Fix 1: Set Background Intelligent Transfer Service to Automatic (Delayed Start)

If the Background Intelligent Transfer Service or its related services are misconfigured, you must reset them to their default settings using the Services app. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu. Type services in the search box and press Enter to open the utility.

Step 2: Locate the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and check its Startup Type. If it is disabled, double-click on it to open its properties.

Step 3: Click on the Startup Type drop-down list. Select the Automatic (Delayed Start) option.

Step 4: Now, click on the Apply button, followed by OK.

Step 5: Close the Services app.

Fix 2: Run the Background Intelligent Transfer Service Troubleshooter

Windows has a dedicated troubleshooter for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service. You must run this troubleshooter to identify and fix issues with the service. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press the Windows key and open the Start menu. Type troubleshooter in the search box and press Enter to open the Troubleshooter section in the Settings app.

Step 2: Click on the Other troubleshooters option.

Step 3: Scroll down to the Others section. Find Background Intelligent Transfer Service and click the Run button.

Step 4: Click the Yes button.

Step 5: Wait for the troubleshooter to find issues with the service and apply fixes accordingly. After that, close the troubleshooter window.

Fix 3: Run SFC and DISM Scans

If the BITS service doesn’t work properly, it could be due to missing or corrupt system files or a damaged Windows Component store. Run SFC and DISM scans one by one to fix both issues on your Windows PC. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key and open the Start menu. Type cmd in the search box and press the Ctrl Shift Enter keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: The User Account Control window will pop up. Click on the Yes button to open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.

Step 3: Type the following command and press Enter to execute it:

SFC /scannow

Step 4: Type cls and press Enter to clear the Command Prompt screen.

Step 5: Execute the following commands sequentially:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 6: Close the Command Prompt window.

Fix 4: Reset Windows Update Components

If the BITS service keeps changing to manual and you face issues with Windows Updates and other app updates, you must reset the Windows update components on your PC. It is a series of commands that will reset all the services to normal, clear the software distribution folder, and reset network settings on your PC. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu. Type cmd in the search box and simultaneously press Ctrl Shift Enter keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: The User Account Control window will launch. Click on Yes to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.

Step 3: Paste the following commands and press Enter to execute them individually.

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc

Step 4: Once done, type y to stop the Application Identity service after executing the third command. Then, execute the command below to stop the Cryptographic service.

net stop appidsvc

Step 5: Execute the following command to wipe the BITS files. Type Y and press Enter to confirm the deletion:

Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader*.*"

Step 6: Execute the following commands one by one to remove the Catroot2 and SoftwareDistribution folder:

rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q
rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q

Step 7: After that, execute the following two commands to reset BITS and Windows Update services to default:

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)

Step 8: Execute all the following commands to re-register all the DLL files and press Enter after each one:

regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32.exe /s shdocvw.dll
regsvr32.exe /s browseui.dll
regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll
regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll
regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32.exe /s sccbase.dll
regsvr32.exe /s slbcsp.dll
regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s initpki.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wucltui.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuweb.dll
regsvr32.exe /s qmgr.dll
regsvr32.exe /s qmgrprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wucltux.dll
regsvr32.exe /s muweb.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuwebv.dll

Step 9: Reset the Winsock catalog and proxy settings by executing the following commands:

netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset proxy

Step 10: Lastly, restart all the services that you stopped in the first step with the following commands:

net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc

Step 11: Restart your PC to apply the changes.

Windows will recreate the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders after the restart. If you face any error while executing the commands, stop all the services again using the first step and reattempt the commands.

Fix 5: Manually Install the Windows Update

If you cannot install a Windows update because the Background Intelligent Transfer Service keeps stopping, you must manually install the update on your Windows 11 PC. To do so, visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website and search for the specific KB update you want to install.

Download the MSU package file and run the installer with administrator privileges. This way, you can manually install Microsoft’s latest update when the BITS service doesn’t work properly.

Fix 6: Run the System Restore Utility

You can use a System Restore point to revert to a point in time when the BITS service and other Windows features worked fine. It won’t affect your personal files. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu. Type rstrui in the search bar and press Enter to open System Restore.

Step 2: Click on the Next button.

Step 3: Pick a suitable restore point from the list. Click on Next and follow the on-screen instructions to apply it.

Your PC will restart and boot to the Desktop. It can take a while.

Fix 7: Do an In-Place Upgrade

The last resort for fixing problems with Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) on Windows is performing an In-place upgrade. This is better than resetting your PC because it preserves all your installed apps, personal data, and settings. You must download the Windows ISO file on your PC, then follow the steps below.

Step 1: Double-click on the ISO file to mount it. Now, double-click on the setup.exe file.

Step 2: The User Account Control window will launch. Click on Yes to launch the Windows Installer.

Step 3: Click on Next.

Step 4: Click the Accept button to agree to the End User License Agreement.

Step 5: Lastly, click on the Install button.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the In-place Upgrade on your PC. It can take about 30 minutes to one hour to complete.