Windows Update: How to Update, Disable, or Fix Update Errors

Windows Update installs security patches and feature updates automatically. Sometimes updates break things, downloads get stuck at 0%, or you just want control over when to update. Here's everything you need.

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Check for Updates Manually

Win + I → Windows Update → Check for updates

Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force
Get-WindowsUpdate
Install-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoReboot

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Pause Updates

Win + I → Windows Update → Advanced options → Pause updates (1–5 weeks)

# Defer quality updates by 30 days via registry
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" `
  -Name "DeferQualityUpdates" -Value 1
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" `
  -Name "DeferQualityUpdatesPeriodInDays" -Value 30

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Disable Automatic Updates

⚠️ Disabling updates is a security risk. Pausing is safer.

# Disable Windows Update service
Stop-Service wuauserv
Set-Service wuauserv -StartupType Disabled

# Re-enable
Set-Service wuauserv -StartupType Automatic
Start-Service wuauserv

Metered Connection trick: Win + I → Network → Wi-Fi → [network name] → Metered connection → On

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Fix Windows Update Errors

Error 0x80070422 — service not running

$services = @('wuauserv','cryptsvc','bits','msiserver')
foreach ($s in $services) {
    Set-Service $s -StartupType Automatic
    Start-Service $s -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}

Error 0x8024402C — can't connect to server

netsh winhttp reset proxy
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
shutdown /r /t 0

Update stuck at 0%

Stop-Service wuauserv, bits, cryptsvc -Force
Remove-Item C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\* -Recurse -Force
Remove-Item C:\Windows\System32\catroot2\* -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Start-Service wuauserv, bits, cryptsvc

Error 0x80073712 — corrupted components

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

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Roll Back Problematic Update

Win + I → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates

wusa /uninstall /kb:5034441 /quiet /norestart

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Summary

Task	Solution
Check for updates	Win+I → Windows Update
Pause for a week	Windows Update → Pause
Disable auto-updates	wuauserv service → Disabled
Error 0x80070422	Start wuauserv, bits services
Update stuck	Clear SoftwareDistribution folder
Roll back update	Update history → Uninstall