How to Fix The Windows Update Error 80246001?

Updating your Windows is a necessary process to keep your computer out of troubles. But some Windows users have been complaining about a Windows update error 80246001 that is preventing them from installing the new updates. The error 80246001 is more frequent in Windows 7 as well as in Windows 10.

As it turns out, the error comes up while installing cumulative updates. And there are several potential issues that can give rise to this error on your Windows computer. If you are someone who is dealing with this same error, then don’t worry. Stay with us because we will show you some easy and effective solutions to solve the error.

What causes the Windows Update error 80246001?

We have provided you with a list of possible reasons that can create the Windows Update error 80246001. Go through the list and find out what is causing this error on your computer.

Malware infection
Driver issues
Corrupted system files
Fault with Windows update components

Now that you have become familiar with the reasons let’s move forward to the solutions.

Solutions to Fix the Windows Update error 80246001:

Solution 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

The first thing you should do is take advantage of the Windows update troubleshooter utility. When you run the Windows update troubleshooter, it will find the common issues that might be causing the error 80246001 and fix them. If you are using Windows 7, then you should go to Microsoft’s website. Download the Windows update troubleshooter program and then run it.

Here’s a quick guide for you on how to run the Windows update troubleshooter.

Press Windows key +I.
Open the Settings application
Choose the Update & Security option.
In the left pane of the window, click on the Troubleshoot option.
In the right pane of the window, find the Windows Update option.
Then, you have to click on the “Run the Troubleshooter” button under the Windows Update option.
The Troubleshooter will start the scanning process to find any issues, and if it finds any, it will fix them on its own.
You only have to click on the “Apply this fix” button.
After the process is complete, restart your computer.
Check for the error by trying to install the pending updates.

If the error persists, follow the next solution.

Solution 2: Run the SFC and DISM tools

As we have discussed earlier, the error can also arise from corrupted system files. So, in order to solve this error, you have to run the System File Checker utility. The SFC tool fixes any missing or damaged system files. But if you are using Windows 10, you have to run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool before running SFC. The DISM tool helps provide all the files necessary for the repair. Follow these steps.

Press Windows key +R.
Type “cmd” and then press the Ctrl, Shift, and Enter keys simultaneously.
Give permission for the Command Prompt to run as administrator by pressing the “Yes” button in the User Account Control dialog.
Since you are dealing with Windows Update client issues, you have to mount a Windows 10 ISO file as a virtual DVD to use it as the repair source. You can also use a USB drive. Note down the path of the folder in which the repair source is present.
Now, run the following command lines in the command prompt window and press Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:X:\Source\Windows /LimitAccess

(Here, X:\Source\Windows represents the path to the Windows folder in which the repair source is present.)

After the process is complete, go to the next step to run the SFC scan.
Run the following command in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.

sfc/ scannow

The completion message will appear as “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.”
After you see this message, restart your PC.
Check for the error.

If the error continues, move to the next solution.

Solution 3: Download the Management Engine Interface from Intel

The Management Engine Interface issue is another potential reason for the Windows Update error 80246001. While updating the Management Engine Interface driver via Windows Update, the Windows 10 users come across this error. So, to fix this issue, follow these steps and manually install the updates for Intel’s Management Engine Interface driver.

Launch your browser and go to Intel’s Download Center for the Management Engine Interface.
Select the Intel Management Engine Driver for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 option.
You have to click on the “Download” button.
You can extract the contents of the downloaded archive with a utility like WinZip, WinRar, or 7Zip.
Then, you have to double-click on the MEISetup.exe.
With admin rights, follow the on-screen instructions and complete the installation process.
Restart your computer and check for the error.

Solution 4: Update drivers

Suppose everything is alright with the Management Engine Interface driver. In that case, it’s possible that some other damaged driver is causing this issue. In order to fix the error, you have to follow these steps given below and update the drivers.

Press Windows key +S.
In the search bar, type “device manager.”
Once the Device Manager tab opens up, go to the Display Adapters.
Click on the arrow beside Display adapters option to expand it.
Right-click on the graphic card drivers and choose the “Update driver” option.
Under the How do you want to search for drivers option you have to click on the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option. Then, your Windows will search for the latest driver and install it.
After the process is complete, restart your computer and check for the error.

Solution 5: Use the Microsoft Safety Scanner to fight the Malware infection

In some cases, malware infection creates problems with the Windows Update component and Internet Explorer. To save your Windows components from malware infection, you have to run the Microsoft Safety Scanner utility. If you don’t know how to run this utility, follow the tutorial given below.

First, you have to run your computer in Safe Mode. The Safe Mode helps the Microsoft Safety Scanner utility to run in maximum efficiency.
Power on/restart your computer.
In the login screen, choose the Power icon (on the bottom right corner).
Then, you have to press and hold the Shift key and click on the Restart option.
Your computer will restart directly into the Recovery menu.
Click on the Troubleshoot option.
Then, choose Advanced Options.
Select the Startup Settings.
To choose the “Enable Safe Mode with Networking” option, you have to press F5. It’s essential to have the internet because you will need to download files for the Windows Safety Scanner.
Then, visit this link to download the latest version of the Microsoft Safety Scanner. Pick the correct version according to your Windows bit version.
Double-click on the downloaded MSERT.exe file.
When the User Account Control prompt appears, you have to click “Yes.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to run the Microsoft Safety Scanner.
After the process is complete, restart your computer into normal mode.
Try updating your Windows and look for the error.

If the error comes up again, follow the next solution.

Solution 6: Reset the Windows Update Components

Sometimes the Windows update components get corrupted, and they start interfering with the Windows updating process. But it’s easy to fix the Windows update components. You only need to follow the steps given below.

Press Windows key +R.
Type “cmd” and press Ctrl, Shift and Enter simultaneously to open the Command Prompt.
You have to choose “Yes” when the User Account Control prompt appears.
Next, run the following command lines in order and press Enter after each command line.

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

These commands will help you with stopping the Windows Update service, the MSI Installer, the Cryptographic service, and the BITS services.
The next step is to rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. You can’t delete these two folders. But renaming them will make your OS disregard them. Then, your OS will create new equivalent folders to replace these two folders.
To rename the two folders, run the command lines given below and press Enter after each command line.

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

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

Then, you have to re-enable the services that you had to disable earlier.
Run the command lines to re-enable the services and press Enter after each command line.

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

After the process is complete, try to update your Windows again.

Solution 7: Resetting Winsock component manually

The Windows Socket API is responsible for the programming interface and your computer’s network infrastructure. It controls how applications form established connections. Sometimes the DLL file which holds all the Winsock codes gets corrupted, and corruption leads to network issues. It can be a primary reason behind the Windows Update error 80246001. But don’t worry, you can solve this issue by following the steps given below.

Press Windows key +R.
Type “cmd” and then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
The User Account Control will ask permission to run Command Prompt as an administrator. Click on “Yes.”
Next, you have to run the following command line in the Command Prompt (admin) window.

netsh winsock reset

Press Enter.
Then, your OS will replace the DLL file and reset the Winsock component.
After the process is over, restart your computer and check for the error.

Solution 8: Manually install the pending updates

If none of the above-mentioned solutions worked for your case, you have to manually install the pending updates. This solution can be a bit complicated, especially if you are dealing with multiple updates. So, go through the steps we have given below and follow them carefully.

Open your browser.
Go to the root address of the Microsoft Update Catalog.
In the search bar, search for the updates that you are unable to install due to the error code 80246001.
Look for the appropriate update in the search results according to your current OS architecture and the Windows version.
After you find the appropriate update, select the Download option beside the driver file.
Then, you go to the location where the downloaded driver file is located.
Right-click on the .inf file and choose the Install button.
After installing the updates, you can also download the rest of the updates that were showing the error.
Install them by following the same steps from above.

If you are having trouble while updating your Windows, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Windows Update is an essential process to keep your computer safe. The updates also come with new features and improved security.

After going through all the solutions, you must have developed some ideas on how to deal with the error 80246001. The steps are easy, and you can perform them manually without any technical help. We hope you will be able to solve the error and update your Windows. If you have any queries or feedback, please write down the comment in the below comment box.