Windows updates are key to keeping your operating system running safely, stably and efficiently. However, there are times when you may find that Windows updates are disabled, which can be due to various reasons such as system settings, registry issues, or malware interference. In this article, we will provide a detailed guide to help you fix the issue of Windows update being disabled.
1. Check the Windows update settings.
First of all, we need to check the Windows update settings to make sure they are correct. Follow these steps:
Press the win+r keys to open the run dialog box, and type "services."msc, and then click OK.
Go to the service window, find the Windows Update option in the service list, right-click, and select Enable in the pop-up menu.
Make sure that the startup type of the Windows Update service is set to "Automatic" and that the service status is "Running".
2. Check the local group policy settings.
If Windows Update is set up correctly, but the update is still disabled, then the problem may be with the local Group Policy settings. Follow these steps:
Press the Win+R key to open the run dialog box, and type "gpedit."msc to open Group Policy.
On the left, select User Configuration - Management Templates - Windows Components - Windows Update.
On the right, select "Remove access to all Windows update features" and double-click on it.
In the dialog box that opens, select "Enabled", then press Apply OK to restart the computer.
3. Check the registry settings.
If the above two steps don't solve the problem, then we need to check the registry settings. Follow these steps:
Press Win+R to open the run dialog box, type "regedit" and press Enter to open the registry editor.
Navigate to the following path: Hkey Local MachineSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdate.
Check the "DisableWindowsUpdateAccess" value in the right window, and if it exists and is set to 1, then remove it or set its value to 0.
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
4. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter.
If none of the above steps solve the problem, then we can try to run the Windows Update troubleshooter to detect and fix the problem automatically. Follow these steps:
Tap the Start menu and type "troubleshooter" in the search bar.
Select the Troubleshooter application in the search results.
In the troubleshooting window, select Other troubleshooting.
Find the "Windows Update" option and tap on "Run the troubleshooter".
Follow the on-screen instructions to let the troubleshooter automatically detect and resolve the issue.
5. Use a system restore point to restore the system.
If all of the above steps don't solve the problem, then we can consider using a system restore point to restore the system to its previous state. Note that this will delete your recently installed programs and updated files, so make sure you have backed up your important files and data. Follow these steps:
Tap the Start menu and type "create restore point" in the search bar.
Select the "Create restore point" option in the search results.
Follow the on-screen instructions, select a restore point and confirm the restore.
Wait for the System Restore to complete and restart your computer.
Check if Windows updates are enabled and working properly.
Summary: With the above steps, you should be able to fix the issue of Windows update being disabled. Note that before performing any system changes, it is important to back up important files and data just in case. If you're still having trouble resolving the issue, contact the Microsoft support team for more help.
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