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Use Windows Update Troubleshooter to Detect and Fix Update Issues

Summary: Learn how to check for Windows Update issues using the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This article is a guide to run the troubleshooter, detect issues related to Windows Update, and automatically repair detected issues. ...

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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. The Windows Update Troubleshooter, when run, can detect and identify issues, and repair some common issues that prevent Windows Update from working properly.

Steps to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter:
  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.

See related Microsoft articles:

Additional Information

Watch this video for a demonstration:

This video is also available on YouTube.

Affected Products

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