SharePoint 2013 workflow stuck on “Not started”

Question

I have a SharePoint 2013 workflow. Whenever the workflow is triggered or started manually, it's Internal status is "Not started".

I have tried to write a simple workflow just to log and send email but the status of workflow remains same.

I tried to terminate the workflow but the page refreshes and nothing happens. Ultimately, it's still on "Not started" started.

The following troubleshooting has been done:

• I have synchronize the USP, associated app pool is started, USP and USP synchronization service started.
• Workflow manager Farm status: Running
• Service Bus Farm status: Running
• Workflow management site running
• Executed "iisreset" on the server.

Any help is much appreciated!

Answer 1

This is not the best answer(solution) but uninstalling the workflow manager and then re-installing (& configuring) made the workflow run.

Answer 2

This can be a timer job issue. Can you do this ?

Open Run ---> Type services.msc .

Go ahead and stop the SharePoint timer service from "services.msc" .

On the right click of SharePoint timer service ,configure the start up type to automatic.

Go to Task manager and kill all the processes with name "SharePoint Timer Service".

Restart the SharePoint timer service from services.msc .

If this does not solve your problem let me know.

Answer 3

Have you installed recent .NET security updates.

The September 2018 .NET Security updates caused workflows to stop running. To fix, you have to add additional lines to the SharePoint web.config file.

See this KB article at MS:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4465015/sharepoint-workflows-stop-after-cve-2018-8421-security-update

This blog at MS has a link to a PowerShell script that will make the necessary modifications to web.config for you:

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/rodneyviana/2018/09/13/after-installing-net-security-patches-to-address-cve-2018-8421-sharepoint-workflows-stop-working/