Windows Updates are essential for every system using the Windows OS. If not updated on time, the system might face serious security issues, performance issues, etc. Ideally, most computers have the Updates set to the Automatic Mode. However, at times, the system might not be able to pick up and install the updates.
At such times, running the Windows Update Troubleshooter, Background Intelligent Transfer Service Troubleshooter, or Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter is recommended as they are known to solve most problems. This built-in tool will fix several issues including the Service Registration is Missing or Corrupt error. This error halts Windows OS or its Universal Apps from updating further.
However, at times, the Troubleshooters may fail to fix this error. In such cases, you may need to fix it manually. Fixing this error might require quite some technical knowledge because the fix requires registry-level troubleshooting.
What does Service registration is missing or corrupt mean?
Service registration is missing or corrupt means Windows Update components are malfunctioning, preventing updates from installing. This issue can leave your PC vulnerable to security threats and cause you to miss essential features and performance improvements.
Fix Service Registration is Missing or Corrupt error
If you receive a Service Registration is Missing or Corrupt error in Windows Update Troubleshooter in Windows 11/10, then follow these suggestions:
- Edit the Registry
- Clear catroot2 & SoftwareDistribution folder contents
- Disable your antivirus and see
- Run System File Checker and Repair Windows System Image
- Check Windows Update related Services
- Reset Windows Store Cache.
- Re-register the concerned Wups2.dll file.
1] Edit the Registry
Before proceeding, please create a backup of the Registry because registry level troubleshooting might cause issues with your operating system. We will use the Registry Editor to delete a few values from the Registry. To be precise, we would need to remove the value ThresholdOptedIn.
So Run ‘regedit’ to open the Registry Editor and in the left pane, search for the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability
Click on the ‘ThresholdOptedIn‘ value in the right pane, if you see it, delete it.
2] Clear catroot2 & SoftwareDistribution folder contents
Next, right-click on the Start Button and open Command Prompt in Admin mode. Copy-paste the following commands one after the other and press ‘Enter’.
net stop cryptSvc
net stop wuauserv
net stop msiserver
net stop bits
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start cryptSvc
net start wuauserv
net start msiserver
net start bits
What you are doing here is shutting down Windows Update related Services, resetting Catroot2 folder, renaming the SoftwareDistribution folder and then starting the Windows Services back.
Close the command prompt and restart the system. Check if the issue is resolved. If not, proceed to the following step.
3] Disable your antivirus and see
Disable your antivirus and check if it resolves the issue. If it resolves, then the antivirus software on the system might need to be changed. If not, please re-enable the anti-virus program.
4] Run System File Checker and Repair Windows System Image
Run System File Checker and Repair Windows System Image and see if that replaces potentially corrupted Windows Update system files.
Reboot the system and try to update Windows again to verify if the issue has been resolved.
5] Check Windows Update related Services
Check if certain Windows Update related Services are running or not. Open the ‘Run’ box and enter services.msc. Press ‘Enter’.
In the Services Manager, locate the ‘Windows Update Service. Since the services are in alphabetical order, things become easy. Ensure that the Service is Started and its Startup type set to ‘Automatic‘.
Cryptographic Service should be started and set to Automatic, and Background Intelligent Transfer Service should be started and set to Automatic (Delayed Start).
TIP: See this post if Windows Services will not start.
6] Reset Windows Store Cache
If you are facing problems while updating Windows Store apps, then Reset Windows Store Cache and see if that works for you.
7] Re-register the concerned Wups2.dll file
If it does not help, you may try to re-register the concerned DLL file. To do so, open an elevated command prompt and type the following commands one after the other and hit Enter.
Type the following to stop the Windows Update services:
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
Type the following to re-register the concerned DLL file
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll
Finally, restart the Windows Update services.
net start wuauserv
net start bits
Hope something helps.
How do I reset Service registration in Windows Update?
If you receive a Service Registration is Missing or Corrupt error in Windows Update Troubleshooter, you have to reset Service Registration and the best way to do it is by resetting Windows Updates components or using Windows Update to repair Windows OS.
I believe the correct stop and start order should be:
net stop cryptSvc
net stop wuauserv
net stop msiserver
net stop bits
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 catroot2.old
ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start cryptSvc
net start wuauserv
net start msiserver
net start bits
Otherwise you won’t be able to rename the “catroot2” and “Software Distribution” folders. Double-check?
Yes of course; Thanks for pointing out the mistake. Edited.
There was no ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsSelfHost item in my registry unfortunately. Windwos 7 here, machine is on a domain.