How to fix Windows Update/Sign in to microsoft

Question

every time i try re-login to my acc i always get a grey box for 5-10 miuets then it dissappears. ive tried every solution and looked on youtube etc, cant be my wifi either because im on a ethernet connected to wifi box.

My windows update kee[s sayng something is wrong try again later but its been happening for like 2/3 months now and ive looked up on youtube google etc and followed step by step guides for near enought 7 hours straight each day and its killing me please help

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[Tag moved from: Microsoft System Center | Other]

Answer 1

Hello Robisekkk 0!

Thanks for reaching out to the Q&A forum:

I see you're having some issues related to Microsoft account and Windows Update, below is some suggestions you can try:

Sign in problem:

First, check this similar issue that has been solved: Gray box appears and disappears when I click "log in" in every microsoft app (settings, microsoft store, minecraft launcher, xbox app)

Try creating a new local administrator account, sign in to that new account, then follow the steps in Fix a corrupted user profile to copy your personal data from the old profile into the newly created one. Re‑add your Microsoft account if needed. This replaces the broken profile with a clean, working one without losing your data.

Also see: Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows

Update issue:

1. Basic checks

Make sure you have at least 10–15 GB free on the system drive (usually C:)

Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus or firewall (not Windows Defender).

Reboot once, then try Retry all again.

2. Run Windows Update troubleshooter

Press Win + I > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Run Windows Update troubleshooter and apply all fixes it suggests.

Reboot and try the update again.

3. Clear Windows Update cache

Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run these commands one by one:

net stop wuauserv

net stop bits

net stop cryptsvc

ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

net start wuauserv

net start bits

net start cryptsvc

Then retry the update.

4. Run DISM and SFC

In a Terminal/Command Prompt, run (as administrator):

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

sfc /scannow

Wait for both to finish, reboot, and try the update again.

5. Download and install the update manually

• Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog
• Search for the KB number shown in Windows Update, download the correct version for your system (e.g., Windows 11 23H2 x64)
• Double‑click the downloaded .msu file and follow the prompts, then restart.

Hope this helps. Please let me know how it goes so we could figure out the next step!

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Answer 2

It sounds like you're experiencing persistent issues with signing into your Microsoft account and Windows Update. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot these issues:

1. Check Network Connection: Since you mentioned being on an Ethernet connection, ensure that there are no network restrictions. You can test by accessing https://login.microsoftonline.com in a web browser to see if you can connect without issues.
2. Event Viewer Logs: Use Event Viewer to check for any specific error messages related to the sign-in process. Go to Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > AAD > Operational and look for relevant entries that might indicate the cause of the problem.
3. Firewall and Antivirus Settings: Ensure that your local firewall or antivirus software is not blocking necessary processes. Check that the following processes are allowed:
   • C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin\_cw5n1h2txyewy\Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin.exe
   • C:\Windows\System32\backgroundTaskHost.exe
4. Update Windows: If Windows Update is not functioning, try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update.
5. Repair Office Applications: If the issue is specifically with Microsoft Office applications, you can try repairing them through Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, select your Office installation, and choose Change > Repair.
6. Reset Network Settings: Sometimes, resetting your network settings can help resolve connectivity issues. You can do this by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.

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References:

• Connection issues when signing in after updating to Office 2016 build 16.0.7967 on Windows 10