Fix: Windows Update Service Missing

The missing Windows Update service can cause many problems, and you must fix this issue as soon as possible. Luckily, many ways exist to troubleshoot and fix the missing Windows Update service issue.

By understanding the possible causes of the problem and following simple troubleshooting steps, you can restore the Windows Update service and keep your computer up-to-date and secure. Remember, failing to do so will put your computer at risk of various security threats, which could compromise your privacy and data.

Why Is My Windows Update Service Missing?

There are quite a few reasons why the Windows Update service might be missing from your computer.

Firstly, malware or viruses can be the culprit here. Those nasty infections can cause problems on your computer, including deleting crucial system files and services like the Windows Update service. 

Secondly, specific third-party software packages can also cause conflicts with the Windows Update service and result in its removal or disabling. 

Thirdly, Windows system files can become corrupted over time, leading to issues with various services, including the Windows Update service. 

Lastly, the Windows Update service may have been intentionally disabled or removed from your computer. So, before trying to fix the issue, it’s crucial to determine the root cause of the problem.

How to Fix Windows Update Service Missing Issue

Here are some fixes for the ‘Windows Update service missing’ error.

Fix 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 10 and 11 have fantastic options for fixing Windows components, and Windows Updates is no exception. One of the best options is the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter – designed to identify and fix all sorts of pesky issues with Windows Updates. Give it a shot; you might be surprised at how well it works!

Here is how to utilize the Windows Update troubleshooter:

1. Click on the Start button and choose Settings from the Start Menu.
2. Select Update & Security under Windows Settings.
3. Switch to the Troubleshoot tab on the left pane and select Additional troubleshooters on the right.
4. Look for the Windows Update troubleshooter and select it.
5. Click the Run the troubleshooter button.
6. Windows will now look for the problems.
7. After troubleshooting, Windows will list the problems and possible solutions.

Fix 2: Run the SFC and DISM Scans  

You know, it’s like when your favorite ice cream flavor gets ruined because someone put raisins in it. In the same way, these corrupted system files are like the raisins of your computer. They can spoil everything, even the installation of Windows updates.

But don’t worry; you can use the DISM and SFC scans to identify any outdated, missing, or corrupted system files that could be causing the ‘Windows Update service missing’ error. Think of these scans as your detectives to solve the case of corrupted files!

Here is how you can do the SFC scans:

1. Search for the “Command Prompt” on the Windows search box, right-click its icon, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type SFC /scannow in the command prompt window and press Enter to execute it.
3. Wait for the scan to finish. It might take a few minutes.
4. Once the scan is completed, you should be able to install updates properly.

Here is how you can do the DISM scans:

1. Open the Command Prompt window with administrator privileges, as mentioned earlier.
2. Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” and press Enter to execute the command.
3. Wait for the DISM command to finish running. This might take a few minutes.
4. After the command has been executed, try installing updates again and see if it works now.

Fix 3: Scan for Malware

Windows can be vulnerable to malicious bugs and viruses that can enter through the internet or USB devices, leading to various issues. One potential problem is the ‘Windows Update service missing’ error code caused by a malicious attack. In such cases, a full system scan can help restore Windows and eliminate any detected threats.

To remove the malware, follow these steps:

1. Launch Virus & Threat Protection Open the Start menu and access Virus & threat protection.
2. From the window options, choose Scan options.
3. Run Full Scan Choose Full scan and click the Scan now button to start the full system scan.

The scan has now begun, and it will eliminate any detected malware.

Fix 4: Manually Restore the Windows Update Service by Using the Registry Editor

A recent system update or change messed up some registry files. If you’re feeling adventurous, try to manually restore the Windows Update service by editing the Windows Registry. But, be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart! Only attempt it if you’re comfortable with tinkering with the registry files.

Follow the steps below to restore the missing Windows Update service on your computer:

1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” into the box and then press Enter.
3. When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, click Yes.
4. In the Registry Editor window, use the left pane to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services.
5. Within the Services key, locate the “wuauserv” key. If you can’t find it, skip to step 9.
6. Right-click “wuauserv”, select Export, and save the key on your computer.
7. Right-click “wuauserv” again and select Delete.
8. Select Yes to confirm.
9. Exit the Registry Editor.
10. Right-click on an empty point on the desktop and select “New” > “Text Document”. This will open a blank Notepad document.
11. Please copy the following content and paste it into Notepad: 

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]
[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

12. Click the File menu located in the top left corner.
13. Select Save to save the Notepad document.
14. Save the file with the .reg extension.
15. Double-click the reg file to run it.
16. If the User Account Control prompt appears, select Yes.
17. Restart your computer.

Check if the Windows Update service appears in the Services app.

Fix 5: Factory Reset Windows

To reset your Windows computer, you can follow these steps:

1. Press Win + I to launch the Settings app.
2. Navigate to System > Recovery.
3. Click the Reset PC button to initiate the reset process.
4. In the Reset this PC wizard, select Keep my files if you want to retain your files. Otherwise, choose Remove Everything.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.

An excellent old factory reset always does the trick. That’s the easy way to eliminate all the pesky third-party software and start anew. Remember to back up your important files because they’ll be gone after the reset. After resetting, the Windows Update service should appear as before.

Conclusion

Did you know that disabling the Windows Update service can open up several possibilities for hackers to attack your computer and steal sensitive information? Scary, right? If the service is missing from your computer, you may need to perform some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. Fortunately, several options are available to restore the Windows Update service and keep your computer secure and stable. By following the above solutions, you can restore the Windows Update service on your computer and maintain the security and stability of your computer.

---