We Couldn't Connect to the Update Service: Solved

We couldn’t connect to the update service. We’ll try again later, or you can check now. If it still doesn’t work, make sure you’re connected to the Internet.

This error prompt is displayed when the Update cannot be completed – it can be an Internet connection error, a corrupted system file, a limited disk space, or a similar malfunction.

How can I fix the We couldn’t connect to the update service error?

First, make sure your internet is working and disable proxies and VPNs. Those could interfere with the update process. If these actions do nothing, keep reading:

1. Check disk space

1. Press Windows + E, then go to This PC from the left side.
2. Check that there is at least 10 GB of free space left, and then try to reapply the update operation – as already described above.

Sometimes, if the free space left on your hard drive is limited, the Update cannot be applied so that you can receive the We couldn’t connect to the update service. We’ll try again later, or you can check now error message.

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2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Press Windows + I, then go to Update & Security.
2. Select Troubleshoot from the left menu, followed by Additional troubleshooters.
3. Find the Update troubleshooter, click it and select Run the troubleshooter.

A scan will be initiated to look for system errors that might interfere with the update operation. The same troubleshooter will then try to fix everything automatically.

3. Fix corrupt system files

1. Press Windows, then type cmd and choose the Run as administrator option under the result.
2. Type or paste the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
3. The scan will start – the process will take a while, depending on how many files are stored on your device. If there are issues, the scan will try to fix all the problems automatically.
4. Restart your PC, and then retry the update operation.

With this scan, you can manage to fix corrupted system files and other essential errors and malfunctions that might block the Windows 10 update service.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, you better look at our dedicated guide to see what you can do.

4. Check the disk for corrupted sectors

1. Press Windows, then type cmd and select the Run as administrator option.
2. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter: chkdsk c: /r
3. Wait while this process is running, and restart your PC.
4. Try to restart the update.

When was the last time you initiated a defragment operation for your C drive? Or when was the last time you checked for errors within your hard drive?

If you are currently experiencing this, We couldn’t connect to the update service. We’ll try again later, or you can check now update error. A good idea will be to verify the integrity of your hard drive.

5. Disable third-party antivirus tools

If you are using third-party security solutions, you should temporarily try to disable the antivirus protection. For example, the Windows update might be blocked by the antivirus software.

So, disable these programs and then retry the update process. Don’t forget to re-enable your security programs in the end, to be able to secure your files and the existing Windows system.

6. Install the Update manually

1. Please find out the update version number by pressing the Windows + I keys, then selecting Update & Security.
2. Go to Windows Update, and click on Advanced Settings.
3. Select Update History.
4. Then access the Microsoft official webpage to find the latest updates.

If the Windows update is still blocked or the flashing process cannot be completed appropriately, you should try installing it manually.

Find your particular Windows 10 update, download it on your computer and install it by following on-screen prompts.

7. Restart the Windows Update service in Windows

1. Press the Windows key, then type services and open the first result.
2. Look for the Windows Update service, right-click it and choose Restart.

8. Tweak registry

1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.
2. Type regedit, and press Enter.
3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes.
4. In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU.
5. If the AU key does not exist, right-click on WindowsUpdate, select New > Key, and name it AU.
6. Locate UseWUServer within the AU key and double-click it to edit its value.
7. Change the value from 1 to 0.
8. Restart your PC and try updating Windows again.

The Windows Update couldn’t connect to the update service error usually appears if the required services aren’t running, and we wrote in-depth on what to do if Windows Update Services are not running.

If Windows Update is not working, the services are the most likely cause, but your Internet connection could also be the problem, so make sure your connection is stable and working correctly.

For more solutions, we recommend you look at our post on what to do if Windows Update is not showing/missing a button on Win 10/11.

If you know another workaround that might fix this issue, don’t hesitate to share it with our readers and us – you can do that easily by using the comments field below.