How to reinstall windows update ---it's stuck in loop and not working correctly

Question

I've tried all the ways to fix this problem that I can find, except reloading windows itself, and nothing worked. Windows update does not find updates and only shows a few older updates in the history. The settings say it needs to update but won't update?

Answer 1

If you're experiencing issues with Windows Update being stuck in a loop and not functioning correctly, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter: This built-in tool can help identify and fix common update issues. You can find it in Settings under Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update.
2. Check for Corruption: Use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to check for and repair any corruption in the Windows image. Open an administrative command prompt and run the following command:

      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   

3. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve pending updates that are stuck.
4. Install the Latest Servicing Stack Update: Ensure that you have the latest servicing stack updates installed, as these are crucial for the update process. You can check for these updates in the Windows Update settings.
5. Manually Download and Install Updates: If Windows Update is not finding updates, you can manually download the update packages from the Microsoft Update Catalog and install them.
6. Reset Windows Update Components: If the above steps do not work, you may need to reset the Windows Update components. This involves stopping the Windows Update service, renaming the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders, and then restarting the service. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this in Microsoft's support documentation.
7. Consider a Repair Install: If all else fails and the update issues persist, you may need to perform a repair install of Windows, which can fix system files without affecting your personal files.

If the problem continues after trying these steps, you may want to seek further assistance from Microsoft Support or the Microsoft Community.

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References:

• Fix Windows Update corruptions and installation failures
• Windows Update troubleshooting guidance

Answer 2

Hi,

Your Windows Update is stuck because its update components or cache are corrupted, preventing new updates from downloading or installing. You don’t need to reinstall Windows yet resetting Windows Update usually fixes this.

 

Here’s the fastest solution:

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter in Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Reset Windows Update components manually:

Stop update services, rename SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders, then restart services.

Repair system files using:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

sfc /scannow

Restart and check for updates again.

 

I think this link might help you with your concern:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/troubleshoot-problems-updating-windows-188c2b0f-10a7-d72f-65b8-32d177eb136c

If that still fails, use Repair Windows via Settings > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update or perform an in-place upgrade with the latest Windows 11 ISO.

Let me know how it goes, Happy to help!