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This article we will show you how to reset Windows Update components in Windows 11/10. Components of Windows Update help download and install all feature and quality updates, but not drivers or other security enhancements. The exceptions to this rule are the security enhancements. On the other hand, there are times when you might run into problems with Windows Update because of a corrupted cache or because the relevant services ran into an error. Windows updates are an extremely important component in ensuring that your computer continues to operate normally, without crashing or becoming unstable. Windows 11 receives regular updates from Microsoft that include essential security patches, bug fixes, and compatibility enhancements.
These updates keep your system protected from cyber threats, improve system performance, and ensure that it runs smoothly. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that Windows Update will fail to download for you, or that Windows Update will become stalled or frozen in the middle of the update process. Resetting the Windows 11 update cache is an example of a troubleshooting method that frequently demonstrates its efficacy in resolving issues of this nature. Find out why your Windows update didn’t work by reading this article, which also includes instructions on how to reset Windows Update components in Windows 11/10.
What are Windows Update components?
Components of Windows Update are a collection of services and files that are in charge of downloading and installing updates for Windows 10 and 11. These components are responsible for Windows Update. These steps are necessary at this point in the process. In order to get WU back up and running, give these troubleshooting techniques a shot in the order that is outlined below. Although we have used Windows 11 to illustrate the WU troubleshooting steps in this post, the techniques described here are also applicable to Windows 10, with only minor modifications required.
This article does a good job of covering both of the most recent versions of Windows Operating System. It is possible for Windows Update to become problematic if any of these components become corrupted or damaged in any way. It’s possible, for instance, that you won’t be able to check for updates, download updates, or even install updates on your device. You can try resetting the Windows Update components if you are having issues with Windows Update. This is an option available to you if you are having issues with Windows Update. This will return the components to the state they were in when they were first installed, which may fix the issues that you are experiencing.
How to reset Windows Update components in Windows 11/10
Reset Windows Update Components Manually

- Use the search bar to find cmd and run it as an administrator.
- Type these steps and hit “Enter.”
- wuauserv rd /s /q%systemroot%\
- net stopWhen SoftwareDistribution.
- net starts up, wuauserv
Stop Windows Services
- Press Windows key + R, type
cmd
. - Press Control + Shift + Enter to run the command prompt as an administrator.
- Execute the following commands one at a time.
net stop appidsvc
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc
net stop wuauserv
Delete the Existing Update Files
- To open cmd, press the Windows key + R.
- The command prompt will appear when you press Control + Shift + Enter.
- Press this key to get rid of the qmgr files.
Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.datIf this is not where the system can save the qmgr file, try entering this command: - Type each of these commands and press “Enter” each time.
The folders Ren%Systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore and Download are where the files you downloaded can be found.
“catroot2.bak” in bakRen%Systemroot%\System32
Auto-Reset the Windows Update Component
- Click on the Windows key + I to get to the settings.
- Check for updates and safety.
- On the left side, click Troubleshoot. Then, click on Additional troubleshooters.
- Run the troubleshooter by going to Windows Update.
- When it’s done, it will show you any problems it found and fix them automatically. You can also click on “View Detailed Information” to see more information about how to fix the problem.
When to reset Windows Update components?
- Windows Update Errors: When you consistently receive error messages while trying to update your Windows operating system. Common error codes include 0x80070002, 0x8007000D, 0x80070490, and others.
- Stuck Updates: When Windows Update gets stuck in the process, and updates are not being installed or configured properly. This can manifest as the update process taking an unusually long time or getting stuck at a specific percentage.
- Corrupted Update Files: If you suspect that the update files in your system have become corrupted, which can occur due to various reasons, including sudden power loss during an update or malware infections.
- Inconsistent Update Behavior: If you notice erratic behavior in Windows Update, such as updates failing to install, installing partially, or repeatedly installing the same updates even after a successful installation.
- Missing Windows Update Services: Sometimes, essential Windows Update services like BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) or the Windows Update service itself can become disabled or missing. Resetting components can help restore these services.
- General Update Troubleshooting: When other troubleshooting methods, such as running the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter, don’t resolve the issue.
Prerequisites for Resetting Windows Update Components
- Administrator Rights: You need to be logged into your computer with an administrator account in order to do this. The system changes you need to make won’t be possible without these permissions.
- Back up Your Data: Resetting Windows Update Components shouldn’t delete your data, but it’s still a good idea to make a copy of your important files. As a safety measure, this is done in case something goes wrong during the reset. For this, you can use an external drive or cloud storage.
- Stable Internet Connection: It is very important to have a stable internet connection that doesn’t drop out. To download and install updates, Windows Update Components need to be connected all the time. Make sure that your network is working right.
- Windows Update Folder Backup: You should make a copy of the Windows Update folder, which is located at C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. As a safety measure, you can just copy the folder and paste it somewhere else.
- It could take a while to reset Windows Update Components, especially if Windows needs to rebuild the update database. Wait patiently for the process to finish.
Conclusion
It’s possible that you’ll need to reset the Windows Update components in order to fix errors and other problems caused by an operating system update. You will be able to accomplish this goal by executing a few commands in the Command Prompt or by creating a batch file and then running it. You will be able to successfully reset the Windows Update components by following the steps outlined in this guide, which will provide a detailed walkthrough for both of the aforementioned methods. If you want to know more information about this visit Microsoft official Website
Questions and Answers
Should You Upgrade Your Computer? To summarise, it is essential to pay attention to the construction of your personal computer in order to ensure that all of its components are operating as expected and to track the efficiency of the overall system. It is time to upgrade if you discover that a component has stopped functioning or that your performance has decreased.
RAM, solid-state drives (SSDs), and graphics cards are our top recommendations for the most important areas to concentrate on when making improvements to your personal computer (PC). To achieve the best possible results, you should always customise your upgrades to precisely meet your requirements.
You can get more speed and storage space by upgrading your computer at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new computer. However, you don’t want to put new components in an older system if it’s not going to deliver the speed increase you want.