📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses how to identify Windows Update processes in Task Manager, with initial confusion about the specific process names. Users explain that Windows Update typically runs under svchost.exe and may not appear directly as wuauclt.exe, and they suggest checking service details using command-line tools. The overall tone is informational, helping the original poster understand the typical visibility and behavior of Windows Update processes.

spetho2001

Honorable Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
18
Thread Author #1
If Windows is automatically checking for updates when I turn on my computer first thing in the morning what does this show up as in Windows Task Manager processes that are running?
 

Solution
Windows update runs under a svchost service container (svchost.exe). If it's running the quickest way to find it is from a command prompt with

tasklist /svc | findstr /I wuau

results will be something like this if it's running
svchost.exe 12036 UsoSvc, wuauserv

Luke13TH

Extraordinary Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Messages
64
I think its Windows update Client process (wuauclt.exe). However I have an update pending to install and can't be asked to restart at the moment so I can't run windows update to know for sure.
 

spetho2001

Honorable Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
18
Thread Author #3
Luke13TH,
I ran Windows Update and I did not see anything in processes. There was no wuauclt.exe. It did show in the Task Manager Applications though. As running.
 

Neemobeer

Windows Forum Team
Staff member
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Jul 4, 2015
Messages
8,995
Windows update runs under a svchost service container (svchost.exe). If it's running the quickest way to find it is from a command prompt with

tasklist /svc | findstr /I wuau

results will be something like this if it's running
svchost.exe 12036 UsoSvc, wuauserv
 

Solution

spetho2001

Honorable Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
18
Thread Author #5
Thank you but I do not see that running in Control Panel > Task Manager > Processes when the Windows Update is checking for Updates.
 

Last edited:

Luke13TH

Extraordinary Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Messages
64
Hi Spetho,

What you are looking for is Service Host: Local System. I have attached a screenshot for you.
An image from 'Windows Update running in Windows Task Manager processes'. Task Manager showing Service Host: Local System with Windows Update at 0% usage.
 

Last edited by a moderator:

spetho2001

Honorable Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
18
Thread Author #7
Here is my Control Panel > Task Manager > Services screen shot while Windows Update is running
An image from 'Windows Update running in Windows Task Manager processes'. Windows Task Manager Processes tab showing running programs and resource usage.
 

Last edited by a moderator:

spetho2001

Honorable Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Messages
18
Thread Author #8
Quite a number of Windows users have suffered from a problem where up to 95% of their CPU and/or Disk have been used by a process known as System Host: Local System (Network Restricted). This problem first surfaced back in the days of Windows 8 and has stuck around to haunt the brave users of Windows 10. Users affected by this issue have reported the System Host: Local System (Network Restricted) process hogging up to 95% of their CPU and up to 72 MB/s of their computer’s total capability to read data from and write data to its Hard Disk Drive. Those statistics are significant to say the least.
I have Windows 7 SP1 with IE 11
 

Neemobeer

Windows Forum Team
Staff member
Joined
Jul 4, 2015
Messages
8,995
You won't see Windows update running in task manager, at most if you show all processes you will see a svchost.exe process that is running Windows updates