The Windows Update service is not running can be resolved by checking the service status, using troubleshooting tools, rebuilding update components, and repairing system files. 1. Check whether the Windows Update service is disabled. If it is not started, set it to automatically and start manually; 2. Use the system's own troubleshooting tool to automatically scan and fix the problem; 3. Stop the relevant services through the administrator command prompt, rename the cache directory and restart the service to rebuild the update component; 4. Run the sfc and DISM commands to check and repair system file corruption to ensure that the service is running normally.

If the Windows Update service does not run, the system will not be able to automatically update patches, security repairs and other content, which will increase security risks in the long run. This problem is actually not particularly rare, especially on some old computers or machines that have manually adjusted the system settings.

Below are some common reasons and corresponding solutions. They are not complicated to operate, but they need to be done step by step.

1. Check whether the Windows Update service is disabled

In many cases, the problem is simply because the service is "shut down" or "disabled".
You can check it through the following steps:

• Press Win R to open the run window and enter services.msc to enter.
• Find the Windows Update item in the list.
• Right-click it and select "Properties".

In the pop-up window, take a look:

• Whether the "Start Type" is "Auto (Delayed Start)" or "Auto";
• Whether the Service Status is "Running".

If not, you can:

• Click the "Startup Type" drop-down menu and change it to "Auto (delayed startup)";
• If the service is not running, click the "Start" button to let it run.

If an error is reported after clicking "Start", it may be other problems, such as permissions or system files corruption.

2. Use the system-owned troubleshooting tool

Windows comes with a widget that is specifically used to troubleshoot update-related issues.

• Open Settings → System → Troubleshooting;
• Find "Other Troubleshooting" or search directly for "Windows Update";
• Click Run, the system will automatically scan and try to fix the discovered problems.

This method is suitable for friends who are not very familiar with the command line. Although it is not omnipotent, it can sometimes solve problems quickly.

3. Rebuild Windows Update related components

If neither of the above methods works, you may have to do it and reset the core part of Windows Update.

Open a command prompt (administrator permissions):

• Press Win S to enter "cmd" and right-click to select "Run as administrator".

Then enter the following commands in turn (return once every line is entered):

 net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msserver

The purpose of these commands is:

• Stop related services;
• Rename two key update cache directories (equivalent to clearing the cache);
• Restart the service again.

After the execution is completed, restart the computer and try to check for updates normally.

4. Check whether the system files are corrupted

Sometimes system files are corrupted, which can cause the Windows Update service to fail to start.

You can use the system's own sfc and DISM tools for repair:

Also run in the administrator command prompt:

 sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

The former is to check the integrity of the system file, and the latter is to download a clean system image from the Microsoft server to repair the corruption.

These two processes may take a little time, and then go back and see if the service can be started after completion.

Basically these common ways of dealing with it. Sometimes it can be done with one of the steps, and sometimes it takes all of them. Be careful not to interrupt during operation, especially when running system repair commands.

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