windows update fail

Question

Can't download and install some windows updates error install failed and download failed

Answer 1

Hi Richard Hernandez,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

You may follow this article to troubleshoot the Windows update: Windows Update Troubleshooter - Microsoft Support.

Alternatively, you may manually download the update package to install through Microsoft Update Catalog. Just enter the KB you need to Search form then choose the package right for your system.

I hope that above information is helpful to you.

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Answer 2

Greetings!

I'm Christine, I'll be happy to assist you. Sorry to hear that you're getting error when installing Windows updates. No worries, I'll do my best to help you.

May I know what is the exact error message that you're getting?

Have you tried to run the Troubleshooter already?

Please follow the steps below:

1. Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 11

Please Click Start menu and type Troubleshoot

Hit Other troubleshooters

And select Windows Update

Finally, Run the troubleshooter

Please check if the issue persists

2. Please click Start menu and type CMD, right click on it and choose Run as Admin, please paste the command below and hit enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Please wait for it to finish and repair the system files.

Once done, please paste the command below and hit enter.

sfc /scannow

Please wait to finish.

Check if the issue persists.

3. Reset Windows update services:

Please click start menu and type cmd, right click on it and choose run with admin

Kindly copy and paste the command lines below and hit enter:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

Ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

Please check if the issue persists.

Please let me know the result. I'll be happy to assist you all the way until it's resolved.

Thank you,

Independent Advisor

Answer 3

Follow these steps in order on the Windows 11 PC that cannot download or install updates:

1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
   1. Select Start > Settings > System.
   2. Select Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   3. Find Windows Update and select Run.
   4. Let it complete and apply any fixes it suggests.
2. Restart the PC After the troubleshooter finishes, restart the device, then go to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates to try again.
3. Clear the Windows Update cache (if errors persist) This helps when downloads fail or updates get stuck.
   1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   2. Find Windows Update, right‑click it, and select Stop.
   3. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
   4. Delete all files and folders inside SoftwareDistribution (not the folder itself).
   5. Go back to Services, right‑click Windows Update, and select Start.
   6. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates again.
4. Check disk space and restart to apply pending updates Some updates fail if there is not enough free space or if a previous update is waiting for a restart.
   1. Make sure there is sufficient free space on the system drive.
   2. Select Start > Power and choose Update and restart or Update and shut down if those options are available.
5. If a specific error code appears When the update fails again, note the exact error code (for example 0x80070002, 0x80070005, 0x800705b4, 0x800f0922, etc.). Then follow the targeted steps for that code in the Windows Update troubleshooting article under Error codes and their potential causes.

If the problem continues after these steps and targeted error‑code fixes, use the guidance in the Windows upgrade and installation errors article to repair system files (for example with DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth) and then try Windows Update again.

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References:

• Troubleshoot problems updating Windows
• Get help with Windows upgrade and installation errors