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How to Fix Windows Update Error

How to fix a Windows update error?

Windows update is an essential service in Windows 10 as you get the latest feature updates and security vulnerability updates through this service only. And as Microsoft has announced that it is the last version of the Windows, so Windows updates is your only option to keep your operating system updated.

But every user at least once already have faced some kind of issue related to Windows update. And when users face issue it does not just limited to updates but also create other issues like slow computer performance, unable to boot the computer or displaying error codes like 0x80070020, 0x80240438, 0xC19001E2, 0x80070424, 0x80242006, 0x8007000E, 0x80D02002, 0x80070070, 0x80096004, 0x80080005, 0x8007000D, or 0x80240034.

Things to check before starting Windows Update

So if you are facing issues I will here help you to get rid of the issue. Lets start from preliminary checks before we dig in the problem. Though I assume you have been already performed these steps. Just check and confirm.

  1. Try restarting computer for 2-3 times.
  2. Check your internet connection & its speed.
  3. Confirm that updates are not paused.
  4. Find out if there is enough space, if not then free up some space by deleting junk files from the system.

Now lets come to the steps which actually fix Windows updates errors.




1. Run Windows Update Assistant

This is the best and easy method to fix any Windows update issue. So you should first try this. It will automatically check for any error and and update the Windows to the latest updates.

  • Go to the url : https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10.
  • Click on the ‘Update Now’ button.
  • Run the assistant and it will automatically check for the latest updates. During installation it may restart the system for 1 or 2 times.
Fix windows update errors using Windows update assistant
Windows Update Assistant

2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

In Windows 10, go to SettingsUpdate & SecurityTroubleshootWindows UpdateTroubleshootAdditional troubleshooter and click on the Windows update troubleshooter from the list then click on the button ‘Run the troubleshooter’. It will automatically detect the problem and fix it for you.

Windows update troubleshooter
Windows update troubleshooter
Windows 10 update troubleshooting

For Windows 7

Download the Windows update troubleshooter file and double-click on it after download and follow its on-screen instructions to apply the troubleshooter fix.

3. Install Windows Updates Manually

If the above steps don’t work for you then try installing Windows updates manually. this method will help you to quickly install the latest updates and hopefully it will fix the automatic update issue for the future updates.

And if it doesn’t work then you can continue to try further steps mentioned here or go to the online troubleshooter provided by Microsoft.

More steps to fix Windows Update Error for Advanced users

These steps are only for the advanced users who are comfortable to use DOS or command window.

1. Re-configure / Reset Windows Update Components

While following the steps, you’ll also learn how to re-register all the “.dll” files that are related to Windows update and its services.

  • Open the Command prompt.
    Click on start → go to Accessories → and then go to Command Prompt. Then right-click on it and click on ‘Run as Administrator‘.
  • In the command prompt window, type the following commands one-by-one (which is in the box below) press enter key from your keyboard after running the following commands one-by-one. For more detail please see the following graphical animation.
net stop wuauserv

net stop bits

net stop cryptsvc

net stop msiserver

ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistributionDownload.old

ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

regsvr32 %windir%\system32\wups2.dll

net start wuauserv

net start bits

net start cryptsvc

net start msiserver

SC QUERYEX BITS

SC QUERYEX WUAUSERV

SC QUERYEX cryptsvc

SC QUERYEX msiserver

  • Finally, restart your computer now.
run cmd commands

These command will work for all windows versions Windows 10, 8, 7.

2. Run DISM and SFC Command to fix Windows Update issue

It could be possible that some Windows system file has corrupted and due to which Windows update is unable to run properly. So in this case you can try to repair the system files in order to resolve the Windows Update issue.

  • Run the Command Prompt as an Administrator (How).
  • Type the command dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and press Enter key.
  • Now type the command sfc /scannow to repair the installation files and press Enter.

Know more about DISM command.

If the above steps not working in your case your can try other methods for failed or unfinished Windows 10 updates. Or Restore windows to an earlier date.

Re-activate Windows Update in Windows 7

  • Go to the Control Panel
  • Click on System & Security
  • Select on Windows Update
  • Click on Change setting from the left side pane.
  • Look at the right-side pane and select the option “Never Check for Updates (Not Recommended)” from the drop-down.
  • Then click on OK.
  • After that reboot your computer once.
  • Now, go to the same settings again (Windows update change setting) and then set it “Install Update automatically (Recommended)” Settings. For more detail please see the following graphical animation.
  • After that, restart the computer once more.
    re-activate Windows update

FAQs

126 thoughts on “How to Fix Windows Update Error”

  1. Mine was the old one that was the first version the 102 & it also fixed 1903 upgrade. Thank you so much. Verified copy too

    1. HEATHER NICOLE

      Anytime glad I could help. Yeah I also had a 1903 the older ones are slower. If u have anymore problems let me know.

  2. The old build fails at 10240 the computer needs updated before u can go any further. You have to upload a fresh copy of windows.
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

    Download and it will automatically have you at may 2019 build
    It should then update the new nov. 2019 security update. Cause none of these worked for me I contacted Microsoft myself. Easy fix fresh copy and works faster with no flashing of screen.

  3. error (0x80080005)
    i renamed SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 but after that wuauserv couldn’t start with ”net start wuauserv” command

  4. An error in method 3
    “cryptsvr” should be replaced by “cryptsvc” otherwise “ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old” won’t run

    I hope you would correct it 🙂
    Try if you don’t believe

    1. Hi @Omkaresh
      Thank you so much for letting us know about the spell mistake in the method3 command. We just have corrected it.
      We really appreciate your help.
      Thanks

  5. Kalyan Chakravarthy

    Thank you, After 60% of windows feature installation, it fails with an error – Feature update to windows 10, version 1903 failed to install on 7/29 – 0xc1900101

    Please help

    1. Run Windows 10 troubleshooter to fix Windows Update issues. Please see the following screenshot to know how to do this.
      Windows update troubleshoot

  6. I was not able to rename Softwaredistribution folder and catroot folders even though I am running commandprompt as admin? what to do ?

    1. You’ll have to stop Windows update service first before renaming those folders. You could do the same in safe mode, It should work. If it doesn’t work then let’s know.

  7. I had a problem like this! I had a W7 Ultimate with error 8007000E on Windows Update just after installation in my new SSD! I’ve read a lot of post talking about tons of actions to solve it! In my case only 1 procedure was efficient! I’m in Brazil and my W7 Ultimate was installed with English language pack only! I got a pack of Portuguese on alternative source on web, because Microsoft official page only allow Portuguese and other few languages exclusively with Windows Update! Be careful with that to avoid virus! I downloaded Internet Explorer 11, the last version available, as well! Then i installed IE11 first and after the language pack (the pack was a EXE file. I ran it and was created a ZIP file. Use this file to include the new language, in my case Portuguese, in the system)! After that Windows Update started working normally, finding 100 updates required! I think any other Windows Ultimate out of USA and with only English pack can be with the same problem and could be solved with the same procedure!

    1. Thank so much for sharing the solution of this particular issue. This will definitely help others if anyone has the same issue.

  8. I am trying to follow the instructions on this page to get my updates working but it’s hard to do when you have graphics covering the instructions of what to do.

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