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How to Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter to Identify and Repair Windows Update Issues

Summary: This article shows how to use the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This built-in Control Panel applet can identify and repair issues preventing Windows updates from being applied.

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Article Content


Instructions

The Windows Update Troubleshooter is built into client and server versions of Windows, and the steps for using it are the same in both. It can identify and repair some common issues that prevent Windows Update from working properly.

To run the troubleshooter, perform the following steps:
  1. Launch the Control Panel. There are several ways to do this. For example, click Start and type control, then click Control Panel.
  2. In the Search bar of the Control Panel, type troubleshoot.
  3. Click Troubleshooting.
  4. Click View all on the left side of the window.
  5. Click Windows Update in the list of troubleshooters. The Windows Update Troubleshooter launches.
  6. Click Advanced.
  7. Select the box labeled Apply repairs automatically to have the troubleshooter attempt to repair any issues it identifies.
  8. Click Next. The troubleshooter attempts to identify and repair Windows Update issues.
  9. If the troubleshooter detects any issues, it lists them and indicates whether they were repaired. Click Close to close the troubleshooter.
  10. If the troubleshooter detected and repaired any issues, reboot the server and perform these steps again.
  11. If the troubleshooter reports that it could not identify the problem, click View detailed information and review the items listed.
  12. If Issue not present is shown in the right column for each issue, close the troubleshooter and attempt to run Windows Update.

Additional Information

See this video for a demonstration:

This video is also available on YouTube.

Article Properties


Affected Product

Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows 2012 Server, Microsoft Windows 2012 Server R2

Last Published Date

11 Mar 2024

Version

3

Article Type

How To