Categories: Windows 11 & Windows 10Windows Server

SOLVED: Fast Fix Stuck Update – Searching For Updates On This Computer

Normally when you have a problem with Windows Update there are two processes you should go through:

Download and install the Update manually (rather than relying on the Windows Update GUI)
Reset your Windows Update:
1. Launch SERVICES.MSC, and STOP both “WINDOWS UPDATE” and “BACKGROUND INTELLIGENT TRANSFER SERVICE” then set them to DISABLED
2. Delete all files and folders in C:\windows\softwaredistribution
3. Launch SERVICES.MSC, and set the following to AUTOMATIC startup “WINDOWS UPDATE” and “BACKGROUND INTELLIGENT TRANSFER SERVICE” then START them

However there are times where those procedures do not solve the Windows Update stuck searching for updates endlessly problem. In that case there is often a simple fix:

Launch the WINDOWS UPDATE GUI
Click CHANGE SETTINGS (on the left)
In the IMPORTANT UPDATES drop down select NEVER CHECK FOR UPDATES (NOT RECOMMENDED)
If you have not already done so, download the update in question directly from the MICROSOFT CATALOG
- Enter the KB# in the top right corner search field with no spaces
- If you have a large number of updates that are stuck, we suggest you look for the that latest “CUMULATIVE UPDATE” for your OS
Launch the stand alone update file, let it install, and then reboot your computer
Enjoy it should now work without further SEARCHING FOR UPDATES

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View Comments

Chris V. says:

October 10, 2019 at 8:54 am

Thank you for this. It resolved a long standing issue we were having. Something in the C:\windows\softwaredistribution was corrupted. It allowed us to apply windows updates but it took over 2 days. Once I did the services and wiped out the folder and then started the services back up, we now patch in a couple hours! Thank you very much.