Windows Update download error 0x80240437

Question

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth reports 0x800f0915

The repair content could not be found anywhere.

Check the internet connectivity or use the "Source" option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the image. For more information on specifying a source location, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=243077

I visited Windows Update where a secuirty update is waiting to load. This fails with "download error 0x80240437"

Something is wrong

Answer 1

Hi Paul Einstein,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I know how frustrating it is when Windows updates keep failing, especially when you’ve already tried troubleshooting. I’m sorry for the hassle this has caused, and I appreciate you sticking with us while we work through it.

From what we’re seeing, the update issue is coming from some corrupted Windows update components. The first thing we recommend is resetting the Windows Update services. This helps clear out any stuck or damaged update data and lets Windows start fresh when checking for updates again. Click Start, search for Command Prompt, right‑click it, and select Run as administrator. When the black command window opens, copy and run the commands below one at a time:

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak
ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
net start bits
net start wuauserv

Restart the computer then check for updates again

If the update still doesn’t go through after that, the next and most reliable fix is an in‑place repair of Windows. This is a safe repair process that reinstalls the core Windows system files while keeping your files, settings, and apps exactly as they are. It’s commonly used when standard repair tools can’t fully fix update errors, and it’s very effective at restoring Windows Update back to a healthy state.

*Disclaimer: Let’s try performing an in-place install or in-place upgrade which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes. If you want to back up your data first, please do so. Once you are done backing up, you can follow the steps in the following guides: How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A 

Please let me know once the reset is complete or if you’re already running the in‑place repair. I’m here to help you through it and answer any questions along the way.

Thanks again for your patience.

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Answer 2

To resolve the Windows Update download error 0x80240437 and the DISM error 0x800f0915, follow these steps:

1. Check Internet Connectivity: Ensure that your device is connected to the internet. A stable connection is necessary for Windows Update to download the required files.
2. Use DISM with Source Option: Since the DISM command returned an error indicating that the repair content could not be found, you can specify a source for the repair files. Use the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:

      DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:<path_to_source_files> /LimitAccess
   

   Replace <path_to_source_files> with the path to a valid Windows installation source, such as a mounted ISO or a network location.
3. Run SFC: After running the DISM command, you can also run the System File Checker to repair any corrupted system files. Use the command:

      sfc /scannow
   

4. Retry Windows Update: After performing the above steps, try running Windows Update again to see if the issue is resolved.

If the problem persists, you may need to check for any additional issues with your Windows installation or consider using a different repair source.

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References:

• Fix Windows Update corruptions and installation failures
• Repair a Windows Image