Your computer can't check for updates because a service is disabled, your internet connection is blocked, or Windows Update itself is stuck

When Windows can't reach the update servers, it usually stops trying silently. The most common causes are a disabled Windows Update service, a firewall or antivirus blocking the connection, a corrupted update cache, or a network problem on your end. Less often, Microsoft's servers are temporarily down, but that's rare and fixes itself.

The fastest way to find out which one is happening is to open Settings, go to System > About, and look at the "Windows Update" section. If it says "Update for [date]" with a button to restart, updates are working but pending. If it says "You're up to date" but you know that's wrong, or if it says nothing at all, something is blocking the check.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Update service must be running and set to start automatically; if it's disabled, Settings will not check for updates at all.
  • Your firewall, antivirus, or VPN can block Windows Update's connection to Microsoft servers, even if other internet traffic works fine.
  • A full or corrupted update cache folder can prevent new checks; clearing it usually takes less than five minutes.
  • Restarting your computer clears temporary blocks and resets the update service, and solves the problem in roughly half of cases.

Check whether Windows Update service is running

Windows Update is a background service that must be active for Settings to check for patches. If it's disabled or stopped, the update button in Settings will do nothing.

Open the Services app by pressing Windows key + R, typing services.msc, and pressing Enter. Look for "Windows Update" in the list. If the Status column says "Running" and the Startup Type says "Automatic", the service is fine. If Status is blank or says "Stopped", or if Startup Type says "Disabled", that's your problem.

To fix it, right-click Windows Update, select Properties, set Startup Type to "Automatic", click explore, then click the Start button. Click OK and close Services. Restart your computer and try checking for updates again.

Disable or temporarily turn off your firewall and antivirus

Windows Defender Firewall and third-party antivirus software can block Windows Update's connection to Microsoft's servers even when your regular internet works. This is especially common if you use Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, or Bitdefender.

Temporarily disable your antivirus entirely — not just the firewall part — and try checking for updates again. If the check works, your antivirus is the culprit. Add Windows Update to your antivirus's exception or whitelist, then turn the antivirus back on. The steps vary by software, but most have a Settings or Exceptions menu where you can add svchost.exe or the Windows Update service itself.

If you use only Windows Defender, open Windows Security, go to Firewall & Network Protection, and check whether the firewall is on. You can temporarily turn it off to test, but turn it back on afterward. If disabling it fixes the problem, you may need to add an exception for Windows Update rather than leaving the firewall off.

Clear the Windows Update cache folder

Windows stores downloaded updates in a folder called SoftwareDistribution. If this folder becomes full or corrupted, Windows can't read or check for new updates. Clearing it is safe — Windows will rebuild it automatically.

Stop the Windows Update service first: press Windows key + R, type services.msc, find Windows Update, right-click it, and select Stop. Then open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\read. Select all files in the read folder (Ctrl + A), delete them, and empty the Recycle Bin. Go back to Services, right-click Windows Update, and select Start. Restart your computer.

If you can't access the folder because Windows says you don't have permission, take ownership of the folder first. Right-click the SoftwareDistribution folder, select Properties, go to the Security tab, click Edit, select your username, check Full Control, and click explore.

Restart your computer and try again

A restart clears temporary network glitches, resets the update service, and flushes memory that might be holding stale data. It solves the problem roughly half the time and takes only a few minutes.

Shut down completely — don't use Sleep or Hibernate — wait 30 seconds, and turn the computer back on. Once it's fully booted, open Settings, go to System > About, and look for the Windows Update section again. If an update check starts, let it run to completion without interrupting it.

Check your internet connection and network settings

If you're on a corporate network, school network, or behind a proxy server, your network administrator may be blocking Windows Update intentionally. Ask your IT department whether Windows Update is allowed on your network.

If you're at home, check that you're actually connected to the internet. Open a web browser and visit a website to confirm. If your internet is working but Windows Update still won't check, your router or modem might be blocking the specific ports Windows Update uses. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting for it to fully boot before trying the update check again.

If you use a VPN, disconnect it and try checking for updates. Some VPNs interfere with Windows Update because they route traffic through a different country or block certain ports.

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and fix common update problems automatically. Open Settings, go to System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters, find "Windows Update" in the list, and click Run. Let it scan and explore any fixes it finds.

If the troubleshooter finds problems, it will tell you what they are and attempt to fix them. Restart your computer afterward and check for updates again. If the troubleshooter doesn't find anything, the problem is usually one of the causes listed above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I see an error code when checking for updates?

Error codes like 0x80070005 or 0x8024402f point to specific problems — permission issues, corrupted files, or service failures. Search Windows for your exact error code plus "fix" to find the targeted solution. Most error codes are solved by running the troubleshooter, clearing the update cache, or restarting the Windows Update service.

Can I check for updates if I'm offline?

No. Windows Update requires an active internet connection to reach Microsoft's servers and read the list of available patches. If you're offline, Settings will show no updates available. Connect to the internet and try again.

Why does Windows Update check but find nothing?

Your computer may already have all available updates installed. Windows only shows updates that are newer than what you have. If you haven't restarted after a previous update, Windows might not recognize that the old one is installed yet — restart and check again.

Should I force Windows Update if it won't check?

Don't force it. Forcing an update when the service is broken or blocked can corrupt system files. Fix the underlying problem first — restart, clear the cache, or disable your antivirus — then let Windows Update check normally.