Windows 11 – Reset Windows Update (WSUS)

  1. Start a Command Prompt as Administrator
  2. Stop the Windows Update Services
    • net stop bits
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop cryptsvc
  3. Delete/rename the temporary files
    • del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat”
    • ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    • ren %Systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
  4. Start the Windows Update Services
    • net start bits
    • net start wuauserv
    • net start cryptsvc
  5. Re-register Windows Update client
    • wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow
    • wuauclt /reportnow
  6. Restart Windows and check Windows Update, once it is all working, delete the old folders we created above.
    • del %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution.old
    • del %Systemroot%\System32\catroot2.old