Windows Update not Showing: Get it Back With 5 Solutions

Running the Windows Update troubleshooter should fix this quickly

by Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Windows & Software Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He's a PC enthusiast and he... read more
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  • If the Windows update is not showing on your PC, it might be because your OS is affected by a bug.
  • One effective solution is to run the Windows Update troubleshooter and apply all the recommended fixes.
  • You can also fix this issue by restarting the necessary components and services.

Keeping your system up to date is quite important, but many users reported the Windows update is not showing up on their PCs. Sometimes, the Windows Update service is not even running for some users.

This can be a big problem since it can leave your PC vulnerable. Thankfully, there’s a way to fix this issue, and we will show you the steps you need to follow to do it in this guide.

Why is Windows Update not showing?

Below are some of the reasons the Windows update might not be showing up in Settings on your PC:

  • Disabled relevant service: If the Windows Update service is disabled, it might be missing in settings. This can also lead to the Windows 10 update settings not opening issue. The solution here is to enable the service and check for updates again.
  • Problems with update components: Another possible reason is if the Windows update components encountered issues. You need to run a few commands to restart these components to start getting updates again.
  • Issues with the update process: Sometimes, the update process might be disturbed by a bug. To eliminate this, you need to run the Windows Update troubleshooter or an update repair tool.

What can I do if Windows Update is not showing?

Before delving into the fixes in this guide, you need to restart your PC to check if the issue is just a temporary glitch. If the problem persists, you can explore the fixes below:

1. Use a debugging software

One of the easiest ways to quickly troubleshoot the problem, even if you don’t know the cause, is to use system restoring and optimization software.

2. Run the built-in troubleshooter

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and navigate to the Update & Security section.
    update and windows update not showing
  2. Choose Troubleshoot from the left pane and select Additional troubleshooters.
    additional trouble
  3. Now, select Windows Update and click the Run the troubleshooter button.
    run trouble
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooting.

Once the troubleshooter is finished, check if the Windows update is still not showing up.

3. Reset Windows Update components

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
    cmd windows update not showing
  2. Type the following commands and press Enter after each: taskkill /f /fi "SERVICES eq wuauserv" net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old rmdir C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDataStore rmdir C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload

After doing that, check if the problem is still there. If the issue persists, you can also try running the following set of commands: Net Stop bits Net Stop wuauserv Net Stop appidsvc Net Stop cryptsvc Ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak Ren %systemroot%system32catroot2 catroot2.bak Net Start bits Net Start wuauserv Net Start appidsvc Net Start cryptsvc

After running the commands above, the components should start running again. If this seems too complicated or tedious, you can always create a Windows Update reset script and run it to automatically reset all the necessary components.

4. Restart the required service

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc, and click the OK button.
    services
  2. Locate the Windows Update service. If it is running, right-click it and select the Restart option.
    restart windows update not showing
  3. If it is not running, select the Start option instead.
    start
  4. Finally, close the System services window and restart your PC.

Some services need to be running to check for and install updates effectively. If this service is disabled, you can face a series of errors, including this case where the Windows update is not showing up.

Ensure to restart your PC after enabling the services and check for the updates manually in Settings.

5. Use the Windows Update Assistant tool

  1. Visit the Windows 10 download page to download the Assistant tool.
    update now
  2. Click the Accept button on the license page.
    accept windows update not showing
  3. Tick the button for the Upgrade this PC now and click the Next button.
    upgrade
  4. Now, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the upgrade.

If all the solutions above fail to fix this issue, using the assistant tool will help force install the latest version n of Windows 10. This should override all errors and fix the update issue.

There you have it: All the info you need to fix the Windows update not showing up issue. You only need to follow the instructions carefully, and everything should be back to normal.

If you are facing other issues like Windows update not working or loading, check our detailed guide to fix it quickly.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.

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