How to find out why scheduled automatic updates don't run?

Question

Hi!

I've been trying to set up Windows automatic updates scheduled to a specific day of the month. Also I want to include Microsoft Updates. The problem is that I couldn't find any trace of any action on that specific date and time. My configuration is this:

PS C:\Users\xxxxxxx> Get-WUServiceManager

ServiceID IsManaged IsDefault Name

---

7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d False True Microsoft Update

8b24b027-1dee-babb-9a95-3517dfb9c552 False False DCat Flighting Prod

855e8a7c-ecb4-4ca3-b045-1dfa50104289 False False Windows Store (DCat Prod)

9482f4b4-e343-43b6-b170-9a65bc822c77 False False Windows Update

PS C:\Users\adminerikssochri> Get-WUSettings

ComputerName : XXXXXXXX

ElevateNonAdmins : 0

ManagePreviewBuildsPolicyValue : 1

ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate : 1

DoNotConnectToWindowsUpdateInternetLocations : 0

NoAutoUpdate : 0

NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers : 0

RescheduleWaitTimeEnabled : 1

RescheduleWaitTime : 5

RebootRelaunchTimeoutEnabled : 1

RebootRelaunchTimeout : 180

DetectionFrequencyEnabled : 1

DetectionFrequency : 2

AlwaysAutoRebootAtScheduledTime : 1

AlwaysAutoRebootAtScheduledTimeMinutes : 15

AutoInstallMinorUpdates : 1

UseWUServer : 0

IncludeRecommendedUpdates : 1

AUOptions : 4 - Scheduled installation

ScheduledInstallDay : 2 - Every Monday

ScheduledInstallTime : 3

ScheduledInstallSecondWeek : 1

AllowMUUpdateService : 1

I have a support ticket with Microsoft but that hasn't helped this far. I've chatted here with Chat GPT which might get some insight in what I'm up to: Configuring Automatic Updates (chatgpt.com).

rgds Christian

Answer 1

The PowerShell commands are from the module PSWindowsUpdate:

PS C:\Users\xxxxxxx> Install-Module -Name PSWindowsUpdate

rgds Christian

Answer 2

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

Based on the description, I understand your question is related to windows update.

1. Firstly check the Windows Update service is running. Open Services and verifying that the Windows Update service is set to “Automatic” and is running.
2. Run windows update trouble-shooter in Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update
3. Check the group policy: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

Make sure the settings align with your desired update schedule, here is a reference:

Common policy configuration mistakes for managing Windows updates - Microsoft Community Hub

4. Verify that the scheduled task for Windows Update is correctly configured and not disabled. Open Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc) and navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > WindowsUpdate. Ensure the task is enabled and configured to run at the specified time.

Have a nice day. 

Best Regards,

Molly

Answer 3

Hi!

Thanks for the information and advice!

I actually found that the Windows Update service was not configured to start automatically in the system services. Also accordingly it was not running when I checked. In another system configured the same way I found the service running though just to find it not running when checked again five minutes later. The service is configured to start/run once a day from the Windows task scheduler:

C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe start wuauserv

The description in the Windows task scheduler is:

"This task is used to start the Windows Update service when needed to perform scheduled operations such as scans."

I don't know if this scheduled task should cause the Windows Update service to be running all the time or if this somehow performs some action and then stops the Windows Update service again.

Anyhow we have now scheduled again for "automatic updates" to happen Monday morning at 3 am now with the Windows Update service started and configured with automatic start in Windows system services.

Answer 4

I'm experimenting again tonight with another machine where I try to get automatic update to run. How will I detect a run of automatic update, via the schedule, in the WindowsUpdate.log file? I've found this documentation Windows Update log files | Microsoft Learn. There it says:

Windows Update log components

The Windows Update engine has different component names. The following are some of the most common components that appear in the WindowsUpdate.log file:

• AGENT- Windows Update agent
• AU - Automatic Updates is performing this task

...............................

So I guess I should be able to find an entry tagged "AU" if I've managed to get an automatic update session to run via the schedule.

Anyone having experience of tracing an automatic update run in the WindowsUpdate.log file?

I've gathered the WindowsUpdate.log file by the PowerShell command Get-WindowsUpdateLog by the way. (If someone didn't know about it.)

rgds Christian

Answer 5

Does anyone know what controls when "check for updates" happens in Settings -> Windows Update except of course for when you manually push that button. I guess the automatic "check for updates" there only happens when you've activated "automatic updates", or?

rgds Christian