How to reset Windows Update on Windows 10

Windows Update keeps Windows 10 up to date by downloading and installing the latest updates, drivers, and fixes released by Microsoft.

Sometimes you may encounter problems with Windows Update such as not being able to download or install updates, error messages, not being able to search for new updates, etc. These types of problems may occur. When the Windows Update database or components become corrupted, one or more Windows Update-related services are not running, etc.

Resetting Windows Update components can often solve these problems.

This guide will show you how to completely reset Windows Update components and policies to default in Windows 10.

Note : You must be logged in as an administrator to reset Windows Update.

How to reset Windows Update using the Troubleshooter tool

1. Download the Windows Update Troubleshooter from Microsoft.

2. Double-click the WindowsUpdateDiagnellect.diagcab file to run the troubleshooter.

3. Select the Windows Update option .

4. Click the Next button .

5. Click the Try troubleshooting as an administrator option (if available). Select the option again and click the Next button again.

6. Click the Close button .

7. Open the Windows Update Troubleshooter again.

8. Select the Windows Networking Diagnostics option to resolve any network issues that prevent updates from downloading.

9. Click the Next button .

10. Click the Close button .

11. Restart the computer.

When the PC restarts, try to update Windows 10 again and everything will work as expected.

How to reset Windows Update with Command Prompt

Use the following steps to reset Windows Update components manually using Command Prompt on Windows 10:

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights.

2. Enter the following commands to stop Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Windows Update and Cryptographic (press Enter on each line):

 net stop bits net stop wuauserv net stop appidsvc net stop cryptsvc 

Quick tip : You may need to run more commands than the command until you see the message that the service has stopped successfully.

3. Enter the following command to delete all qmgr * .dat files created by BITS from the PC and press Enter :

 Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%Application DataMicrosoftNetworkDownloader*.*" 

4. Type Y to confirm deletion.

5. Enter the following commands to clear the Windows Update cache, allowing Windows 10 to download updates again, instead of using downloaded files that may be corrupted on the system and press Enter on each line:

 rmdir %systemroot%SoftwareDistribution /S /Q rmdir %systemroot%system32catroot2 /S /Q 

Quick tip : The article uses the rmdir command to remove directories with the / S switch to delete the specified directory and all subfolders in the main directory, the / Q switch is used to delete the folders without confirm. If you get the message 'The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.' (The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process), repeat step 1 and try again, because one of the services may have suddenly restarted.

6. Enter the following commands to reset the BITS and Windows Update service to default (press Enter on each line):

 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) 

7. Type the following command to move to the System32 folder and press Enter :

 cd /d %windir%system32 

Enter the following commands to specify all the Windows Update and BITS DLL files, respectively, in the Registry (press Enter on each line):

 regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll regsvr32.exe /s shdocvw.dll regsvr32.exe /s browseui.dll regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s gpkcsp.dll regsvr32.exe /s sccbase.dll regsvr32.exe /s slbcsp.dll regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll regsvr32.exe /s initpki.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng1.dll regsvr32.exe /s wucltui.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuweb.dll regsvr32.exe /s qmgr.dll regsvr32.exe /s qmgrprxy.dll regsvr32.exe /s wucltux.dll regsvr32.exe /s muweb.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuwebv.dll 

Note : regsvr32 is a command-line tool that will help you identify .DLL files as command components in the registry and the article uses the / S switch to specify the tool to run the command without further notice.

8. Enter the following commands to reset the network configuration, which may be part of the problem (but not restarting the computer). Hit Enter on each line:

 netsh winsock reset netsh winsock reset proxy 

9. Enter the following commands to restart BITS, Windows Update, and Cryptographic services (press Enter on each line):

 net start bits net start wuauserv net start appidsvc net start cryptsvc 

10. Restart the computer.

When the process is completed, Windows Update will be reset and working again on your Windows 10 device.