usocorworker.exe, mousocorworker.exe in update process

Question

Hi all,

I am curios about differences in updating processes of Windows 10 and Windows Servers. Specifically, to my best knowledge both Windows 10 and Windows Servers (newer ones) use usoclient.exe in updating process. In case of Windows 10, I know that usocoreworker.exe, mousocoreworker.exe or UpdateNotificationMgr.exe can be part of updating process. My questions are:

1. Are my statements above right?
2. Are usocorworker.exe, mousocoreworker.exe and UpdateNotificationMgr.exe specific only for Windows 10 or can they be part of updating process also for Windows Servers?

Thanks in advance for Your time and answers.

Ben

Answer 1

Hello Beno,

Thank you for your question.

USO stands for Update Session Orchestrator (a new tool to coordinate and manage update sessions), a new Windows Update Agent.

Previously, on older versions of Windows, you used the wuauclt.exe / detectnow command to schedule a Windows update scan through the Command Prompt, but now you can no longer use this command on 1903. On Windows 10, Windows Update settings are moved from the traditional Windows Control Panel to the new System Settings app. If you've tried managing Windows Updates on Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019 with the wuauclt command, you'll realize that this command no longer works.
From Windows 10 1903, Windows Update uses usoclient.exe, usocoreworker.exe, usoapi.dll, usocoreps.dll and usosvc.dll to scan for updates, install and continue updates. Windows will also call these processes when adding new features to Windows.
It is difficult to find details related to usoclient.exe, or usocoreworker.exe in Microsoft documents. Microsoft did not provide any specific information, they just said: This command is not created to call outside the internal operating system (internal OS). No one outside the operating system can run usoclient directly.
I also rummaged documents, reference articles on foreign forums that your "parties" discuss, provide but do not have any direct answer. The information I have translated from the answer of the member CEHATX1 on the Microsoft help forum.

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