4 Ways to Fix “We Couldn’t Connect to the Update Service” Issue on Windows

Quick Tips

• Open the Services app and restart the Windows Update service.
• Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter from the Settings app to fix issues.
• Ensure there’s no problem with the internet connection on your PC.

Basic Fixes

• Restart PC: Restart your PC to fix temporary bugs and glitches.
• Check network connection: Ensure there’s no problem with the network connectivity on your Windows PC.
• Check storage: Ensure there’s enough storage space left on your PC to accommodate the update.
• Run SFC scan: Run the SFC scan to detect and fix any corrupted system files on your PC.

Also Read: 10 ways to fix Windows Update stuck at 100% Issue.

Fix 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

The Windows Update Troubleshooter can help your PC detect and fix problems related to Windows Update Services.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your PC. Select System from the sidebar.

Step 2: Select Troubleshoot.

Step 3: Click on Other trouble-shooters.

Step 4: Click on Run next to Windows Update. This will open the troubleshooter, and you can follow the on-screen instructions to fix the problem.

Fix 2: Change DNS Servers

At times, the DNS (Domain Name System) servers used by your PC can fail to point Windows Update in the right direction. If restarting your PC or router didn’t help, consider changing the DNS servers of your PC.

Using a popular DNS provider such as Google Public DNS can help get rid of the ‘We Couldn’t Connect to the Update Service’ error. The steps below will help you change the DNS servers for your PC.

Step 1: Open the Control Panel and select Network and Internet.

Step 2: Open Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3: Select your network.

Step 4: Now, select Properties.

Step 5: Check the box next to Internet Protocol Verison and click on Properties.

Step 6: Check the box for Use the following DNS server addresses to manually enter the DNS server address.

Step 7: Now, enter the address 8.8.8.8 in the ‘Preferred DNS server’ box and 8.8.4.4 in the ‘Alternative DNS server’ box. These are the addresses for the Google DNS server IPv4.

Or, you can also use Google Public DNS IPv6 version – 2001:4860:4860::8888, and 2001:4860:4860::8844 (alternative).

Step 8: Lastly, click on OK to apply the changes.

Additionally, you can also try clearing the DNS cache on your Windows PC. Read: 6 easy ways to flush DNS Cache on Windows.

Fix 3: Restart the Windows Update Service

Restarting the Windows Update Service on your PC can resolve the issue by getting rid of any bugs and corrupted processes.

Step 1: Open the Services app on your PC using the start menu.

Step 2: In the list of services, scroll down and find Windows Update.

Step 3: Right-click on the same, and select Restart.

This will restart the Windows Update service, and you can try checking for an update once again.

Fix 4: Reset Network Settings

Resetting the network settings on your Windows PC fixes any misconfiguration that may be causing issues with your internet connectivity. This can prevent your Windows PC from connecting to the Windows Update service. Here’s how you can do it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and select Network & Internet.

Step 2: Click on Advanced network settings.

Step 3: Select Network reset.

Step 4: Click Reset now.

Step 5: Select Yes to confirm.