Windows 8: updates do not load - what to do?

If the automatic updates fail under Windows 8 or do not load the updates at all, it helps to remove existing scraps of download and to try the update again. In this practical tip, we will show you how to get the Windows 8 updates up and running.

Deactivate automatic loading of Windows updates

First, disable automatic updates in Windows 8:

1. Press [Windows] + [C] to open the Charm Bar, and then select Search.
2. Enter the search term "Updates" and switch to "Settings" in the results.
3. Click on "Activate or deactivate automatic updates" (see image) and select the "Never check for updates" option in the drop-down menu.
4. Finally confirm with "OK" and continue with the next paragraph.

Remove update residues under Windows 8

Remove existing update files so that Windows will correctly download the updates again in the future:

1. Open your Explorer and go to the path "X:> Windows> SoftwareDistribution> Download". Replace "X" with the drive on which you installed Windows 8.
2. Delete the entire contents of the "Download" folder. Warning: Do not delete the folder itself, but only all folders and files within the download folder.

Reactivate Windows 8 updates

Finally, activate the automatic updates under Windows 8 again. To do this, proceed as in the first paragraph and set the update settings back to "Install updates automatically".

If Windows is still having problems with the updates, you should reset the system. In another practical tip, we will show you how to refresh Windows 8 to reset your system to the factory settings.