Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix windows update errors on windows 10 and 11. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

How to fix windows update errors on windows 10 and windows 11

Windows Update errors can prevent your computer from receiving important security patches and feature improvements. This guide walks you through the most effective methods to resolve stalled or failed updates on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Restart your computer and try checking for updates again.
2. Ensure you are connected to a stable internet connection.
3. Check that your device has sufficient free disk space for the update.
4. Run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter.

Detailed Instructions

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Select the Start button, then select Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Locate Windows Update in the list and select Run.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to allow Windows to detect and fix issues automatically.
5. Restart your computer once the troubleshooter completes.

Clear the SoftwareDistribution Folder

1. Select the Start button, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type the following command to stop the Windows Update service and press Enter: net stop wuauserv
3. Type the following command to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and press Enter: net stop bits
4. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
5. Delete all files and folders inside the SoftwareDistribution folder.
6. Return to Command Prompt and restart the services using these commands: net start wuauserv
net start bits
7. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

Deleting the contents of the SoftwareDistribution folder is safe. Windows will recreate the necessary files automatically when the update service restarts.

Reset Windows Update Components via Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Run the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each: net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
3. Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
4. Restart the services: net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
5. Close Command Prompt and restart your computer.

Verify System File Integrity

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the scan to complete. If corrupt files are found and repaired, restart your computer.
4. If issues persist, run the DISM tool to repair the system image: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
5. Run sfc /scannow again after the DISM process finishes.

Troubleshooting

Update Stuck at a Certain Percentage

• Leave the computer powered on for several hours. Some updates take longer to install on slower hardware.
• If there is no progress after several hours, perform a hard restart by holding the power button until the device turns off, then power it back on.
• Run the Windows Update troubleshooter after rebooting.

Error Code 0x80070057 or 0x80240034

• These codes often indicate corrupted update files. Clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder usually resolves this.
• Ensure your date and time settings are correct by going to Settings > Time & language > Date & time.

Insufficient Disk Space

• Open File Explorer and check the free space on your C: drive.
• Windows typically requires at least 20 GB of free space for feature updates.
• Use Disk Cleanup or Storage settings to remove temporary files and unnecessary data.

If your device is managed by your organisation, some update settings may be controlled by your IT administrator. Contact your internal support team if changes are restricted.

If you host with us, you don't need to do this yourself — just Open a Ticket and our Brisbane team will get it sorted.

If you continue to experience Windows Update errors after following these steps, you can Open a Ticket for further assistance from our Brisbane support team.

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