In Windows 10/11, if Windows Update is crashing, you should run the :
Because it is a trusted system process, malware often disguises itself using the same name. If you see this file crashing and it is NOT located in C:\Windows\System32 , it is likely a virus or Trojan. Malware often crashes because it is poorly coded or is being actively blocked by your security software.
Now that you know the why , here is the how . Perform these steps in order.
: The most frequent cause of crashes is corruption within the Windows system files themselves. If the wuauclt.exe file or its dependent modules (like Kernelbase.dll ) are damaged, the process will fail to execute properly.