Windows users often face some troubles when it comes to Windows Update cannot currently check for updates. While this trouble is common to happen, it does irritate a lot of users if it keeps on happening all the time. In case these troubles occur often, try to fix them by performing several methods we will provide on this article.
Since Windows Update holds an essential key to the operating system development, slight trouble will affect the computer. Similarly to any other operating systems, Windows Update takes an essential role in the overall function of the system itself.
Many programs operating on the Windows PC rely on the updating service just as the core system service does. When the Windows Update fails to work, it can affect the entire system and the programs to run aberrantly.
Most of operating systems always provide prior notifications regarding the system updates. Other than that, they also alert the device users to update their programs in a separate schedule. These updates come with flexible settings which let users decide on what they must do.
While most users tend to choose the automatic updates, several few others choose to arrange their own update schedules. Either way, the updates will run accordingly as the system will arrange it to do so.
Even though automatic updates seem the safest way to choose, some users may have different opinions about it. Several Windows services like Superfetch and Window Modules Installer Worker have proven to slow the performance of most Windows users’ computers. If you use your Windows PC regularly, then you may choose the manual update settings instead of the automatic ones.
One thing you should remember is to always keep your Windows updated and be aware of the notifications of updates. Otherwise, your Windows PC and programs will encounter several errors if the Windows Update does not operate.
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Windows Update Problems
Since updating Windows is important, you may wonder what happens if the Windows Update fails to operate. The common scenario is the Windows Update will fail to download some necessary updates from the main server.
In return, some programs may fail to run properly. In short, the Windows PC will face some errors which can be avoided had the updates make it through the system. If such a problem occurs, you may have to find the source of it and fix it immediately.
Ever since the beginning, Windows Update has always been prone to troubles. Whether the trouble comes from the external or internal factor, Windows Update cannot often operate as it should. In case you find your Windows update stopping to run, you can check the settings of it first. If you have checked the settings, then you can try to run it again to check for the updates. Remember to always check the internet connection in your area as well. Sometimes the problem arises from the unstable internet connection.
If you have checked and set all of the settings regarding Windows Update right, then your Windows Update may hopefully run properly. In case you still find some errors, then you may need to fix it immediately. To help you out finding the culprit of the errors, take a look at the further explanation below.
The Causes of Windows Update Cannot Updater Error
When it comes to a Windows Update trouble, you need to know what causes it first. In doing so, you will be able to determine the factor that causes it and apply the solutions needed to fix the trouble. Since Windows Update deals with downloaded components, you can track the issue down to the hard drive folder on your computer.
Commonly, the Windows Update error occurs when the temporary update folder becomes corrupt. The specification typically occurs to certain types of Windows PC. The older version of Windows often deals with this type of error. Those computers which operate with Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Vista better do the regular checks on it.
It is common knowledge that Windows Update has always been prone to troubles. Whether the trouble comes from the external or internal factor, Windows Update cannot often operate as it should. In case you find your Windows update stopping to run, you can check the settings of it first. If you have checked the settings, then you can try to run it again to check for the updates. Remember to always check the internet connection in your area as well. Sometimes the problem arises from the unstable internet connection.
Nevertheless, you should not perform the repairing on your own if you are not familiar with the whole technical features. To do so, you need a fairly reliable tech knowledge on your behalf. In case you are not tech savvy at all, you can read the instructions below on how to fix the “Windows Update cannot check for updates” problems on your computer.
Methods to Fix Windows Update Cannot Update Error
Errors in checking updates for Windows Update often occurs on every type of Windows. Since Windows Update holds an essential key to the operating system development, slight trouble will affect the computer.
Similarly to any other operating systems, Windows Update takes an essential role in the overall function of the system itself. Many programs operating on the Windows PC rely on the updating service just as the core system service does. When the Windows Update fails to work, it can affect the entire system and the programs to run aberrantly.
In order to help you fix the “Windows Update cannot check for updates”, you can perform a couple of methods below. No prior knowledge about tech and complicated steps will be needed to do so. In case you need to follow some instructions, make sure you are familiar with the way your Windows operates. What you have to do is to follow the steps of each method carefully and restart your computers to see if it works or not.
Without further ado, take a look at the methods we have presented below to fix “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates service is not running” error. Try one each of the methods presented and see if it works or not at the end.
Performing Troubleshooting
Just like any other operating systems, Windows is built with the self-fix feature. The self-fix works to fix the minor troubles occurring on the system. Perhaps you see the troubleshooter box once when your Windows PC meet some errors.
Usually, the troubleshooter button will be included on each box of the service you currently run on your computer. If you cannot find it, then you may follow the steps below.
Step 1: Look for the Start button and click on it.
Step 2: Type in Troubleshooter on the search box
Step 3: Afterward, look for the option Troubleshooting.
Step 4: Head to the option Fix Problems with Windows Update.
Step 5: Finish it off by clicking Next.
Step 6: Soon after, Windows will perform automatic scans to detect the problem.
Step 7: Go to the Control Panel and look for Windows Update service. Check the updates per usual and see if the problem has been solved or not.
Registering Windows Update Service
If the troubleshooting does not help, then you can try to register your Windows Update service. Though Windows Update should theoretically be registered as one of the core services, your Windows OS may have read it differently. To fix the problem once and for all, you may register the service by following these steps below.
Step 1: Press the Windows and R buttons at the same time.
Step 2: Soon after, the Run box will appear on the screen.
Step 3: Proceed to type services.msc on the search bar of the Run box.
Step 4: Once you type it, press Enter.
Step 5: Soon after, you will see the Services window appear on your screen.
Step 6: Search Windows Update on the list of Services on the screen.
Step 7: Once you locate the Windows Update, right-click on it and choose Stop. Do not close the window.
Step 8: Afterward, open My Computer and go to the folder C: Windows.
Step 9: Look for a subfolder named software distribution.
Step 10: You can simply rename it or delete it.
Step 11: Once you have done it, go back to the Windows Update service window.
Step 12: Operate the Windows Update service at once.
Step 13: To finish it off, try to update or check for updates on the Windows Update service.
If some problems still occur after you perform this method, then you can look for the alternative method below. Similarly to this method, you will not have to deal with complicated techniques to fix the “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates service is not running” issue.
Using Security Update
In case the troubleshooting and the registering do not solve the issue, then you can try to use a security update. What you need to perform this method is a stable internet connection to download the external software.
It will help you stabilize the Windows Update core better in addition to the familiar steps you have performed before. If you already have everything you need, then you can follow these steps below.
Step 1: Turn on your Windows PC.
Step 2: Open your browser and go to the official website of Microsoft.
Step 3: Once you get in, you can search for “KB3102810 security update”. Alternatively, you can look for it on the search engine of the browser you currently use.
Step 4: As soon as the page with the security update opens, locate the download button and click on it.
Step 5: Once you get the file, install it on your Windows PC. Wait until the program finishes the installation.
Step 6: When the installation finishes, you must restart your Windows computer.
Step 7: Once the computer is turned back on, you can proceed with the next step.
Step 8: Press the Windows and R buttons at the same time.
Step 9: Soon after, the Run box will appear on the screen.
Step 10: Proceed to type services.msc on the search bar of the Run box.
Step 11: Once you type it, press Enter.
Step 12: Soon after, you will see the Services window appear on your screen.
Step 13: Search Windows Update on the list of Services on the screen.
Step 14: Once you locate the Windows Update, right-click on it and choose Stop. Do not close the window.
Step 15: Navigate your way to C: Windows folder and look for the software distribution subfolder.
Step 16: You can rename or delete the subfolder.
Step 17: Once you have done with it, you may have to restart your Windows PC again.
Step 18: When the computer has turned back on, you can open the Windows Update service and check for the updates. See if it works or not.
This method should fix your Windows Update service is not running and cannot currently check for updates issue. Once the security code has been installed, we can guarantee you the problem will be fixed. In case the Windows Update still cannot check the updates because the service is not running, then you can try another alternative method below.
Using Intel Rapid Storage Technology
When the two textbook methods fail, you can only hope to fix the Windows Update issue from the core. Try to fix the issue by checking on the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver. In order to perform this method, you must look up to the official website of Intel Rapid Storage Technology.
You may only perform this method if the previous methods fail. Since this method deals with repairing driver entirely, you must be aware of the side effects it will cause. If you can still fix the “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates” issue with the simple method, then you can let go of this type of repairing technique.
In case you still want to see if it works or not, then you have to follow the steps carefully. Read each one of the instructions before you perform it. Since this is not something a simple Windows self-fix can do, then you must be cautious of the after-effects and the overall changes made on your Windows driver.
Deleting Windows Update History
Since Windows Update gathers a lot of files during the update process, it can often cause some errors in the files itself. The corrupted Windows Update history files often become the cause of the “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates service is not running” error. Just like any other types of a cleaning process, you should eliminate these corrupted files so the Windows Update service can run again. Keep in mind to only do this method when all the methods fail to work.
To ensure the effectivity of this method, you must stop the Windows Update first. In order to do that, you can follow the steps below.
Step 1: Press the Windows and R buttons at the same time. Hold on them until a Run box appears.
Step 2: Once the box appears, type in services.msc on the search bar.
Step 3: Click OK or press Enter to continue.
Step 4: The Services window will appear shortly after.
Step 5: Inspect the list of services and look for Windows Update.
Step 6: Right click on it and select Stop.
Once the Windows Update has been stopped, you can perform the elimination of the Windows Update history files. In order to do that, you can follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open Windows Explorer from the search bar by typing Windows Explorer on it. Alternatively, press Windows and E buttons at the same time and hold on them until the Explorer appears.
Step 2: Look for the subfolder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution or copy the address on the upper bar of the Windows Explorer.
Step 3: Proceed to select all the files on the SoftwareDistribution folder.
Step 4: Right-click on it and choose Delete.
Step 5: A new confirmation window will appear. Proceed to select Yes to continue.
You can now restart the Windows Update service to see if the changes fix the issue or not.
Step 1: Press Windows and R buttons to open the Run box.
Step 2: Once the box appears, you can type in services.msc on the search bar.
Step 3: Click OK or press Enter to continue.
Step 4: The Services window will appear soon after.
Step 5: Among the list of services, select Windows Update and right-click on it.
Step 6: Select Start to restart the Windows Update service.
Conclusion
Fixing “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates” can often be tricky. Some of the methods will work well on certain computers, while others fail to fix such a problem. In order to fix the issue, you must at the very least know what is inside your computer. If you perform the Windows Update check routinely, then you must remember when it went wrong.
Other than that, you must inspect your internet connection as well. A lot of times, Windows Update cannot operate when the internet connection is unstable.
In order to help you fix the “Windows Update cannot check for updates”, you can perform a couple of methods we have curated above. No prior knowledge about tech and complicated steps will be needed to do so.
What you have to do is to follow the steps of each method carefully and restart your computers to see if it works or not. One method may need a thorough observation as well as careful treatments. When all else fails, you can actually delete the update files and begin the updates for your Windows from the beginning.
