Windows 2019 Server couldn't connect to update service

Question

Hi

I have already updated my Windows Server 2019 to the latest update but i am experiencing unable to connect to the update services.

Have made sure the Windows Update Service is running and automatic, my vm is also connected to the internet. Kindly advice

Answer 1

Hi @Jollyn Lee

you can try the following to reset the SoftwareDistribution folder which can cause issues:

• Open an Admin Command Prompt
• Type the following command to stop the Windows Update Service and press Enter:net stop wuauserv
• Type the following command to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and press Enter:net stop bits
• Type the following command to rename the Software Distribution folder and press Enter:rename %windir%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
• Type the following command to start the Windows Update Service and press Enter:net start wuauserv
• Type the following command to start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and press Enter:net start bits

Once done, try running updates again

Thanks

Michael Durkan

• If the reply was helpful please upvote and/or accept as answer as this helps others in the community with similar questions. Thanks!

Answer 2

Hello,

Since you have already tried restarting services, and checked connectivity. I can recommend the reset of Windows Update components, as it could be some sort of corruption of the components such as certificates or manifests that make the system unable to complete the connection. Additionally, extracting and posting the last 30-50 lines of WindowsUpdate.log could also help the community to identify more precisely the issue.

Please try the component reset using the next official article:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/deployment/additional-resources-for-windows-update#reset-windows-update-components-manually

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--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept as answer--

Answer 3

Just to share with people. I recently had similar issues, ran through many articles and many similar scenarios, only to seemingly end up at a dead end.

2 words: Cipher Suites

Many recent updates over the last year or more, have been adjusting TLS Cipher Suites and deprecating older less secure suites from TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 that were still lingering.

Check your suites. I have solved a few issues with products that won't communicate with Windows updates, O365, and other Cloud based products due to this.

If you search, you will find the supported Cipher Suites in articles for almost any product that relies on TLS. Some are easier than others...