I suggest to perform repair upgrade once using Windows 11 25H2 ISO file:
Windows Update Service Missing – Error 0x80070424
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Rafi Rabbani
0
Reputation points
Hello Microsoft Support,
I’m currently unable to install Windows updates on my device. The Windows Update page shows the error code 0x80070424, and when I check services.msc, the “Windows Update” service (wuauserv) is completely missing from the list. Because of this, I can’t start or restart the Windows Update service manually.
I have already tried the following steps but the issue persists:
- Running the Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Restarting the system and checking for updates again
Could you please guide me on how to restore the missing Windows Update service or fix this error properly?
Here are the details of my system:
- Windows version: [Windows 11 Pro 25H2]
Error code: 0x80070424
Issue: Windows Update service not showing in services.msc
Thank you for your assistance.
Best regards,
Rafi
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update
3 answers
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Kapil Arya 38,696 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-11-12T04:08:41.94+00:00 -
Rafi Rabbani 0 Reputation points
2025-11-14T03:56:39.1833333+00:00 Hello,
I have performed the repair upgrade using the Windows 11 25H2 ISO as instructed. The repair completed successfully, but Windows Update still does not work.
After the repair upgrade, I now have these new issues:
The Windows Update service appears in services.msc, but the description shows: “<Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 5>”
When I try to start the Windows Update service, I get this error: “Error 1058: The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.”
Windows Update still fails to run, so I cannot install any updates.
Screenshots are attached.
It seems the repair upgrade did not restore the Windows Update service permissions or dependencies correctly. Could you please advise what I should do next? Is there a way to reset or repair the Windows Update service permissions (service registry, DLL registrations, service dependencies, etc.)?
Thank you for your continued assistance.
Best regards,
Rafi
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John DeV 171.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-11-12T03:05:41.0466667+00:00 Hi, good day!
Please try the following steps below if it helps.
- Download the Windows update .reg file and save it to your computer
- Double-click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it
- When prompted, click Yes, and OK.
- Restart your computer
- Please check if the Windows update service is now restored and running
- Press Start then search Services
- Find Windows update in the list and double click it
- Startup type: Automatic and service status: Running
- Please check if the issue persists.
I look forward to receiving your update and I'm willing to collaborate with you till we resolve the issue. Do keep me informed by clicking "Add comment" below.
Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.
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Rafi Rabbani 0 Reputation points
2025-11-12T03:12:33.1866667+00:00 Hello,
Thank you for your previous suggestion. I tried importing the Windows_Update.reg file from TenForums as instructed, but I encountered this error message:
Cannot import C:\Users\USER\Downloads\Windows_Update.reg: Not all data was successfully written to the registry. Some keys are open by the system or other processes, or you have insufficient privileges to perform this operation.
I already ran the file as Administrator, but the same error appears. It seems some registry permissions or policies are preventing the
.regfile from being fully imported.Could you please advise how I can:
Restore the Windows Update (wuauserv) registry keys manually, or
Fix the permissions issue so I can successfully merge the registry file?
System Info:
- Windows 11 Pro
- Error Code from Windows Update: 0x80070424
- Issue: Windows Update service missing from services.msc
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AI answer
2025-11-12T02:31:04.2266667+00:00 The error code 0x80070424 typically indicates that a service required for Windows Update is not available. Since the Windows Update service (wuauserv) is missing from the list in services.msc, it may suggest that the service is either corrupted or not registered correctly in your system.
Here are some steps you can take to try to restore the missing Windows Update service:
- Run System File Checker (SFC):
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by searching for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-clicking on Command Prompt, and selecting Run as administrator.
- Type the command
sfc /scannowand press Enter. This will scan for and attempt to repair any corrupted system files.
- Run DISM Tool:
- In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - This command will check for and fix any issues with the Windows image.
- In the same Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
- Re-register Windows Update Services:
- In the Command Prompt, you can also try re-registering the Windows Update services by running the following commands one by one:
sc config wuauserv start= auto sc start wuauserv - This will attempt to create and start the Windows Update service.
- In the Command Prompt, you can also try re-registering the Windows Update services by running the following commands one by one:
- Check for Malware:
- Sometimes malware can interfere with system services. Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or any other trusted antivirus software.
- Perform a Repair Upgrade:
- If the above steps do not resolve the issue, consider performing a repair upgrade of Windows 11. You can do this by downloading the Windows 11 installation media from the Microsoft website and selecting the option to upgrade your PC while keeping your files.
If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.
References:
AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information. - Run System File Checker (SFC):