Windows Update Not Working

While many users find updating their systems to be an annoying process, especially when they have not adjusted the update settings and as a result, Windows has decided that it will be updating the computer right this very moment no matter what important project the user is in the middle of currently. Keeping your system updated, however, is an important safety measure that could reduce the security risks faced by your computer drastically. After all, newer updates often bring bug fixes and address known or undisclosed vulnerabilities. While most of the time the whole process will complete as intended, users may still encounter serious errors that could prevent them from even initiating the update. To explore potential fixes, try the instructions outlined below. 

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter might be a good place to start. To access it, type Settings in the Search box on the taskbar and open the top result. From the available options, select 'Update & Security.' In the new window, the Windows Update category should be open by default. Now, scroll through the tab in the left sidebar and select 'Troubleshoot.' Navigate through the options on the right until you see 'Additional Troubleshooters' and click on it. Select Windows Update from the available choices and click on the 'Run the Troubleshooter' button to initiate it. 

If the issue is still present, check to see if a specific error code is displayed. While on its own the code wouldn't mean much to the average user, it can be a useful clue that points to the cause of the problem. For example, the 0x80073712 code will come up when a file needed by Windows update is either damaged or missing. On the other hand, the 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C error code points toward an incompatible application present on the system that is interfering with the update process. To check for a specific error code, go to the official Microsoft support page.