FIX: Windows 10 Update Service is Missing (Solved)
Last updated on November 11th, 2020
This tutorial contains step by step instructions to resolve the ‘Windows Update Service is missing’ issue on Windows 10. When the ‘Windows Update’ service is missing from the Services list (services.msc), the following error occurs when you try to check/install updates: «There were some problems installing updates, but we «ll try again later» with one of the following error codes: 0x80070006, 0x80080005, or 0x80070424.
How to FIX: Windows Update Service Not Listed in services.msc – Error 0x80070006 or 0x80070424 in Windows 10.
Method 1. Scan your computer for viruses and malware.
Method 2. Restore Windows Update Service in Registry.
Method 3. FIX Windows corruption errors with DISM & SFC tools.
Method 4. Repair Windows 10 with an in-place Upgrade.
Method 1. Scan your computer for viruses and malware.
Important: Before following the steps below, make sure that your computer is 100% clean from harmful programs like rootkits, malware or viruses. To accomplish this task, follow the steps from this Quick Malware Scan and Removal Guide, and then try to check for updates again. If the problem persists, then continue below.
Method 2. Restore Windows Update Service in Registry.
The main cause of the absence of the Windows Update Service from the list of Windows 10 services, is the lack (or the destruction) of the «Windows Update» registry key (wuauserv). To restore or repair the ‘wuauserv’ service registry key, follow the instructions below:
1. Open Registry Editor. To do that:
a. Simultaneously press the Windows
+ R keys to open run command box.
b. Type regedit and press Enter.
+ R keys to open run command box. 
3. At the left pane, navigate to the following registry location and expand the «Services» key:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services4. Under the «Services» key, if you see the «wuauserv» registry key: *
a. Right click on it and select Export to backup the key for safety reasons. *
* Note: if the «wuauserv» key is missing then skip to step-5.
b. Save the Key to your Desktop with name «Win10UpdateOld.reg»
c. Then right click again on the «wuauserv» key and click Delete.
5. Close the Registry Editor.
6. Open Notepad application. To do that:
a. Simultaneously press the Windows
b. Type notepad and press Enter.
7. Select and copy/paste to notepad the below text (in bold letters):
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv]
«DependOnService»=hex(7):72,00,70,00,63,00,73,00,73,00,00,00,00,00
«Description»=»@%systemroot%\\system32\\wuaueng.dll,-106»
«DisplayName»=»@%systemroot%\\system32\\wuaueng.dll,-105»
«ErrorControl»=dword:00000001
«FailureActions»=hex:80,51,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,14,00,00,\
00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
«ImagePath»=hex(2):25,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,72,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
00,76,00,63,00,68,00,6f,00,73,00,74,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2d,00,\
6b,00,20,00,6e,00,65,00,74,00,73,00,76,00,63,00,73,00,20,00,2d,00,70,00,00,\
00
«ObjectName»=»LocalSystem»
«RequiredPrivileges»=hex(7):53,00,65,00,41,00,75,00,64,00,69,00,74,00,50,00,72,\
00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,43,00,72,00,\
65,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,47,00,6c,00,6f,00,62,00,61,00,6c,00,50,00,72,00,69,\
00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,43,00,72,00,65,00,\
61,00,74,00,65,00,50,00,61,00,67,00,65,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,50,00,72,\
00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,54,00,63,00,\
62,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,\
00,41,00,73,00,73,00,69,00,67,00,6e,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,6d,00,61,00,72,00,\
79,00,54,00,6f,00,6b,00,65,00,6e,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,\
00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6d,00,70,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,6f,00,\
6e,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,\
00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6e,00,63,00,72,00,65,00,61,00,73,00,65,00,51,00,\
75,00,6f,00,74,00,61,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,\
00,00,00,53,00,65,00,53,00,68,00,75,00,74,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,6e,00,50,00,\
72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,44,00,65,\
00,62,00,75,00,67,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,\
00,00,53,00,65,00,42,00,61,00,63,00,6b,00,75,00,70,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,\
00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,52,00,65,00,73,00,74,00,\
6f,00,72,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,\
00,53,00,65,00,53,00,65,00,63,00,75,00,72,00,69,00,74,00,79,00,50,00,72,00,\
69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,54,00,61,00,6b,\
00,65,00,4f,00,77,00,6e,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,68,00,69,00,70,00,50,00,72,00,\
69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,4c,00,6f,00,61,\
00,64,00,44,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,\
6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,4d,00,61,00,6e,00,61,00,67,00,65,\
00,56,00,6f,00,6c,00,75,00,6d,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,\
65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,00,00
«ServiceSidType»=dword:00000001
«Start»=dword:00000003
«SvcHostSplitDisable»=dword:00000001
«SvcMemHardLimitInMB»=dword:000000f6
«SvcMemMidLimitInMB»=dword:000000a7
«SvcMemSoftLimitInMB»=dword:00000058
«Type»=dword:00000020
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv\Parameters]
«ServiceDll»=hex(2):25,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,72,00,6f,00,6f,\
00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,\
77,00,75,00,61,00,75,00,65,00,6e,00,67,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,00,00
«ServiceDllUnloadOnStop»=dword:00000001
«ServiceMain»=»WUServiceMain»
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv\Security]
«Security»=hex:01,00,14,80,78,00,00,00,84,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\
00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,00,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
00,00,02,00,48,00,03,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,9d,00,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
05,0b,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\
20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,\
01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv\TriggerInfo\0]
«Type»=dword:00000005
«Action»=dword:00000001
«Guid»=hex:e6,ca,9f,65,db,5b,a9,4d,b1,ff,ca,2a,17,8d,46,e0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv\TriggerInfo\1]
«Type»=dword:00000005
«Action»=dword:00000001
«Guid»=hex:c8,46,fb,54,89,f0,4c,46,b1,fd,59,d1,b6,2c,3b,50
8. Then click File > Save as and save the file at your Desktop with name: «Win10UpdateFix.reg«.
9. Close Notepad.
10. Now double click at «Win10UpdateFix.reg» file and click Yes at UAC warning message.
11. Click Yes again to add the information to the registry.
12. Finally click OK at the information message.
13. Restart your computer.
14. After restart, proceed to check and install updates. The problem should be resolved. *
* Notes:
1. If the Windows Update problem is solved, then delete the .reg file(s) from you desktop and continue your work.
2. If the you still have problems then continue to the next method.
Method 3. FIX Windows corruption errors with DISM & SFC tools.
The next method fix the «Windows Update Service Missing» problem in Windows 10, is to repair the corrupted system files.
1. Open command prompt as administrator. To do that:
a. In the Search box type: cmd or command prompt
b. Right click on the command prompt (result) and select Run as Administrator.
2. At the command prompt window, type the following command & press Enter:
3. Be patient until DISM repairs component store. When the operation is completed, (you should be informed that the component store corruption was repaired), give this command and press Enter:
4. When SFC scan is completed, restart your computer.
5. Try to update your system again.
Method 4. Repair Windows 10 with an in-place Upgrade.
Another method that usually works, to fix Windows 10 update problems, is to perform a Windows 10 Repair-Upgrade, by using the Media Creation tool to create an ISO or USB Windows 10 install media. For that task follow the detailed instructions on this article: How to repair Windows 10.
That’s it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
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40 Comments
Papa G
April 11, 2021 @ 7:17 pm
Method 1 worked. Thank you so much
derpy
April 9, 2021 @ 9:59 pm
Method 2 worked like a charm. I spent 3 hours looking for a fix and couldn’t find it until I got here, THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR!
RAFAEL MACHADO SIMAO
April 4, 2021 @ 12:49 pm
Thanks a lot! You have saved many hours of my life!
Best regards and happy easter!
T.R.Y.
April 3, 2021 @ 1:57 am
Method #2 worked! Thank you SO much.
Julien
March 1, 2021 @ 8:17 pm
YOU ARE GOD
Method 2 killing it !
Josh
February 18, 2021 @ 8:47 am
Method 2 is the real deal! Thanks so much for providing a real fix – I was getting so frustrated.
Kyle
February 10, 2021 @ 8:23 pm
Method 2 worked for me. Thank you so much, my PC has not been updated in over a year because Windows Update wouldn’t work, and now I can get up-to-date.
cami
February 9, 2021 @ 7:14 pm
i’ve been struggling since at least november with my windows not updating method 2 finally worked for me thank you so so much
NP
January 26, 2021 @ 8:04 am
Method 2 worked for me! thank you so much i was searching for a fix for days and nothing worked until i tried that one.
Repulsar
January 24, 2021 @ 2:41 pm
Hello guys, regarding the method 2 and the copy paste on the note pad part, do I have to also copy this line: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ?
lakonst
January 25, 2021 @ 11:14 am
Yes, you have to copy/paste all the text in BOLD letters.
Jay
January 23, 2021 @ 1:44 am
Solution 2, wokrs, thank you so much!
UniqueSNOW
December 31, 2020 @ 7:39 pm
It’s showing me access denied in DISM scan…
lakonst
January 4, 2021 @ 10:27 am
Run the DISM command as Administrator.
Jimmy
December 12, 2020 @ 5:13 am
Works well for the second method, thank you so much.
thankyou
December 10, 2020 @ 7:39 am
THANK YOU SO MUCH. Method was the only solution that worked for me.
Antoine
December 7, 2020 @ 6:53 pm
I had 0x80080005 since october 2020, and couldn’t find any solution on the net… Almost ready to reset my windows, but the solution 2 worked just perfectly !
So grateful !! *.*
Jace
November 19, 2020 @ 5:28 pm
Method 2 worked really well thank you.
Mike
November 19, 2020 @ 2:32 am
Thank-you! Dell tech support couldn’t even solve my issue
Ali Bayati
November 16, 2020 @ 3:58 pm
First tried method 3, it didn’t worked for me but then method 4 worked like a charm 🙂 Thanks
Nikhil
November 15, 2020 @ 7:03 pm
Really helpful. I spent my whole day trying so many other solutions from different websites but nothing worked.
Finally I landed up here and just in next 15 mins I could update my Windows 10!
Thank you so much!!
Dimitris
November 12, 2020 @ 1:24 pm
I was struggling to resolve the problem, until you gave the anwser with your Method 2. This Method is clear, easy-to-use and gave me the exact solution I’ve been searching for. This is my favorite website! Thanks a million!
bisa
November 14, 2020 @ 3:15 pm
is copying in method 2 includes «Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00»?
lakonst
November 15, 2020 @ 11:50 am
Yes. It includes all the text in bold letters.
Joel
November 4, 2020 @ 1:18 am
Just wanted to say thanks. Method 2 worked for me after trying so many other things.
Maria Martinez
November 1, 2020 @ 10:11 am
Gracias bebe desde lo mas profundo de mi cora
jeyemabo
October 9, 2020 @ 12:56 am
OMG! Your 2nd method works really well for me after searching for solutions so many times! Thank youuuuu! Keep it up! ^^
lordraxta
October 5, 2020 @ 9:16 pm
thank you man, this worked flawless for me, before i tried lots of things and now luck.
RM
October 2, 2020 @ 5:30 pm
Thank you for this. Fixed my issue and I was receiving error 0x80080005. I tried everything else.
Raj
September 23, 2020 @ 7:40 am
After days of constant searching and DISM and sfc logs and reboots and safe modes and tons of other fruitless attempts, method 2 above fixed it for me. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!
Ionut
August 26, 2020 @ 11:10 am
Step 2 worked for me. Thank you
Monique
July 26, 2020 @ 10:09 am
method 1 works thank you soooooo much.
LolbiKB
July 23, 2020 @ 10:31 pm
It worked. Thanks so much
Anton
July 7, 2020 @ 2:06 pm
Thank you! I discoeverd this problem a week ago and tried several solutions I found on different webpages but none of them worked. Until I tried your second method. Worked like a charm!
jj
May 17, 2020 @ 11:32 am
i have been trying to fix this for months.
the scans and everything never worked.
Your registry repair hit the nail on the head. Props to you.
I never leave comments but this was warranted.
Mike
April 16, 2020 @ 5:14 am
I love you so much, I’m am honestly so grateful there was an easy solution to this that a windows expert could help with. thank you so much for writing this
Roy
March 19, 2020 @ 4:53 pm
Thank you so much for providing that Method 2. Saved me so much trouble, you are an absolute legend. Thank you for sharing it, being straight to the point and taking the effort to help people!
Christy
February 16, 2020 @ 8:18 am
As the above, method 2 fixed my issue too.Im glad i didnt waste more hours searching without result in other sites.Thank you so much. Cheers!
Mike
February 9, 2020 @ 5:46 pm
Thanks! The second method down the list worked for me.
Patrick
January 21, 2020 @ 1:08 am
You are a god among men. Method 2 fixed my problem. Every other solutions about fixing the wuauserv registry file was a complete hassle. Thank you so much!
