  build, refer to this article.

 

Step 3: In the next window, again go to the left side of the pane, look for the latest update based on your Windows version and OS build  and note down the KB number of the latest update.

 

Windows Update History Left Side Look For Latest Update Based On Windows Version And Os Build

 

Step 4: Now, click on the below link to open the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

 

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4601319

 

Search for the KB number you noted in Step 3 and download the update based on whether you have 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) system architecture.

 

*Note – Refer to this article to know how to check if your Windows 10 PC is 32-bit or 64-bit.

 

Microsoft Update Catalog Search Kb Number Download The Latest Update

 

Once the update is completed, restart your PC for the changes to be effective. This should also fix the problem with the Windows update.

 

 

Method 9: Install Latest Servicing Stack Update

 

Step 1: Once you have checked in the Settings window if your system is 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10, click on the below link to open the Microsoft Update Catalog website:

 

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4090914

 

From the list, download the latest Servicing Stack Update for the system architecture you have (32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)).

 

Step 2: Click to download the update.

Restart your PC. Now, while the latest update is downloaded, the Windows Update service in your system is also fixed.



 

Method 10: Delete Downloaded Windows Update Files Using Services

 

Step 1: Right-click on Start and select Run to open the Run command box.

 

Start Right Click Run

 

Step 2: In the Run command search field, type services.msc and press OK to open the Services window.

 

Run Command Services.msc Enter

 

Step 3: In the Service manager window, go to the right side of the pane and look for Windows Update service.

Right-click on it and select Stop.

 

Services Windows Update Right Click Stop

 

Step 4: Once the service is stopped, press the Win + E keys together on your keyboard to open the File Explorer window.

Now, in the File Explorer window, navigate to the below path:

 

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download

 

Select all the contents in this folder and hit Delete.

 

File Explorer Navigate To Software Distribution Download Folder Select All Content Delete

 

Step 5: Go back to the Services window, navigate to the right side of the pane and look for Windows Update service.

Right-click on it and select Start.

 

Services Windows Update Right Click Start

 

Now, go back to the Windows Update section in Settings and check for updates. It should be working now.

 

Method 11: Pause Updates

 

Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings.

 

Start Right Click Settings

 

 

Step 2: In the Settings window, go to Update & Security.

 

Settings Update & Security

 

Step 3: It takes you straight to the Windows Update section. On the right side of the window, click on Pause updates for 7 days.

 

Settings Windows Update Pause Updates For 7 Days

 

Step 4: Now, exit the Settings window, restart your system and again open the Settings window (as shown in Step 1).

Now, click on the Resume updates button.

 

Settings Windows Update Resume Updates

 

Once it’s done, you can now check if the Windows update service is back up and running.

Method 12: Check internet connection using cmd

 

Step 1: Press the Win + R hotkey to open Run command.

Step 2: Type cmd in the Run command window and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together on your keyboard to launch Command Prompt in elevated mode.

 

Run Command Cmd Ctrl + Shift + Enter

 

Step 3: In the Command Prompt (admin) window, run the below command and hit Enter:

 

ping google.com

 

*Note – The above command is just an example.

 

Command Prompt (admin) Run Command To Check Internet Enter

 

Check if you are getting a response, which means your internet is working properly.

 

Method 13: Free up space using Settings

 

Step 1: Press the Win + I shortcut key to open the Settings window.

Step 2: In the Settings window, click on System.

 

7 Settings System

 

Step 3: In the next window, on the left side of the pane, select Storage.

 

Settings System Storage

 

Step 4: Now, go to the right side of the pane and under the Local Disk (C:) section, click on Temporary files.

 

Settings System Storage Local Disk C Temporary Files

 

Step 5: Next, wait for the scan to get over.

Once done, select the items that you want to remove and free up space.

 

Temporary Files Select Items To Be Removed Remove Files

 

Once completed, you will now have more space to check for Windows Update. You should not see any errors anymore.

Method 14: Restore Windows Update components to their Default settings

 

Step 1: Press the Win + X keys together on your keyboard and select Run.

Step 2: In the Run command window that opens, write cmd and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together to open Command Prompt in admin mode.

Step 3: Copy and paste the below commands one by one in the Command Prompt (admin) window and hit Enter after each command:

 

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv

Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%Application DataMicrosoftNetworkDownloaderqmgr*.dat"

 

These first two commands will stop the BITS service and the Windows Update service respectively. The third command will delete the qmgr*.dat files.



 

Step 4: Now, perform this step if the above steps did not work.

Run the below command in the Command Prompt (admin) window one after another and hit Enter after each command:

 

Ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistributionDataStore *.bak
Ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistributionDownload *.bak
Ren %systemroot%system32catroot2 *.bak

 

This will rename the above folders to *.BAK.

 

Step 5: Now, execute the below two commands one by one and hit Enter each time:

 

sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)

sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)

 

These two command will reset the BITS service and the Windows Update service respectively.

 

Step 6: Copy and paste the below command in the Command Prompt (admin) window and press Enter:

 

cd /d %windir%system32

 

Step 7: Now, type the below commands one by one and press Enter after each command:

 

regsvr32.exe atl.dll

regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll

regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll

regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll

regsvr32.exe browseui.dll

regsvr32.exe jscript.dll

regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll

regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll

regsvr32.exe msxml.dll

regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll

regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll

regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll

regsvr32.exe softpub.dll

regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll

regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll

regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll

regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll

regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll

regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll

regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll

regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll

regsvr32.exe ole32.dll

regsvr32.exe shell32.dll

regsvr32.exe initpki.dll

regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll

regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll

regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll

regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll

regsvr32.exe wups.dll

regsvr32.exe wups2.dll

regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll

regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll

regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll

regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll

regsvr32.exe muweb.dll

regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll

 

These command will re-register the files for the BITS service and the Windows Update service.

 

Step 8: Now, execute the below command and press Enter:

 

netsh winsock reset

 

This will reset Winsock.

 

Step 9: Now, run the below commands and hit Enter:

 

net start bits
net start wuauserv

 

These two commands will restart the BITS service and the Windows Update service respectively.

If none of the above method works, you may perform a clean installation. For this, you would need a Windows installation media for Windows 10. It can be a USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file. Once the Windows 10 is freshly set up, the Windows Update service should be working properly.





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