Windows 11 Updates Failed Error: How to Fix

Sadique Hassan•Updated Oct 27, 2021

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the Windows 11 Updates Failed error. The Redmond giants regularly release software upgrades for their OS. Categorized under Qualify and Feature updates, the former is released at regular intervals whereas the latter get rolled twice a year. As is evident from their names, Quality updates are mostly focused on improving the overall usability of the OS, enhancing its performance, and further strengthening the security.

On the other hand, the Features updates usually bring in a few goodies for your PC. And it goes without saying that you should definitely install both these updates (or atleast the Quality one) at the earliest. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to do the same. A slew of complaints are lined up across various forums that users are getting updates failed errors on their Windows 11 PC. Some of these errors are:

Windows 11 ‘Kmode Exception Not Handled’ Error
Windows 11 Error Code 0xa0000400
Windows 11 Error Code 0xc19001-0x40021
Windows 11 Error Code 0x800f0988
Windows 11 Error Code 0x80073701

If you are also getting bugged with this problem and are unable to download or install the latest updates, then this guide is here to help you out. Given here are various methods that shall help you fix the Windows 11 Updates Failed error. Follow along.

Table of Contents

How to Fix Windows 11 Updates Failed Error

Unless stated otherwise. this is a universal guide whose instructions are applicable for all the Windows 11 error codes. However, there isn’t any universal fix as such. You will have to try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then check which one works out in your favor. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Use Windows 11 Troubleshooter

Let’s take the official route first. Windows has backed in quite a few troubleshooter apps, and one of them especially focuses on its Update. It will scan for the issues bugging the update service and shall then bring in the associated fix as well. You could then apply the fixes with just a single click. Here’s how:

USe the Windows+R shortcut keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter.
```
ms-settings:troubleshoot
```
It shall take you to the Windows Troubleshooter page, click on Other Troubleshooter.
Now click on the Run button next to Windows Troubleshooter.
The scanning process will now begin. Once complete, it shall bring in the fixes, just click on it to apply it.
Finally, restart your PC for the fix to be implemented. Then verify if it manages to fix the Windows 11 Updates Failed error.

FIX 2: Delete Windows 11 Update Cache

If a lot of temporary data related to Windows Update gets accumulated over the due course of time, then it might conflict with the regular cycle of Windows updates. Therefore, the best route is to delete all these temporary cache files from your PC right away. Here’s how it could be done:

Head over to the Start Menu, search CMD, and open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Now execute the following three commands in this CMD window, one at a time:
```
net stop bits 
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
```
After that, launch File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut keys.
Then copy-paste the below location its address bar:
```
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
```
Now delete all the files from that folder.
After that, head over to the below location:
```
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore
```
As before, delete all the files from that folder.
Once that is done, go back to the CMD window and execute the following three commands, one at a time:
```
net start bits 
net start wuauserv 
net start cryptsvc
```
Once that is done, restart your PC and then check if the Windows 11 Updates Failed error has been fixed or not.

FIX 3: Restart Windows Update Service

In order to make the Windows Update cycle carry out its task efficiently (checking updates, downloading or installing them, or scheduling them for a later date), it is of paramount importance for its associated service to be running well and good. If that is not the case, then the Windows Update will be the ultimate sufferer. To rectify it, you should consider restarting this service, which could be done as follows:

To begin with. bring up the Run dialog box via Windows+R shortcut keys.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter. It shall open the Services menu
```
services.msc
```
Scroll to the Windows update service, right-click on it, and select Restart.
If that option is greyed out, then you need to first ‘Start’ it, after which you may perform the restart.
Once done, it is recommended to restart your PC and then check if it is able to fix the Windows 11 Updates Failed error.

FIX 4: Use DISM/SFC/CHKDSK Commands

System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management are two command-line utility tools that scan for the corrupt Windows files and then replace them with their working counterpart. The major difference between the two is the SFC replaces the corrupt files with the working ones from the cached directory on your PC.

On the other hand, DISM does so by downloading the working files from the online Microsoft servers. Then if we talk about CHKDSK (CheckDisk) then it is used to check for corrupt or damaged disk partitions and then repair them accordingly. As of now, we would be making use of all these three tools to fix the underlying issue. Follow along.

To begin with, right-click on the Start Menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
Then click on the down arrow present next to the new tab icon and select Command Prompt from the list.
Once the CMD window is opened, copy-paste the below command to open the SFC Tool:
```
sfc /scannow
```
Once the SFC Scanning is complete, it’s time to use the DISM Tool. So copy-paste the below command:
```
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
```
Once DISM finishes the scanning, it’s time to use the Check Disk command. So execute the below command in the CMD window:
```
CHKNTFS C:
```

Once all three commands have been executed, it is recommended to restart your PC. Once it boots up, check whether the Windows 11 Updates Failed error has been fixed or not.

FIX 5: Reset Windows Update Component

If the Windows Update component’s configuration files get corrupted or are facing any issue, then its consequences will be felt across the entire Windows update schedule. So you should consider resetting it back to its factory default state. To do so, launch Command Promot as an admin and then execute the following ten commands, one at a time:

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

Once all the commands have been executed, you should restart your PC. Once it boots up, verify whether the Windows 11 Updates Failed error stands fixed or not.

FIX 6: Manually Install Windows 11 Update

If none of the aforementioned methods managed to spell out success, then the last way out is to manually get hold of the updates and then subsequently install them. All this has been explained in-depth in this guide, do check it out: How to Manually Download a Particular/Specific Windows 11 Update. Or you may refer to the below shorter instructions:

To do so, head over to the official Microsoft Catalogue site,
Then enter the Update File’s KB number and then hit Download.
The update file will then be downloaded as an MSU installer, double click to open it.
Then proceed with the on-screen instructions to install it onto your PC.

So with this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the Windows 11 Updates Failed error. We have listed six different methods for the same and will keep on updating this guide with more as and when there’s a new Windows 11 Error. In the meantime, if you have any queries, then do let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

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