Sometimes, Windows can come up with “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates” message by itself or while manually checking for updates.
The reason for occurance of this error message on a Windows 11/10 computer could be due to various reasons, ranging from Windows Updates being blocked to presence of corrupted files in Software Distribution Folder.
Windows Update Cannot Currently Check for Updates
If your computer is coming up with “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates”, you should be able to fix the problem using the following troubleshooting steps.
1. Restart Computer
In many cases, the problem can be fixed by Restarting the computer and allowing Windows to install the Update.
1. Restart the computer.
2. After the computer restarts, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > click on Check For Updates button.
2. Disable Antivirus Software
Sometimes, the problem is due to Windows Update being blocked by the Antivirus software installed on your computer. To fix this issue, temporarily disable the Antivirus software on your computer and check for updates again.
You can enable the Antivirus software back again on your computer after the update is installed.
3. Run Windows Troubleshooter
The built-in Troubleshooter in Windows can be trusted to help with Windows Update problem on your computer.
1. Go to Settings > System > scroll down in the right-pane and click on Troubleshoot.
2. On the next screen, scroll down and click on Other troubleshooters.
Windows 10: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > select Windows Update and click on Run the Troubleshooter button.
If prompted, enter your Admin Password and wait for Windows to find and fix problems related to Windows Update on your computer.
4. Restart Windows Update Service
1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Run.
2. In Run Command Window, type services.msc and click on OK.
3. On services screen, right-click on Windows Update and click on Restart option.
After this, check to see if you can install Windows Update on your computer.
5. Clear Software Distribution Folder
Windows Update problems can occur on a Windows computer due to update files in SoftwareDistribution Folder being corrupted.
1. Open Command Prompt with Admin privileges.
2. Type net stop wuauserv and press the Enter key. This command will stop the Windows Update Service on your computer.
Note: Do not close Command Prompt Window, as it will be required later to Restart Windows Update Service.
3. After stopping Windows Update Service, open File Explorer > navigate to This PC (Or Local Disk (C:)) > Windows and locate SoftwareDistribution Folder.
Note: Just to be on the safe side, copy “SoftwareDistribution” folder to your desktop as a backup.
4. Open SoftwareDistribution Folder > select and Delete all Files located in SoftwareDistribution Folder.
Note: These are temporary files and Windows will create them again from scratch.
After deleting Files in SoftwareDistribution folder, type net start wuauserv in Command Prompt Window and press the Enter Key to start Windows Update Service.
After this go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on Check for Updates button.
Hopefully, this time you should be able to install Updates on your computer.