Fix Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) in Windows 10

This guide walks you through repairing the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) in Windows 10 when it stops working, causing Windows Update, Microsoft Store downloads, or other system updates to hang or fail. You’ll learn how to restart the service, check its dependencies, reset its configuration, and clear corrupted files—no advanced tools required.

What You’ll Need

• An administrator account on the Windows 10 PC
• Internet connection (for downloading the System Update Readiness tool if needed)
• About 15–30 minutes of time

Step-by-Step

1. Open Services – Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. This opens the Services management console.
2. Locate BITS – Scroll down to Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Right-click it and select Properties.
3. Check Startup Type – In the General tab, ensure the Startup type is Automatic (or Automatic (Delayed Start)). If it’s set to Manual or Disabled, change it to Automatic and click Apply.
4. Start the Service – Click the Start button in the same window. If it’s already running, click Stop first, then Start again to reset it. Click OK.
5. Check Dependencies – In the BITS Properties window, go to the Dependencies tab. Note the services listed (typically Remote Procedure Call (RPC), COM+ Event System, and Event Log). Ensure each of these is running: open Services, right-click each, and if it’s not running, start it.
6. Run the System Update Readiness Tool – If BITS still fails, download and run the System Update Readiness Tool (also known as CheckSUR) from Microsoft’s official site. This scans for and fixes corruption in Windows system files that can affect BITS.
7. Reset BITS Configuration – Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start, choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)). Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:

   net stop bits
   net stop wuauserv
   sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
   sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
   net start bits
   net start wuauserv

   This resets the security descriptors for BITS and Windows Update to their defaults.

8. Clear the BITS Queue – In the same Command Prompt, type del /s /q /f %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\* and press Enter. This deletes temporary files that may be corrupted.
9. Restart the Computer – After the above steps, restart your PC. BITS should now start normally.
10. Test Windows Update – Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. If it proceeds without error, BITS is fixed.

Common Mistakes

• Not running as administrator – Commands like sc.exe require elevated privileges. If you get “Access denied,” close and reopen Command Prompt as admin.
• Skipping dependency checks – BITS won’t start if RPC or COM+ Event System is stopped. Always verify those first.
• Using the wrong service name – The service name is bits (lowercase) in commands, not “BITS” or “Background Intelligent Transfer Service.”
• Deleting the Downloader folder incorrectly – Make sure you include the full path and the /f flag to force delete read-only files. Missing the path can delete the wrong folder.
• Rebooting before completing all steps – Some changes take effect only after a restart. If you test before rebooting, you might think the fix failed.

Tips

• If you have third-party security software, temporarily disable its real-time protection during the repair, then re-enable it. Some antivirus tools interfere with BITS.
• Set BITS to Automatic rather than Automatic (Delayed Start) if you need updates immediately after boot; the delayed start can cause small delays.
• Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter (Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update) before manual steps—it automates many of the above fixes.
• Keep your system clock and time zone correct; incorrect time can cause BITS to fail SSL connections.

Troubleshooting

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue:

• Error 0x80070005 (Access denied) – The security descriptor reset likely didn’t apply. Re-run the sc.exe sdset commands and ensure you copy them exactly, including the trailing backslash and parentheses.
• Error 0x80080005 (Server execution failed) – This often means BITS is missing a dependency. Check that the COM+ Event System and Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services are running and set to Automatic.
• BITS service still stops immediately – Corrupted system files might be the cause. Run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt, then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Reboot and try again.
• Windows Update still fails – If BITS starts but updates fail, the issue may be with the Windows Update service itself. Reset the Windows Update components using Microsoft’s official script or manually following the same steps for wuauserv.
• If all else fails – Consider using the Media Creation Tool to perform an in-place upgrade repair, which reinstalls Windows 10 while keeping your files and apps. This is a last resort but often fixes stubborn BITS issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BITS used for?

BITS transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth. It’s used by Windows Update, Microsoft Store, and some third-party apps to download updates without interrupting your work.

Why does BITS stop working?

Common causes include corrupted system files, incorrect service permissions, interference from antivirus software, or a failed Windows update that left BITS in a bad state.

Can I disable BITS to fix it?

No, disabling BITS will break Windows Update and many other system functions. The goal is to repair it, not disable it.

How long does it take to fix BITS?

Most fixes take 10–20 minutes, including a reboot. The System Update Readiness Tool may take longer if it finds many errors.

Will resetting BITS delete my downloaded updates?

Clearing the Downloader folder deletes temporary update files. Windows will re-download them, so no permanent loss occurs.

Do I need to reinstall Windows to fix BITS?

Rarely. The steps above resolve the majority of BITS issues. Only if they all fail would you consider a repair install, which keeps your files.

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