How to Fix Window 10 Update Errors

How to Fix Window 10 Update Errors.

Since the release of Windows 10 and Microsoft’s move to software-as-a-service for its flagship operating system, updates have come in very quickly. At least once a year, Microsoft releases a major update for Windows 10 whether you like it or not. There are also many small updates that range from critical security fixes to more trivial cosmetic and minor changes.

When everything is working correctly, you hardly know that anything is happening at all. However, when Windows update errors occur, the result can be anything from blocked updates to a computer that is no longer working!

Check if You Have an Update Error

If you suspect that some kind of Windows Update error has occurred on your computer, you can confirm this by checking the update status:

Open the Start menu.
Enter “Check for Updates” and then select it.
Check the Windows update status, if there are any errors, they should be listed here.

Otherwise, you will see a green checkmark and a message stating that you are in the know. While there may not be an obvious error, you may see an indication that your last update is still incomplete, has not been downloaded or failed to install. The solutions we’ll cover below will help you deal with all of these options.

Note the Update Error Code (If Any)

As you check the update status, pay attention to any Windows update error codes that you see. You can google these codes to find out what the specific reason is for your updates not working.

The error codes usually look like “0x80070070”, and there can be several of them. If you enter them into a search engine, you will most likely get accurate answers about what went wrong.

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Check for Stuck or Failed Updates

While you may not see the actual error with the error code, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem. Windows keeps a record of your update history, making it easy to check what has happened since you were away.

Open the start menu and select the settings gear.
Select Update & Security and then Windows Update.
Then select View Update History.

Here you can see if you tried to download or install something and then failed. Sometimes the nature of the update can give you a clue to a specific problem.

Before You Do Anything, Reboot

At this point, you’ve checked the update status and noted any error codes that might appear, but what should you do first to resolve the Windows update error? The answer might be a simple restart of your computer.

Sometimes it happens that an update cannot be downloaded and installed because it has a dependency that is blocked until the next Windows boot. It may also require another update to complete the installation, but this will not happen until the next restart.

If you open the start menu and then press the power button, you can see the Refresh and then restart option. This is a sure sign that there are pending updates that require a restart to continue working.

Are Your Update Settings Correct? -How to Fix Window 10 Update Errors

If you haven’t noticed any errors, but your copy of Windows doesn’t seem to be updating, your update settings may not be configured correctly:

Open the Start menu.
Enter Windows Update Options and then select it when it appears.

Check if your updates have been paused or if the active time is set according to your preference.

Select Advanced Options to see additional configuration options. If you have configured a restricted internet connection, you will need to toggle the switch that allows you to download updates based on the number of connections. Just make sure you are willing to pay for data transfer if any.

Try the Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft knows that its update system can fail from time to time, which is why they actually included a dedicated tool in Windows to troubleshoot problems with Windows Update. Here’s how to start it:

Open the Start menu and select the Settings gear.
Now select Update & Security.

Select Troubleshoot and then Advanced troubleshooters.

Finally, under Getting Started, select Windows Update and Run the troubleshooter.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

The Update Troubleshooter can often resolve minor issues with Windows Update without additional steps.

For Windows 7 and 8.1 Try the Online Wizard

While this article is mainly about Windows 10 update issues, there are still many people using older versions of Windows. If you are still using Windows 7, your main problems with the update are likely due to the fact that support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020.

It’s the same with Windows 8, which was dropped in 8.1. Instead of arguing further, we strongly recommend that you take the plunge and upgrade to a newer version of Windows.

If you really want to move forward, Microsoft has provided a handy online troubleshooter with troubleshooting instructions that asks you a series of questions to help narrow down the possible causes of your problems.

You Might Simply Be Out of Space

When Windows downloads and installs an update, it needs a lot of hard drive space! After all, it needs to download the update data, it needs a workspace to update the files, and it also needs to keep backups so you can roll back problematic updates.

If you don’t have enough space for Windows Update, first go to “7 Ways to Increase Disk Space in Windows 10” to create a little more breathing room.

Delete the Software Distribution Files

The files that Windows update works with are stored in the software distribution directory. One soft-core option is to simply delete that folder. You cannot do this while Windows Update is running, so reboot into Safe Mode and follow these steps:

Open the Windows folder in Windows Explorer.
Select the SoftwareDistribution folder.
Delete the entire folder.
Restart Windows normally.

This will not damage your computer in any way and will not force Windows Update to restore working update files from scratch.

Check Your System Files for Corruption

According to some user reports, it looks like corrupted or missing system files can interfere with the update process and cause Windows update errors. System files can be lost or damaged for various reasons, but the important thing is how easily the problem is solved. Windows comes with a utility known as System File Checker.

For precise instructions on how to make sure your system files are in good condition, review using these command line commands to repair or repair corrupted files. You might think that Windows Update could take care of this on its own, but it seems like it sometimes requires a helping hand manually.

Make Sure Hardware Drivers are Up To Date

While Windows Update can update most things on its own, some third-party hardware drivers and utilities are not under its control. If you haven’t updated your GPU drivers or any other important component for a long time, it may be preventing the installation of the latest Windows update.

Auditing all of your drivers can be tedious, but there are tools you can use to automate and streamline the process. Driver Booster is a free tool that we have had a good experience with. You can also see How to automatically update device drivers in Windows 10.

Try Rolling Back Your Last Update

Your last update may have crashed because the last update went wrong somehow. You get a 10-day window during which you can roll back the changes made by the last update. This means that you will most likely no longer be allowed to do this when the next update comes out, but if a buggy update is soon followed by a fix, you might have to do it under some circumstances.

Open the Start menu.
Enter Windows Update Options and then open it when it appears.
Select “Recovery” in the sidebar.
Find the “Back” item. to the previous version of Windows 10.

Select Start Work, if available.

Now just follow the instructions. If you are late, there is another way to get rid of certain updates by uninstalling them directly.

Uninstall Specific Updates

You can uninstall unwanted or problematic updates directly in Windows 10. It’s very simple, although we warn you to make sure the issue is with a specific update. For example, if many other users report that the update interferes with Windows Update or contains other errors. Here’s how to uninstall updates:

You should see a list of installed updates that you can uninstall. Not all updates will be here, but some updates should come. Just right-click any update you want to uninstall and select Uninstall.

Manually Download and Install Updates

While the automatic updating service is handy, sometimes you just need to do something yourself. Many users may not even be aware that Microsoft offers its cumulative updates as independent downloads. When you think about it, it makes sense.

Because not all Windows 10 computers have adequate internet access. Some users also have multiple computers to update, and the offline installer eliminates the need to download the same update data for each computer.

To manually download and install a Windows 10 update, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog and enter the KB number for the latest update. The knowledge base number can be found on Google.

Then just click the Download button for the appropriate update and install it like any downloaded app.

Perform a Repair Install of Windows

If you’re really out of ideas, you can use Windows 10 Installer to repair your Windows installation without losing any files or programs. All you have to do is start the installation process from your Windows 10 media. If you don’t have Windows 10 media, you can download it for free from Microsoft.

When prompted, choose “update” your Windows installation, and then choose to keep files and programs. This can go wrong in some cases, so please consider this as a last resort.

Hook Up With Microsoft Support

If all else fails, you can always talk a little with someone from Microsoft support. In our experience, their live chat support is fast and efficient. Consultants can even take control of your computer and quickly diagnose and fix problems.

This is especially useful if the reason for the failure of the latest Windows update stems from a known issue that Microsoft itself must resolve on its own. The counselor will let you know if there is nothing else you can do so you can do more important things.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs.
3. Select View Installed Updates.

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How to Fix Window 10 Update Errors

How to Fix Window 10 Update Errors