Fix Windows Update errors

What does this guided walk-through do?

This guided walk-through provides steps to fix problems when installing updates. Here are some commonly seen error codes: 0x80073712, 0x800705B4, 0x80004005, 0x8024402F, 0x80070002, 0x80070643, 0x80070003, 0x8024200B, 0x80070422, 0x80070020. These steps should help with all errors and not just the ones listed.

How does it work?

We’ll walk you through a series of troubleshooting steps to get your Windows up to date. Be sure to follow the steps in order.

On which Windows version did you get the error?

If you don’t know, see Which Windows operating system am I running?

Note

If you are using Windows 8, you need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 because Windows 8 is no longer supported.

Windows 10

Windows 8.1

Windows 7

On which Windows version did you get the error?

If you don’t know, see Which Windows operating system am I running?

Note

If you are using Windows 8, you need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 because Windows 8 is no longer supported.

Windows 10

Windows 8.1

Windows 7

Run Network troubleshooter(Removed)

First, please run the Network Troubleshooter to verify if it's caused by network problem.

Click http://aka.ms/diag_networking10 to download the diagcab file, then click Open in the pop up window.
Click Next to detect network problems.
Follow the steps in the wizard to diagnose and resolve your network problem.
Try to run Windows Update again.

Did this resolve your issue?

Yes

Run the network troubleshooter

Here's how:

Press the Windows log key, type Network problems, and then select Identify and repair network problems in the list.
Follow the steps in the wizard to diagnose and resolve your network problems.
Run Windows Update again.

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Run the network troubleshooter

Here's how:

Right-click the network icon in the notification area and then select Troubleshoot problems.
Follow the steps in the wizard to diagnose and resolve your network problems.
Run Windows Update again.

Did this revolve the issue?

Yes

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Here’s how:

Download the Windows Update Troubleshooter, and then select Open or Save in the pop-up window.
Note
If you select Save, you need to go to the folder where the troubleshooter is downloaded to after the download is complete, and then double-click the latestwu.diagcab file to run the troubleshooter.
Select Next and follow the steps in the wizard to find and fix problems with Windows Update .

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Here’s how:

Download the Windows Update Troubleshooter, and then select Open or Save in the pop-up window.
Note
If you select Save, you need to go to the folder where the troubleshooter is downloaded to after the download is complete, and then double-click the latestwu.diagcab file to run the troubleshooter.
Select Next and follow the steps in the wizard to find and fix problems with Windows Update .

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Here's how:

Download the Windows Update Troubleshooter, and then select Open or Save in the pop-up window.
Note
If you select Save, you need to go to the folder where the troubleshooter is downloaded to after the download is complete, and then double-click the WindowsUpdate.diagcab file to run the troubleshooter.
Select Next and follow the steps in the wizard to find and fix problems with Windows Update .

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Run DISM command

Important

These are advanced steps. If you’re not comfortable using a command line tool, ask a friend who is comfortable to help you, or consider skipping this step.

Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, right click the Windows button, and then select Command Prompt (Admin). If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow or Yes.
Type the following command, and then press Enter.
```
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
```
Note
It might take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

Important

When you run this command, DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruption. However, if your Windows Update client is already broken, use a running Windows installation as the repair source, or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share or from a removable media, such as the Windows DVD, as the source of the files. To do this, run the following command instead:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

Note

Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source. For more information about using the DISM tool to repair Windows, see Repair a Windows Image.

Type the following command and press Enter.
```
sfc /scannow
```

Note

It might take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

Close the command prompt, and then run Windows Update again.

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Reset or reinstall Windows

If none of the previous steps resolve the issue, you need to reset or reinstall the Windows, see Recovery options in Windows 10.

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Problem resolved

We're glad that your Windows Update problem is resolved.

Still having problems?

We’re sorry that your issue can‘t be resolved with this guide. Please contact Answer Desk if you need more help.

Reset or reinstall Windows

If none of the previous steps resolve the issue, you need to reset or reinstall the Windows, see How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC.

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Reset or reinstall Windows

If none of the previous steps resolve the issue, you need to reset or reinstall the Windows, see What are the system recovery options in Windows?

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Run DISM command

Important

These are advanced steps. If you’re not comfortable using a command line tool, ask a friend who is comfortable to help you, or consider skipping this step.

Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, right click the Windows button, and then select Command Prompt (Admin). If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow or Yes.
Type the following command, and then press Enter.
```
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
```
Note
It might take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

Important

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

Note

Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source. For more information about using the DISM tool to repair Windows, see Repair a Windows Image.

Type the following command and press Enter.
```
sfc /scannow
```

Note

It might take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

Close the command prompt, and then run Windows Update again.

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Download the most recent KB

Here’s how:

Go to the Update history page.
Find the most recent update KB for the version of Windows 10 you have – it’s usually at the top of the list – and either write the KB number down or copy it.
Go to the Microsoft Update site and search for the KB number.
Select the link for the download, and then choose Download. Select Save if you are prompted.
When the download completes, select Open to start the update.

Did this resolve the issue?

Yes

Properties

Article ID: 10164 - Last Review: Dec 15, 2016 - Revision: 37

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