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I have Windows 11 installed on a mini PC that has not been used for several months so I know that it is behind on Windows 11 updates. However the Windows Update tool in settings is showing that it is up to date and when I click the "Check for Update"s button, it almost immediately responds that there are no updates.

Nor is Windows 11 automatically updating itself.

Note regarding the suggested post.

The difference between this question and the suggested post is that Windows Update just isn't doing anything. It is not slow, it is not hung, it is not even showing that there are updates available when there clearly must be since Microsoft issues Widows updates periodically during the year and this PC has been turned off for at least 6 months and probably a year.

What I found was the Windows Update service itself was disabled for some reason and when I enabled it, Windows Update then worked properly by taking some time to communicate with the updates server, pulling down updates, installing updates, etc. None of this activity was happening until I enabled the Windows Update service.

What can I do to force Windows 11 to actually do a check for updates?

Giacomo1968
  • 58,727
Richard Chambers
  • 377

2 Answers2

3

I found this Microsoft Community Question with a response for how to start update working again.

Im unable to install new updates on Windows 11

which mentioned this procedure:

Rename the software distribution folders as instructed below:

  1. Open Start and type cmd, right-click on "Command Prompt", and select "Run as administrator".
  2. Run the following commands at the Command Prompt one at a time:

net stop bits

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptsvc

ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak

ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak

net start bits

net start wuauserv

net start cryptsvc

However when I tried using the command "net stop wuauserv" I received an error message indicating the service was not running. When I then tried to start the service with the command "net start wuauserv", the command failed with a message indicating that a dependency or needed device or service was not available.

I then opened the Services app to see the list of services and found that "Windows update" service was marked as "disabled". When I did a right mouse click on the "Windows update" service to start it, the various options to start, stop, pause, etc. were grayed out.

I then looked at the Properties for the service and changed the Startup type to Manual.

screenshot of Properties dialog of Services app for Windows update service

After this I opened up the Settings dialog and then navigated to the Windows Update panel and Windows 11 had started update properly.

So the root problem was that Windows Update service was disabled and had to be turned on.

Richard Chambers
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1

My Thinkbook 16p G2 ACH got stuck on Windows 11 Pro 21H2. The 23H2 was already available but not offered via the Windows Update. Only feature updates were skipped while security and driver updated worked correctly.

Here is what Gemini advice I tried initially without any success:

  • Getting the latest updates via Windows Update
  • Getting the latest driver updates via Lenovo Vantage
  • Updating the BIOS to the latest version
  • Checking that Secure Boot and User Mode are configured in BIOS
  • Running PC Health Check to validate if all requirements for Windows 11 are satisfied
  • Running the System File Checker (sfc /scannow). It found and repaired some errors about KB3025096, but to no avail.
  • Checking for DISM errors: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Running the Windows Update Troubleshooter which mentioned on each run that something was detected and resolved about WaaSMedicService.
  • Resetting the Windows Update via these commands:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc
Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptsvc

Finally, I did an in-place Windows 11 re-install via the Windows 11 Update Assistant. Then the OS was finally able to see and download the 23H2 feature update via the Windows Update.

All user settings, programs and data were seamlessly preserved.

Beware to back up the BitLocker key first! It was asked after the BIOS and OS update.

I guess that Windows Update integrity might had been altered by disabling the telemetry, etc via a tool like DisableWinTracking.

Vadzim
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