Windows pushes out updates every year to iron out the glitches and bugs that users encounter with a version of Windows. Updates are a necessary part of any operating system as you get new features, new security essentials and much more. Over time Windows may slow down on your system but updating it to the latest version will ensure that it is up and running perfectly fine. But installing these updates is not always a piece of cake.
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Sometimes when you try to update the Windows build, you will encounter errors. One such error message that is troubling Windows users for a long time is the Windows update error 0x80080008. There is no specific way to tell or figure out the reason behind the error, but it is fixable. Now, this error might pop up in your system due to different reasons, and if you are one of those unfortunate Windows users, then this article will be helpful to you. Here, we have listed out some solutions for every possible reason behind the Windows update error 0x80080008. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
How to fix the Windows update error 0x80080008?
Since it is not possible to determine which solution will work in your particular system, you will have to try each of these fixes one after the other. These are some tried and tested solutions for the Windows update error 0x80080008, and undoubtedly one of them will work out for you.
Disable the Antivirus software:
Sometimes a third-party antivirus can be the root of all Windows update-related issues. If you are using antivirus software for your computer’s security, then it will block out certain connections. And by doing so, an antivirus sometimes blacklists Windows updates which in turn results in an error.
So firstly, open up your antivirus and turn off the real-time protection on it and disable it by every means. If that does not work then go to the list of installed programs and uninstall the Antivirus from the system completely. Then try updating Windows again. If you see the same error 0x80080008 again, then move on to the potential solution in the list.
Re-register a Wups2.dll:
Another probable cause for the error 0x80080008 is an incorrect installation of the Wupus2.dll. You can fix it by re-registering it, and for that, you will need to open the command prompt.
- Click on the start button and search for “Command prompt.”
- The command prompt will show in the results. Right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.
- If the UAC pop-up shows up, then click on Yes.
- Enter the following commands in the command prompt one after the other and hit Enter after every command:
REGSVR32 WUPS2.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUPS.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUAUENG.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUAPI.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUCLTUX.DLL /S
REGSVR32 WUWEBV.DLL /S
REGSVR32 JSCRIPT.DLL /S
REGSVR32 MSXML3.DLL /S
- After the final command, close the command prompt and restart the system.
After the restart is complete, try installing the Windows update again. If you still see the same error 0x80080008 again then move on to the next solution.
Run SFC and DISM:
If there is something wrong with the Windows installation on your system, then also you might encounter this error while trying to update Windows. In that case, the first thing that you need to do is run an SFC scan on your computer.
- Click on the start button and search for “Command prompt.”
- The command prompt will show in the results. Right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.
- If the UAC pop-up shows up, then click on Yes.
- Type “sfc/scannow” in the command line and press Enter.
- A process will initiate for checking on corrupted files and repairing them when found.
If the SFC check does not show up any issues or errors, then you should go for the DISM scan.
- Open up the command prompt just like the last time.
- Type “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” in the command line and press Enter.
- In case you are offline or your DISM scan is not able to connect to the services online then you can perform the scan offline. But for that, you will have to insert a Windows installation CD or USB. After that, enter the command “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:DVDorUSB /LimitAccess” and press Enter. Replace the DVDorUSB part of the command with the path of your Windows installation CD or USB drive.
After the DISM scan is complete, check if the windows update error 0x80080008 shows up again. If it does, then move on to the next potential solution.
Restart Windows Update components:
If there is anything wrong with the Windows update components, then you will encounter the windows update error 0x80080008. So restarting these components is something that you should try if you want to solve the error.
- Click on the start button and search for “Command prompt.”
- The command prompt will show in the results. Right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.
- If the UAC pop-up shows up, then click on Yes.
- Enter the following commands one after the other:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
- After running the final command, close the Windows command prompt window.
Now try updating Windows again. If you encounter the same windows update error 0x80080008 again, then try the next potential solution.
Manually download the update:
If installing the update online has failed every time, then you could also give offline update installation a try. For that, you will have to first manually download the update as an extra file and then install it directly on to the system, just like any software installation.
- Firstly, you need to identify the KB number of your update file with which you are encountering the Windows update error 0x80080008. For that, you will have to go the Windows update history which you will easily find in Windows update section.
- Here, you will see a KB number next to the windows update file with which you were facing issues. Note that number down and then go to Microsoft Update Catalog website.
- Here, enter the KB number for your required update file in the search box and search for it. Once you find the update as per your system, download it directly from the website.
- Then install that downloaded file as a setup.
After the setup is complete, you will have the updated windows system. However, if the installation failed or you could not find the update file for your system, then move on to the next potential solution.
Restart BITS services:
Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS is something that you require for installing a Windows update. However, if it is crashed or stopped for some reason, then you might encounter the windows update error 0x80080008 when you try to update your system. So give the BITS a restart too as that could be a potential reason behind the error in your system too.
- Press Windows key + R and Run and open up the Run window.
- Enter “services.msc” in the dialog box and press Enter.
- Look for “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” in the list and once you find it double-click on it to open up its properties.
- If you don’t see the status of the service as running, then click on the Start button.
- Click on the Recovery and set the First failure and Second failure to Restart service.
- Confirm the selection and close everything.
Now search for an update again and try installing it again. If you still reencounter the same error 0x80080008, then move on to the next potential solution.
Boot in a Safe Boot mode:
There could be some background process being a hindrance in your update. So you could try resetting or simply disabling the processes and then testing the update again.
- Press Windows key + R and Run and open up the Run window.
- Enter “msconfig” in the dialog box and press Enter.
- Click on the services tab and check the box next to “Hide all Microsoft services.”
- Then click on Disable All and then finally click on Apply.
- Click on the Startup tab and then click on “Open Task Manager.”
- Disable all the Startup programs in the list one after the other.
- Restart the PC.
Now try updating your Windows again. If you encounter the same windows update error 0x80080008, then move on to the next potential solution for it.
Perform an in-place upgrade:
An in-place upgrade is an upgrade in which your Windows gets updated to the latest version without losing out any data. You could try that for installing the latest Windows update on your system too.
- Download Media Creation Tool and run it on your system.
- Wait till the program gets the necessary files ready.
- Select Download and install updates (recommended) and then click on Next.
- Wait for the download to finish.
- Then follow the on-screen instructions until your the “Ready to install screen.”
- Here, click on “Change what to keep.”
- Then select “personal files and apps” and click on Next.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation finally.
If you are unable to install the latest windows version via this method, then move to the next potential solution.
Check the functioning of the Windows Update service:
Sometimes the Windows update service may crash down and cause the error 0x80080008 to show up on the screen. In that case, you should check the functioning of this service to make sure that it is not the issue behind the error.
- Press Windows key + R and Run and open up the Run window.
- Enter “services.msc” in the dialog box and press Enter.
- Look for “Windows Update” in the service list and once you find it double-click on it to open up its properties.
- Click on the General tab and choose the Startup as Automatic option using the drop-down menu.
- Also, make sure that the service status shows running. If it shows stopped then click on the Start button.
- Click on Ok and close all the windows.
Now try installing the update again. It should install without any hiccups now.
Updating Windows to the latest build is essential if you want the latest features and a bug-free experience on your system. So having issues with the installation of updates is not something that one can overlook. If you have a genuine version of Windows running on your system, then one of the solutions mentioned above should work out your issue.
So that is all about fixing the Windows update error 0x80080008. If you have any questions or queries about this guide, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more useful information.