Fix Windows Update errors

What does this guided walk-through do?

This guided walk-through provides steps to fix problems with Windows Updates for Windows 8.1 and 7, such as taking a long time to scan, or error codes while installing updates.

For help with Windows Update issues in Windows 10, see Troubleshoot problems updating Windows 10 instead.

A common cause of errors is inadequate drive space. If you need help freeing up drive space, see Tips to free up drive space on your PC.

Common error codes

The steps in this guided walk-through should help with all Windows Update errors and other issues— you don’t need to search for the specific error to solve it. As an example, here are some commonly seen error codes: 0x0xc1900223223; 0x80240034; 0x8007000E, 0x80242006​, 0x80244018​, 0x80D02002​, 0x80246017​, 0x80240438​, 0x80070070​, 0x8007000D​, 0x80246008​, 0x80096004​, 0x80070020.
The steps provided here should help fix any errors that come up during the Windows Update process.

How does it work?

We’ll begin by asking you questions about the Windows version you’re using and the issue you’re experiencing. Next, we’ll take you through a series of troubleshooting steps that are specific to your situation. At the end of each step, you’ll be asked “Did this resolve the issue?” If it’s resolved, select Yes, and you’re done! If it isn’t resolved, select No and continue with the guided walk-through.

Windows updates fail to install — again!

The latest Windows updates fail to install — again and again.

Are they corrupted?

Should I do anything to install them or just wait for Microsoft to release new fresh ones?

Replies (9) 

My name is Sarah Kong and I am an independent adviser that is here to try and help you with your issue.

Go to search and type services.msc and open it.
Stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and Windows Update
Then go to file explorer and go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
Delete everything in that folder.
Then Right click your start button and go to powershell (Admin)
Run the following hitting enter after each line.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Reboot and see if that works.

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I’m Independent Advisor. I would love to help you today.

While using Windows Update is the recommended option to upgrade to a new version of Windows 10, it’s not a feature that works flawlessly, and sometimes, you may see errors trying to install a new update.
The errors that you may see will vary depending on the problem, but if you’re having issues with Windows Update, you can use the Windows 10 built-in troubleshooter to correct this hiccup.
To troubleshoot and fix installation errors using Windows Update, use these steps:
1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Troubleshoot.
4. Under «Get up and running,» select the Windows Update option.
5. Click the Run the troubleshooter button.
6. Click the Apply this fix option (if applicable).
7. Continue with the on-screen directions.
Once you’ve completed the steps, restart your computer, and then try to upgrade one more time from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click the Check for updates button.

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Let me know if the information has been useful to solve your Problem.

Windows Update Fails [FIXED]

Fix the bugging Windows Update issues

Last Updated: 3 years ago

Window Update is an important component of your Windows system. It helps you install updates on your system. Windows Update is designed to keep your Windows up to date and healthy and it usually does. But unfortunately, in many cases, it fails to do so and instead become the source of multiple annoying problems.

Many Windows users have reported that they have got this or that kind of issues with their Windows Update. They have been told that Windows Update “failed to install” certain updates or these updates’ “installation failed”. They’ve got an error popping up with a code and an associated message, which stops them from installing updates. Or they couldn’t download or install the updates with no clear message but get stuck in the update process.

No matter how these issues look like, it stops you from installing the updates on your Windows. You can’t fix your system security vulnerabilities, fix bugs, and enjoy new system features without those updates. This can be extremely frustrating.

But don’t panic. All Windows Update issues can be fixed. You can fix them by trying the methods below. You don’t have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that really works for you.

Methods that fix your Windows Update issues:

Method 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows Update Troubleshooter is a tool released by Microsoft that can help you troubleshoot issues with your Windows Update. You can run it to check your Windows Update when it fails to work properly. To do so:

1) Download Windows Update Troubleshooter (the program is from a Microsoft site and it’s verified and safe).

2) Run the tool you’ve just downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

Method 2: Reset the Windows Update related components

Your Windows Update may fail to update your Windows because its components are corrupted. These components include the services and temporary files and folders associated with Windows Update. You can try resetting these components and see if this can fix your problem.

To reset these components:

1) Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your screen, then type “cmd“. In the list of results, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

2) In Command Prompt, type the following lines of command and press Enter on your keyboard after typing each:

• net stop bits
• net stop wuauserv
• net stop appidsvc
• net stop cryptsvc

(These commands will stop the services that Windows Update requires to download and install updates.)

3) Type these lines of command and press Enter after typing each in Command Prompt:

• Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
• Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old

(This will rename the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folder, which are used by Windows Update to store data and temporary files. Your system will detect that these folders are missing, and then it’ll create new ones. The purpose of this is to make the system use the new SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders so that Windows Update can avoid issues from the old ones.)

4) In Command Prompt, type these commands and press Enter after each to restart the services you closed just now:

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

5) Check your Windows Update to see if it works fine.

Method 3: Manually download and install updates

If Windows Update can’t help you download certain system updates, you can try doing so on your own. Microsoft has put all its system updates online, and you can download these updates and install them on your computer without the help of Windows Update.

To manually download and install updates:

1) Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your screen. Then type “information“. In the list of results, click System Information.

2) In the System Information window, check System Type. Its value is usually x64-based or x86-based (or sometimes ARM64-based).

3) On Windows Update, note down the system updates that failed to install. (You may need to get the information from the update history.)

4) Go to Microsoft Update Catalog. Then search for the updates you have failed to install.

5) In the search results, find the update that matches your operating system and system type (x86-, x64- or ARM64-based). Then click Download next to the update.

6) Click the link on the new window to download the update.

7) Open the file you’ve just downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.

Method 4: Run DISM and System File Checker

It’s also possible that your Windows Update can’t work because of the corrupted files on your operating system. Windows has two built-in tools called SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management) that scan your computer and fix various issues on it. To run these tools:

1) Click the Start button in the lower corner of your screen. Then type “cmd“. Right-click Command Prompt in the list of results and select Run as administrator.

2) In Command Prompt, to run System File Checker, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter on your keyboard.

3) To run DISM, type “dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth“. and press Enter.

4) Wait for the process to complete, then restart your computer. After that, check to see if your Windows Update recovers.

Method 5: Disable your antivirus

Sometimes your system can’t install new updates due to the interference from your antivirus software. You can temporarily disable your antivirus and check if the problem persists. (Consult your antivirus program documentation for instructions on disabling it.)

If this resolves the problem, contact the vendor of your antivirus software and ask them for advice, or install a different solution.

Method 6: Update your drivers

You may get issues with your Windows Update if you are using wrong or out-of-date device drivers. You should regularly check your device drivers and keep them up to date so as to prevent your computer from many annoying issues. But you may not have the time or patience to check and update your drivers manually. If you want to have this done easily and automatically, you can use Driver Easy.

Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.

You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes just 2 steps (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee):

1) Download and install Driver Easy.

2) Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.

3) Click the Update button next to each driver to automatically download and install the correct version of this driver (you can do this with the FREE version). Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).

Method 7: Restore your Windows

Perhaps the issues with your Windows come from some changes you’ve made to your system. You can perform a system restore. This will restore your system from a restore point (you need to have one that has been created before your Windows Update issue occurs) undo those changes made.

1) Click the Start button in the lower corner of your screen. Then type “restore“. In the list of results, click “Create a restore point“. The System Properties dialog will appear.

2) Click System Restore. The System Restore wizard will pop up.

3) Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a system restore point and restore your Windows.

4) Wait for the restore process to complete and then check to see if your Windows Update gets back to normal.