Fixed: “Your Device is Missing Important Security and Quality Fixes” Error

Are you worried about malware infections, system instability, performance issues, and failure to run new software on your computer, as “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes?” Then, worry not. In this article, you will learn how to solve this problem quickly and easily with tried and tested solutions, such as Windows Update troubleshooting, reinstalling Windows updates, repairing corrupted system files, clearing the Windows Update cache, and more. 

However, before applying any of these solutions, it is essential to understand the problem and its underlying causes, allowing for accurate troubleshooting. Hence, let’s begin by answering the burning question: What does “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” Windows 10 error mean, and why does it occur?”

What Is the Meaning of “Your Device Is Missing Important Security and Quality Fixes”

In basic terms, “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” is an error that indicates your computer’s operating system is outdated, leaving the PC vulnerable to security threats and possible performance issues. 

The Windows Update “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” error occurs when Windows tries downloading and installing an update on your PC but fails to do so. 

There can be many reasons, “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes,” but no updates, ranging from random bugs to corrupted system files. Let’s look at all these causes. 

Why does the Your Device Is Missing Important Security and Quality Fixes Error Occur

The causes of the “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” Windows Update error include the following. 

• Corrupted system files
• Bugs in the latest update
• Broken or partially installed update
• Malware infection
• Problematic or outdated Servicing Stack Updates
• Third-party software is interfering with the update download
• Misconfigured Telemetry level settings

Now that you understand the error and its causes, let’s help you fix it. 

How to Fix the Windows 10 Your Device Is Missing Important Security and Quality Fixes Error

You can fix the “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” error through the Windows Update troubleshooter, reinstalling Windows updates, repairing corrupted system files, clearing the update cache, restarting the Windows Update service, changing the Software Distribution Folder’s name, enabling telemetry settings, downloading and installing updates via Windows Update Assistant, and changing the Registry settings. Below are these solutions in detail. 

However, please note that you do not have to try all the fixes explained below. You can start troubleshooting with the first solution and stop when the problem is solved. 

Fix 1: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows boasts a built-in mechanism to help you fix issues related to updating the operating system. You can use this troubleshooting utility to get rid of the error you are experiencing. Here is how. 

• First, call up the Settings panel on your screen using the Windows+I shortcut command.

• Next, choose Update & Security from the on-screen Settings panel.

• Now, select Troubleshoot from the left panel of the Update & Security window.

• In this step, navigate to the Additional troubleshooters and then click on Windows Update.

• Next, click Run the troubleshooter so Windows can find what went wrong and suggest ways to fix it.

• Lastly, follow the on-screen instructions to solve the detected problems.

Also know: Easy Methods to Solve the MSVCP140.dll Is Missing Error

Fix 2: Install the older important Windows updates again

Since broken updates may have caused the Windows Update, “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” Windows 10 error, you can reinstall the recent security updates for your operating system to fix the issue. You can follow the steps below to do so. 

• Begin by applying the shortcut command Windows+I to access Settings.

• Next, choose Update & Security from the Settings menu.

• Now, click on the option to View update history.

• In this step, select the most recently installed Windows update and click Uninstall Updates.

• Next, select the latest update and click Uninstall to confirm the uninstallation.

• Lastly, restart your computer once the uninstallation is complete.

Fix 3: Perform the repair of corrupted system files

Corrupted or damaged system files may prevent Windows from updating or you from using certain features on your computer. Hence, you can follow the directions below to repair these files. 

• In the first step, click on the Start button, type cmd in the on-screen search bar, and then choose Run as administrator for Command Prompt.

• Once the Administrator Command Prompt window opens, copy and paste the following command, and remember to press Enter after each of these commands.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Sfc /scannow

• Lastly, close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer after the above process completes.

Fix 4: Clear the Windows Update cache

Clearing the Windows Update cache fixes the corrupted update files that may be responsible for the problem you are trying to solve. Hence, you can perform Windows Update cache cleaning by following these steps. 

• First, use the shortcut command Windows+R to access the Run utility.

• Second, type services.msc in the Run box on your screen and click OK.

• Once the Services window appears on your screen, right-click the Windows Update service and choose Stop from the available context menu.

• While keeping the Services window open, open the Run utility again.

• Type or copy and paste C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\ in the Run box and press Enter.

• Next, press Ctrl+A to select all the files present in the SoftwareDistribution window, right-click a selected file, and choose Delete from the on-screen options.

• Lastly, navigate to the Services window, right-click on Windows Update, and then choose Start from the available options.

Fix 5: Restart the Windows Update service

Since corrupted Windows Update service components can be another factor responsible for the Windows Update “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” error, restarting the Update service can solve the problem. Thus, the following are the steps to restart the Windows Update service. 

• In the first step, click on the Start button, type cmd in the search bar, and choose the Run as administrator option for Command Prompt.

• After the Administrator Command Prompt window appears, copy and paste the following commands into the on-screen window while pressing the Enter key after each command.

net stop wuauserv

net stop bits

net stop appidsvc

net stop cryptsvc

• Next, copy and paste Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old into the Command Prompt window and press Enter.

• In this step, copy and paste the following commands and press Enter after each command.

net start wuauserv

net start bits

net start appidsvc

net start cryptsvc

• Lastly, restart your computer and then try performing the Windows update.

Fix 6: Change the Software Distribution Folder’s name

Windows saves update files in the Software Distribution Folder. This folder may sometimes not permit the installation of new Windows updates. However, renaming the folder can fix this issue. Hence, below is how to rename the Software Distribution Folder to solve the Windows 10 “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” problem. 

• Begin by disconnecting the Wi-Fi connection and enabling Airplane mode.

• Next, restart your computer.

• After the computer restarts, use the shortcut command Windows+R to launch the Run utility.

• Now, type cmd in the on-screen Run box and apply the Ctrl, Shift, and Enter key combination to access Command Prompt as an administrator.

• Next, copy and paste the following commands into the Command Prompt and press Enter after each of these commands.

net stop wuauservnet 

stop cryptsvc

net stop bits 

net stop msiserverren

 %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak 

ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak 

net start wuauserv 

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

• Lastly, restart your computer after executing the above commands.

Also know: Fixed: “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (code 43)” Error

Fix 7: Enable your PC’s Telemetry settings

With Telemetry settings, Microsoft gets the required information about how your computer is performing. If these settings are set to “Security only,” you may experience the “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” error. Thus, below is how to change these settings to fix the issue. 

• Begin by calling up the Run box using the Windows+R shortcut command.

• Next, type gpedit.msc in the on-screen Run box and press Enter to access the Local Group Policy Editor.

• Now, choose Computer Configuration and then navigate to Administrative Templates.

• In this step, click on Data Collection and Preview Builds.

• Now, navigate to Windows Components and double-click the Allow Telemetry option.

• Next, select Enabled from the on-screen options.

• Now, choose any option for the Telemetry level other than 0 – Security [Enterprise Only].

• Lastly, save the changes by clicking Apply and OK.

Fix 8: Download and install the recent Windows Updates using the Windows Update Assistant

Since Windows Update may run into problems when updating Windows through Settings, you can update Windows through the Windows Update Assistant. Here is how. 

• Begin by downloading the Windows Update Assistant from the official website of Microsoft.

• Next, launch the Windows Update Assistant and click Yes when a confirmation prompt appears.

• Now, click on the Update Now button and wait until the updates are downloaded.

• Lastly, restart your computer to complete the process.

Windows 10 “Your Device Is Missing Important Security and Quality Fixes” Error Fixed

That is how you can get rid of the “Your device is missing important security and quality fixes” error by applying the fixes above. Hopefully, you are no longer experiencing the issue with Windows updates on your computer. 

However, if the problem persists or you have any questions/suggestions/feedback about this article, please feel free to let us know through the comments section. And, if you like this guide, learn how to troubleshoot more tech issues by subscribing to our newsletter.