How can I fix this error relating to Windows update: (0x80245006).

Question

Device has stopped updating since September and this error code keeps populating. Any direction would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hello Rice,

Thank you for posting question on Microsoft Windows Forum.

Based on the provided error code 0x80245006 which probably indicates that Windows Update cannot find the required files or that the update components on your device have become corrupted.

Since your device has not updated since September, a specific file from that period likely got "stuck" or corrupted during a download, effectively clogging the pipe for all future updates.

The suggestion here is to clear the "Stuck" Update Cache. We need to stop the update services, rename the folders where updates are stored (forcing Windows to create fresh ones), and then restart the services.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Press Windows Key + S, type cmd. Right-click "Command Prompt" and select Run as administrator. Stop the Update Services. Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each net stop wuauserv , net stop cryptSvc , net stop bits , net stop msiserver .Then rename the Corrupted Folders by typing these two commands ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old and ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old Restart the above Services by running these commands one by one in order net start wuauserv , net start cryptSvc , net start bits , net start msiserver .Restart your computer and try running Windows Update again. Please note: The first check might take longer than usual.
• In case, the above clearing the cache did not work, the update mechanism itself might be damaged. You can use built-in Windows tools to repair Corrupted System Files. Open Command Prompt as Administrator again. Run the DISM tool to check the health of your Windows image by running this command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth . Then run the SFC tool for scanning for missing files by running this command sfc /scannow .Once both are complete, restart your PC.

Alternatively, you can manually install the latest "Cumulative Update" to get your system back on track. Go to Settings > System > About to see your System Type (usually x64) and Version (e.g., 22H2 or 23H2). Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog. Search for "Windows 11 Cumulative Update 2026" (or Windows 10, depending on your OS). Look for the most recent one (verify the date). Download the update matching your system (x64) and run the .msu file. This will force the update to install without using the broken Windows Update service.

You can consult the following article for more information regarding your concerns.

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/installing-updates-features-roles/additional-resources-for-windows-update

Hope the above information is helpful! If it is. Free feel to hit "Accepted" for benefitting others in community having the same issue too.

Answer 2

To address the Windows Update error code 0x80245006, you can try the following steps:

1. Check Windows Update Services: Ensure that the Windows Update service is running. You can do this by typing services.msc in the Run dialog (Win + R) and checking the status of the Windows Update service.
2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, and then select Windows Update. Run the troubleshooter and follow the prompts.
3. Reset Windows Update Components: You can manually reset the Windows Update components. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following commands one by one:

      net stop wuauserv
      net stop cryptSvc
      net stop bits
      net stop msiserver
      net start wuauserv
      net start cryptSvc
      net start bits
      net start msiserver
   

4. Check for Corrupted Files: Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run:

      sfc /scannow
   

5. Use DISM Tool: If the issue persists, you can use the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM) to repair the Windows image. Run the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:

      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   

6. Check for Pending Updates: Sometimes, pending updates can cause issues. Make sure there are no updates stuck in the queue.
7. Contact Microsoft Support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.

These steps should help you troubleshoot and potentially resolve the error code 0x80245006 related to Windows Update.