I'm using TurboTax Deluxe 2020 on Windows 10. The Updater just says: Waiting for the installer service... I've restarted the computer. It won't update the program

[ADKRet]

Encountered a similar problem with the program.  On startup, updated program but when I attempted to transmit taxes another request was made to update turbo tax which resulted in a message "waiting for installer service."  I looked at a variety of "community" suggestions.  Cleaning browser, stopping malware or other programs looking at tasks, and restarting didn't solve the problem.  Looking at the msiexec.exe file, I suspect that Turbotax was the "running program."  I contact TurboTax and was issued a new downloadable program obviously necessitating uninstalling the original from CD.  Success!  This is the second year in a row i have had major program issues with Turbo Tax.  What surprises me is that it is 3/15 and I had to initiate a solution.  This issue might be related to New York State tax returns.

[zellerred5]

I had this same problem over the weekend - the update was getting stuck at 10%. I tried applying the manual update and run all of the Windows scans in previous Community articles, but none of that worked. 

I found out that the recent security update from Windows 10 is blocking Turbotax from being updated.

I had to go into Window Updates History (push the Start Button, search "Windows Updates" and click "Check for Updates", then click "View Update History") and click "Uninstall Updates". Then Uninstall the recent update (KB4601319). 

By deleting this recent Windows update, it allowed Turbotax to Update. 

NOTE: DO NOT FORGET TO REAPPLY THIS WINDOWS UPDATE AFTER YOU FILE! 

[beweule]

waiting for installer service.  Nothing happens after reboot

[beweule]

installer service inoperative

[MonaWeigel]

I found the turbo tax application on my disk, right clicked, and chose "run as administrator".  That finally worked for me.

 

[zellerred5]

If none of these options do not work, please review these articles. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/troubleshooting/help/running-the-windows-system-file-checker/00/26...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/troubleshooting-and-repairing-problems-with-windows-installer-and-the-microsoft-net-framework/00/25828

[ftldny]

I had the same issue on Windows 10 and 2022 TurboTax Business - rebooted, tried all the troubleshooting steps, still got the "Waiting for the installer service" message no matter what I did.

With TT stuck at that message,  I went into Task Manager using Crtl-Alt-Delete, set the view so I could see "Background processes" and found "Windows Installer" running.  I clicked on this, then did End task.

As this is a key Windows component, it automatically restarted, and I was then able to do the TT update. 

[SForrestLO]

Please see this help article for assistance with the error. 
Troubleshooting problems with Windows Installer and the Microsoft .NET Framework. 

[ftldny]

Thanks, but I had already tried that one and it didn't help.

[SForrestLO]

For further assistance, please contact support. 
This FAQ will provide you with the steps to contact an agent. 
Customer support is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time daily.