How to Fix Windows Update Errors on Windows
Updates failing with error codes, stuck downloading, or looping on "Undoing changes"? This guide walks through every common update failure and how to fix it — from cache resets to component store repair.
- ✓Resets all Windows Update components in the correct order
- ✓Repairs BITS, component store, and system file corruption
- ✓Covers 0x80070005, 0x800F081F, 0x80073712, and dozens more error codes
Best for recurring update failures, stuck installations, and post-update rollback loops on Windows 10 and 11.
Main Troubleshooting Guide
How to Fix Slow Computer →Complete symptoms, causes, and step-by-step solutions
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Updates fail to install with specific error codes (0x80070005, 0x800F081F, etc.)
- •Update stuck downloading or installing at a percentage
- •Update downloads successfully but fails during installation
- •Infinite restart loop with "Undoing changes" after failed update
- •Feature updates (e.g., 23H2, 24H2) fail repeatedly
- •Cumulative updates roll back after restart
- •Windows Update page shows "Something went wrong" or refuses to check
Windows Update problems usually fall into one of these buckets
Error Code Failures
Update attempts fail with a specific error code — usually a corrupted cache, permission issue, or missing component.
Stuck or Frozen Updates
Update hangs at a download or install percentage — typically a BITS service failure or disk space issue.
Rollback Loops
Update installs but fails on restart, looping on "Undoing changes" — usually corrupted system files or driver conflicts.
What RescuePC checks for Windows Update problems
RescuePC automates the most effective Windows Update repair sequence so you don't have to run each command manually or guess which component is broken.
- →Stops and restarts all Windows Update services (BITS, wuauserv, cryptSvc, msiserver)
- →Renames SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 caches to force a clean rebuild
- →Runs DISM /RestoreHealth and SFC /scannow to repair corrupted system files
- →Verifies Component Store (WinSxS) integrity
- →Checks disk space and cleans up stale update files
This is most useful when Windows Update fails with error codes, gets stuck downloading, or loops on "Undoing changes" — common Windows-side update failures.
Manual troubleshooting vs RescuePC
On your own
- •Opening an admin Command Prompt and typing net stop / net start commands one at a time
- •Manually renaming SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders
- •Running DISM and SFC commands and waiting 30+ minutes for each
- •Searching Microsoft Catalog to manually download and install the KB
- •Going through services.msc to verify each Update-related service
With RescuePC
- →Stops, resets, and restarts all update components in the correct order
- →Runs system file repair (DISM + SFC) automatically
- →Clears stale cache and verifies component store integrity
- →Covers the full repair sequence in one pass instead of piecemeal troubleshooting
You are not paying for information alone. You are paying for a faster, more structured path through the Windows Update repair workflow.
When this page is most likely to help
- ✓Windows Update fails with error codes like 0x80070005, 0x800F081F, 0x80073712
- ✓Updates get stuck downloading or installing and never complete
- ✓Your PC loops on "Undoing changes made to your computer" after a failed update
- ✓Feature updates (23H2, 24H2) fail repeatedly
- ✓Windows Update page shows "Something went wrong" and won't check for updates
If the update failure is Windows-side — corrupted components, broken services, or cache issues — this is exactly the kind of problem RescuePC is built to help with.
When software repair may not be enough
RescuePC can fix many common Windows Update failures, but software repair is not always the full answer.
- ⚠Your hardware is not supported for the target Windows version (e.g., TPM 2.0 requirement for Windows 11)
- ⚠Microsoft has pulled or paused the update due to a known issue
- ⚠Your internet connection is too slow or unstable to download large updates
- ⚠The system drive is physically failing (use CrystalDiskInfo to check)
- ⚠A clean Windows reinstall is needed due to severe OS corruption
Common Causes
- ⚠Corrupted SoftwareDistribution or catroot2 cache
- ⚠Insufficient disk space on the system drive
- ⚠Third-party antivirus or security software blocking update files
- ⚠Corrupted system files preventing update installation
- ⚠Windows Update or BITS service stopped or misconfigured
- ⚠Component store (WinSxS) corruption
- ⚠Network set to metered connection blocking downloads
Solutions
Solution 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
- 1Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (Windows 11)
- 2Or Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot (Windows 10)
- 3Run the "Windows Update" troubleshooter
- 4Apply any recommended fixes and restart
- 5Try Windows Update again after restart
- 6This resolves the most common service and cache issues automatically
Solution 2: Reset Windows Update Components
- 1Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- 2Stop services: net stop wuauserv && net stop cryptSvc && net stop bits && net stop msiserver
- 3Rename cache: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- 4Rename catroot: ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
- 5Restart services: net start wuauserv && net start cryptSvc && net start bits && net start msiserver
- 6Try Windows Update again — this forces a clean cache rebuild
Solution 3: Repair System Files with DISM + SFC
- 1Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- 2Run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- 3Wait for completion (may take 15-30 minutes)
- 4Run: sfc /scannow
- 5If SFC finds issues: restart and run sfc /scannow again
- 6Retry Windows Update after both tools complete successfully
Solution 4: Manually Install Updates from Microsoft Catalog
- 1Note the KB number from the failed update (e.g., KB5034441)
- 2Go to catalog.update.microsoft.com in your browser
- 3Search for the KB number
- 4Download the version matching your system (x64 for most modern PCs)
- 5Run the downloaded .msu file to install the update manually
- 6This bypasses Windows Update entirely and often succeeds when automatic install fails
Solution 5: Free Up Disk Space for Updates
- 1Open Settings > System > Storage
- 2Run Storage Sense or click "Temporary files"
- 3Check "Windows Update Cleanup" and "Temporary files"
- 4Delete selected files — large feature updates need 20+ GB free
- 5Also run Disk Cleanup > "Clean up system files" for deeper cleanup
- 6Retry Windows Update after freeing space
Solution 6: Check and Restart Update Services
- 1Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
- 2Find "Windows Update" — ensure it is Running and set to Automatic
- 3Find "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" — same settings
- 4Find "Cryptographic Services" — same settings
- 5If any are stopped: right-click > Start
- 6If any won't start: right-click > Properties > set Startup type to Automatic, then restart your PC
Reset Windows Update — the exact commands
Most Windows Update errors come from a corrupted update cache or component store. This sequence stops the update services, clears their data stores, and repairs the component store. Run it in an elevated Command Prompt.
net stop wuauserv && net stop bits && net stop cryptsvc && net stop msiserverStops the Update, Background Transfer, Cryptographic, and Installer services so their caches can be reset safely.
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.oldRenames the Windows Update download cache; Windows rebuilds a clean one automatically.
ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.oldResets the store of cryptographic signatures used to verify update packages.
net start wuauserv && net start bits && net start cryptsvc && net start msiserverRestarts the update services against the freshly reset caches.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthRepairs the Windows component store that updates install into — the fix for most 0x8007xxxx errors.
Reboot, then re-check Windows Update. RescuePC runs this exact reset with a restore point first and a signed, logged execution so you can prove what changed.
Which Type of Update Problem Are You Experiencing?
Update fails with a specific error code (0x80070005, 0x800F081F, etc.)
Likely cause: Corrupted update cache or component store, permission issue, or missing source files
Update gets stuck downloading or installing at a percentage
Likely cause: BITS service failure, network issue, or insufficient disk space
Update installs but rolls back after restart ("Undoing changes")
Likely cause: Corrupted system files, incompatible driver, or third-party software conflict
Feature update (23H2, 24H2) fails repeatedly
Likely cause: Insufficient disk space, incompatible hardware/drivers, or component store corruption
Best next step
Good fit for error code failures, stuck downloads, rollback loops, and common Windows Update component issues on Windows 10 and 11.
Why RescuePC is different from running the Update Troubleshooter
The built-in Windows Update troubleshooter only checks basic service status and cache. RescuePC goes deeper — resetting all components, repairing system files, and verifying the component store in a single structured pass.
- →Full component reset instead of just restarting services
- →System file repair (DISM + SFC) included in the workflow
- →Component store verification to catch WinSxS corruption
- →Structured sequence that covers the most common failure points
Related Error Codes
Browse More Update & Installation Guides
Frequently asked questions
Why do I keep getting different error codes for Windows Update?▼
Is it safe to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder?▼
Why does my update keep rolling back after restart?▼
Can I skip a problematic update?▼
Is it safe to reset Windows Update components manually?▼
Related Troubleshooting Guides
These specific guides cover common variations of this problem: