We couldn’t connect to the update service in Windows 10/11 Fix

Windows Update provides a variety of updates for Windows 10 systems, ranging from feature updates to quality updates, security patches. If there is any problem with the Windows Update process, your machine will miss out on important updates. You will see ‘We couldn’t connect to the update service’ if the Windows Update can’t connect with the server. Simply follow these easy solutions to fix the problem on your computer.

Workarounds

1. Make sure you are using an unlimited network connection (non-metered connection).

2. You need at least 20-30 GB of free space in the C drive (the drive where Windows is installed).

3. Disable the antivirus on your system and restart your PC once. Give the update process another try.

Fix 1 – Change DNS

You have to set the IPv4 settings yourself. Follow these easy steps –

1. Simply, press the Windows Key+R keys to launch the Run window.

2. Now, type this and hit Enter to open the Network Connections window.

ncpa.cpl

 

Ncpa Cpl

 

3. To access the properties of the network, right-click on your network and then click on the “Properties“.

 

Network Connections Active Wifi Connection Right Click Properties

 

4. After that, to access IPv4 properties, double click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)“.

 

Double Click Ipv4

 

5. Then, click on “Use the following DNS server addresses:“.



6. Now, put these server addresses correctly-

Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

7. To save these settings, click on “OK“.

 

Dns Address Google

 

Now, try again

Fix 2 – Restart Windows Update service

1 – Search services in Windows search and then click on gear shaped services icon.

Open Services App

2 -Now, locate Windows update service.

If it is running, Just right click and select restart to restart update service

Restart Update Service Min

If it is not running, Just right click and click Start to start the service

Fix 3 – Rename the SoftwareDistribution

Corruption in the SoftwareDistribution folder may cause this problem on your system.

1. Write “cmd” in the search box.

2. After that, right-click on “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as administrator“.

 

Cmd Search New

 

3. As the first step, you need to pause some services. To do that, simply Copy-paste and hit Enter to execute these commands.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

 

Wu Cmd1

 

4. In the second step, you have to modify two file names. After that, type these codes and hit Enter to execute them.

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

 

Rename Software Distribution

 

5. After renaming the files, you have to again resume the stalled services. To do that, run these 4 codes sequentially.

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

 

Start Wuauserv

 

Close the Command Prompt window.

Restart your computer to finalize this process.

 

Fix 4 – Reset IP

Resetting IP on your computer will solve this issue.

1. Press Windows key+R.

2. Type “cmd” and then hit Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys together.

 

Cmd

 

2. You have to reset the IP configuration settings. To do that, simply type or copy-paste these codes one-by-one and then hit Enter. 

NETSH INT IP RESET C:\RESETLOG.TXT 
netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /flushdns

 

Netsh Int Resetlog Text

 

After executing these codes, reboot your device.

Fix 5 – Reset Windows Update client

You can reset the Windows update with an easy command.

1. Now, press the Windows key along with the ‘X‘ key.

2. Then, click on the “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to access the PowerShell.

 

Start Right Click Windows Powershell Admin

 

3. When you have the access to the PowerShell terminal, run this command by pasting it and hitting Enter afterward.

wuauclt.exe /updatenow

 

Wuauclt Update Now

 

After updating the Windows Update client, just reboot your machine once.

This should re-establish the connection with the Windows Update server.

Fix 6 – Run Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows has an inbuilt Update troubleshooter which may solve this issue.

1. Just right-click on the Windows icon.

2. Then, click on the gear-shaped icon to access the Settings.

 

Settings Open

 

2. Here, click on the “Update & Security” settings.

 

Update And Security

 

3. After that, click on the “Troubleshoot“.

4. On the right-hand side, click on the “Additional troubleshooters“.

 

Additional Troublehshooter

 

5. You have to click on the “Windows Update“, on the left-side pane.

6. To start the troubleshooting process, “Run the Troubleshooter“.

 

Windows Update Troubleshooter

 

Once the troubleshooting process is over, close the troubleshooter window.

Fix 7 – Update Windows services

Sometimes the dependent services are not running in the background of the Windows Update process.

1. Press the Windows key+R keys.

2. Write “cmd“. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter together.

 

1 Cmd Run

 

3. Once the terminal opens up, copy-paste these four commands one-by-one and hit Enter after pasting it.

sc config wuauserv start=auto

sc config bits start=auto 

sc config cryptsvc start=auto

sc config trustedinstaller start=auto

 

Sc Config Services Automatic

 

Restart and Try to update your system once more. Check if this helps.

Fix – 8 Install the updates with Update Assitant

You can update your computer with an Update assistant.

1. Visit this link.

2. Once you have opened the site, click on “Update Now“.

 

Update Now

 

2. Visit the download location on your drive.

3. Double click on the downloaded package.

 

Update Tool Double Clic

 

This tool will search for the latest update package for your computer and download it.

Depending upon the update package, it may take 30 minutes -1 hour to complete the process.

Please be patient.

4. Your device will reboot automatically once you “Exit” the setup.

 

Exit

 

5. After rebooting your computer, press Windows key+I.

6. Then, click on the “Updates  & Security“.

7. After that, click on “Check for Updates” in the Settings window.

 

Update & Security Windows Update Check For Updates

 

This should have fixed the problem you are facing.

 

Fix 9 – Update your system with MCT

If nothing is working out for you, you can use the Media Creation Tool to update your computer. To do that, simply follow these easy steps-

1. At first, you need to go to this Microsoft Software Download page.

2. Once you are there, click on the “Download tool now“.

3. Choose a location to save the file and then, click on “Save” to save the package.

 

Save

 

4. Once the downloading process completes, go to the file location.

5. Then, double click on “MediaCreationTool2004“.

 

Mct Double Click

 

6.  Click on “Accept” to accept the terms and conditions.

 

Accept

 

7. Click on the radio button beside, “Upgrade this PC now“.

8. Then, click on “Next” to start the up-gradation process.

 

Next

 

MCT will detect the update package for your computer. Let it download and install the package on your computer.

Reboot your computer to complete the installation process.

 



Fix 10 – Run SFC scan

You can run an SFC and DISM check on your system to check for any system file corruption.

1. Press the Windows key+R.

2. Then, type this code and hit CTRL + Shift + Enter.

cmd

 

1 Cmd Run

 

3. Simply copy this command and paste it in CMD window. Thereafter, hit Enter to run the scan.

sfc /scannow

 

Command Prompt Admin Mode Sfc Scannow Enter

 

4. To launch a DISM scan, paste this command in the terminal and then hit Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

 

Command Prompt (admin) Run Dism Command Enter

 

Once all these checks are complete, close the terminal and restart your device.

Try to update your computer when it restarts.

 

Fix 11 – Run a disk check operation

Sometimes corrupted regions in the C: drive can hinder the Windows Update process.

1. Type “cmd” in the search box.

2. Then, right-click on “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as administrator“.

 

Cmd Search New

 

Command Prompt with administrative rights will be opened.

3. When the terminal opens up, paste this code, modify it, and hit Enter.

chkdsk <drive letter> /r 

[You have to replace the <drive letter> with the drive letter where Windows is installed on your computer.

Example– It is the C: drive for our system. For us, the command will look like this-

chkdsk  C: /r

]

4. Press the “Y” key and hit Enter if there is a question ‘Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)’.

 

Chech Disk C Chkdsk

 

After that, close the CMD screen on your system and reboot your computer.

When your system is booting up, Windows will perform a disk check operation. When your system normally restarts, check for Windows Updates again.

Your problem should be solved.



Fix 12 – Reset Windows update

1. Download this windows 10 update script bat file from here

2. Extract it and run it on your PC.