20+ Ways to Fix Windows Update Errors: Fast & Easy

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The ultimate troubleshooting guide for when Windows can’t update

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Look up your specific error code.

2 Restart your computer.

3 Verify your device is plugged in.

4 Check your internet connection.

5 Make sure you have administrative access.

6 Free up some disk space.

7 Make sure the date and time are correct.

8 Disconnect peripheral devices.

9 Run Windows Troubleshooter Tool

10 Disable third-party security software.

11 Restart Windows Update Service.

12 Restart Windows Update core components.

13 Run System File Checker

14 Run DISM

15 Check your hard disk for errors.

16 Clear the update cache.

17 Manually download and install updates.

18 Try updating in Safe Mode.

19 Do a system restore.

20 Reinstall Windows.

21 Reset your PC.

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Written by Stan Kats | Edited by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: February 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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If Windows is unable to update, it can affect your system security and possibly your productivity. Update issues can be caused by a number of things, including corrupt system files, issues with update services, hardware problems, insufficient disk space, internet connection issues, and more. This can result in error codes, such as error 1053, 0x800f0983, 0x8007000d, or an incomplete or frozen update. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to fix these errors. This wikiHow article teaches you how to fix Windows update errors and issues.

Fix Windows Update Issues

Make sure you have enough disk space for an update. Check your internet connection. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter. Delete the update cache files. If that doesn’t work, run System File Checker, DISM, and Check Disk (chkdsk) in the command prompt. Reinstall Windows as a last resort.

Steps

1

Look up your specific error code.

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1. 
   An update error code can give you clues about what caused the issue. If Windows fails to update and gives you an error code, you may be able to use this information to identify and fix the problem. For example, Windows error 1053 means the Update service failed to start quickly enough. You may be able to fix it by opening Run, entering services.msc, and making sure the Windows Update service startup type is set to “Automatic” (rather than “Automatic (Delayed Start)”).

   • Look up your error code on this page from Microsoft to find out exactly what it means and how to fix it.
   • Common update errors include error codes 0x800f0983, 0x8007000d, 0x800705b4, 0x800f0922, 0x80070057, 0x80080005, 0xC1900101, 0x80070005, or 0x80070002.
   • Common causes for these errors include things like third-party software interfering with updates, firewalls blocking software downloads, and invalid metadata associated with the update.
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2

Restart your computer.

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1. 
   There may be a minor glitch in Windows. You can often fix minor issues by restarting your PC. Whenever you are experiencing any sort of problem with your PC, this is the obvious first step. To restart your computer, click the Windows Start icon, then click the Power icon. Click Restart.

   • If you are unable to access the Restart option in the Windows Start menu, you can force a restart by pressing and holding the Power button on your PC or laptop.

3

Verify your device is plugged in.

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1. 
   Your computer needs to be plugged in during an update. Some Windows updates can take a while. If your computer loses power during an update, it can cause major issues. If you are using a laptop, make sure your power cable is plugged in. Don’t try to update Windows while your laptop is running on battery.
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4

Check your internet connection.

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1. 
   Your internet connection may be unstable or slow. Try using other apps or visiting other websites. See if you notice any issues. Be sure to close down any background apps that use a lot of bandwidth. Make sure there aren’t other devices connected to the network that are using a lot of internet activity (i.e., downloading large files, streaming video). If you are experiencing internet connectivity issues, try unplugging your router or modem for 30 seconds. Then plug it back in and wait a full minute. If you continue to experience problems with your internet, contact your internet service provider.

   • Connection issues will often be accompanied by error code 0x80240034.

5

Make sure you have administrative access.

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1. 
   Some Windows updates require administrative access. If you are not currently signed in with an administrative account, you will need to do so before you can continue the update. If you don’t have access to an administrative account, you can contact your admin and see if they can grant you administrative access, or have them sign in and update the system.

   • If you don’t have administrative access, you may receive error code 0x80070005.
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6

Free up some disk space.

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1. 
   You may not have enough disk space for an update. To check how much disk space you have, open File Explorer and click This PC in the menu bar to the left. You should see a bar graph showing how much disk space you have available compared to how much disk space you have total. Make sure you have about 10 to 15 GB of free disk space available. If you don’t, you may need to delete some apps and/or files in order to free up some disk space.

   • When you don’t have enough disk space, you will usually get error code 0x800f0922.

7

Make sure the date and time are correct.

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1. 
   An incorrect date and time can interfere with Windows Update. Use the following steps to make sure your date and time are correct:

   • Click the Windows Start icon.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click Time & Language.
   • Click Date & Time.
   • Ensure the toggle switch next to “Set time zone automatically” is turned on.
   • Ensure the toggle switch next to “Set time automatically” is turned on.
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8

Disconnect peripheral devices.

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1. 
   Third-party devices may be conflicting with Windows. Try disconnecting any USB devices and peripherals. Disconnect any printers, webcams, game controllers, USB drives, and anything else connected to your computer. Then try updating your computer.

9

Run Windows Troubleshooter Tool

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1. 
   There might be problems with the system. Luckily, Windows has a built-in tool you can use to troubleshoot update problems and errors. Use the following steps to run the Windows Update troubleshooter:

   • Click the Windows Start icon.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click System.
   • Click Troubleshoot.
   • Click Other troubleshooters.
   • Click Run next to “Windows Update.”
   • Follow the prompts in the troubleshooter.
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10

Disable third-party security software.

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1. 
   Third-party security software may be interfering with Windows Update. If you have any third-party security software, such as third-party antivirus software or firewall software, it may be interfering with Windows Update. Open any third-party security software you have running and temporarily disable it. You may need to temporarily uninstall the program.

11

Restart Windows Update Service.

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1. 
   There may be a glitch with Windows Update Service. You can try to manually restart Windows Update Services and see if this fixes any issues. Use the following steps to do so:

   • Press Win + R to open Run.
   • Type “Services.msc” into Run and click Ok.
   • Scroll down and double-click Windows Update.
   • Make sure startup type is set to Automatic.
   • Click Stop (if service is running).
   • Click Start.
   • Click Apply.
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12

Restart Windows Update core components.

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1. 
   There may be an issue with one of the core components. You can start and stop the core components using the Command Prompt. Use the following steps to do so:

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Type CMD.
   • Right-click the Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.
   • Type net stop wuauservrv and press Enter.
   • Type net stop bits and press Enter.
   • Type net start cryptsvc and press Enter.
   • Type net start msiserver and press Enter.
   • Type ren c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old and press Enter.
   • Type ren c:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old and press Enter.
   • Type net start wuauserv and press Enter.
   • Type net start bits and press Enter.
   • Type net start cryptsvc and press Enter.
   • Type net start msiserver and press Enter.
   • Try running Windows Update again.

13

Run System File Checker

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1. 
   There may be some corrupt system files. Corrupt system files are usually accompanied by error code 0x8007000d , 0x80070057, or 0x80080005. Running System File Checker will scan for any corrupt Windows files and attempt to fix them. Use the following steps to run System File Checker:

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Type CMD.
   • Right-click the Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.
   • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
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14

Run DISM

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1. 
   There may still be corrupt system files. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) can scan your system files against an online database and verify their integrity. Use the following steps to use DISM to scan and repair system files:

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Type CMD.
   • Right-click the Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.
   • Type DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth and press Enter.
   • Type DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.

15

Check your hard disk for errors.

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1. 
   Your hard disk drive may have bad sectors. Windows has a built-in tool you can use to scan your hard disk and fix any errors that are found. Use the following step to check your hard disk for errors:

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Type CMD.
   • Right-click the Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.
   • Type chkdsk /f C: and press Enter.
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16

Clear the update cache.

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1. 
   The cache may have corrupt files. Problems with the cache are usually accompanied by error code 0x8007000d. If your cache has corrupt files, it may cause issues. Use the following steps to delete your update cache:

   • Press Win + R to open Run.
   • Type “Services.msc” into Run and click Ok.
   • Right-click Windows Update and click Stop.
   • Navigate to “C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution” in File Explorer.
   • Press Ctrl + A to select all the files.
   • Press Delete to delete all the files.
   • Press Win + R to open Run.
   • Type “Services.msc” into Run and click Ok.
   • Right-click Windows Update and click Start.

17

Manually download and install updates.

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1. 
   There may be a problem with automatic update services. You can download Windows updates manually and install them. To do so, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website in a web browser. Enter “Windows 11 Update” (or “Windows 10 Update” if that’s what you still have) in the search bar in the upper-right corner. Click Download next to all the updates you need. Run the installation files in your Downloads folder.

   • Also, check and see if there are any updates to third-party hardware on your computer (i.e., your graphics card) available. Check on the manufacturer’s website as well as the Microsoft Update Catalog.
   • If you have an incompatible driver, you will likely receive error code 0xC1900101.
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18

Try updating in Safe Mode.

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1. 
   There may be programs or apps conflicting with Windows Update. Safe Mode launches Windows with the minimum number of programs and drivers needed to run. This reduces the risk of conflicts. Use the following steps to boot into Safe Mode.

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click System.
   • Click Recovery.
   • Click Restart Now next to “Advanced Startup.”
   • Click Troubleshoot.
   • Click Advanced Options.
   • Click Startup Settings.
   • Press 5 to boot into Safe Mode with networking.
   • Run Windows Update

19

Do a system restore.

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1. 
   Your current system state may be corrupted. System Restore takes images of your Windows system at various times and allows you to return to a previous image state when your Windows installation stops working. Try restoring Windows back to a state before the problem started occurring. Use the following steps to restore Windows:

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Type system restore.
   • Click Create a restore point.
   • Click System Restore.
   • Click Next.
   • Select a restore point dated before the problem started.
   • Click Next.
   • Follow the prompts to complete the system restore.
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20

Reinstall Windows.

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1. 
   Your Windows installation may be corrupt. You can use a Windows Installation Media drive to repair or reinstall your Windows installation. You can also do a local install on your computer. It is recommended that you back up any files you want to keep first, in case anything goes wrong. However, this method should reinstall your current version of Windows without deleting any files. Use the following steps to do so:

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click System.
   • Click Recovery.
   • Click Reinstall now next to “Fix problems using Windows Update.”
   • Check “Automatically restart PC 15 minutes after installation.”
   • Click Ok.

21

Reset your PC.

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1. 
   Your Windows installation may be very corrupt. If using Windows Update to reinstall Windows doesn’t fix the issue, you may need to completely reset your PC. There is a good chance this will completely wipe your hard drive, erase all data, and reinstall a fresh copy of Windows. Make sure you back up any files you want to keep before getting started. Use the following steps to reset your PC:

   • Click the Windows Start menu.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click System.
   • Click Recovery.
   • Click Reset this PC.
   • Click Keep my files.
     • If this option doesn’t work, you’ll need to try again and select Remove everything, which will wipe your hard drive completely.
   • Click Cloud Reinstall.
     • If you are not connected to the internet, you can select Local Reinstall instead.
   • Review your selected options and click Next.
   • Click Reset.
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