How to fix Windows 10 Update error 0x80080008

What is error 0x80080008

The 0x80080008 error code is related to windows updates. A number of people reported the problem appears after trying to check for updates. Some users managed to find a temporary solution using Windows Troubleshooter, however, the problem continued to press the line after a simple reboot stating the “Service registration is missing or corrupt” message. As a result of error inspection, experts found the reason behind 0x80080008 appearance is in Wups2.dll (the file included in the latest version of Windows Update) that was incorrectly installed. Apart from the prime reason we mentioned, there are grounds to believe that 0x80080008 may be related to the scarcity of files, wrong service configuration, and so forth. Below, we will show how to get rid of this annoying problem and continue receiving Windows Updates as usual.

1. Turn on Automatic Updates

The first thing you can do is to make Windows download updates on its own. If you have this feature disabled, we recommend you set it so that Windows could search and install the fixed updates once they arrive. In most cases, waiting for new updates is the best way to solve the arising issue, so try to be patient. Since 0x80080008 is a relatively old issue, it should be fixed with any new update installed.

1. Type Control Panel in search next to Start Menu.
2. Open it up and choose Windows Update. If necessary, change the View by to large or small icons.
3. Once opened, click Change settings.
4. Under Important updates, choose Install updates automatically.
5. Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box, and click OK afterward.

Note: In recent updates, Windows changed some settings and removed this solution. If you do not have Windows Update in Control Panel, this means you are using a different version. Simply navigate to the next step below.

2. Restart Windows components and Update service

This method ensures you reset and reboot Windows Update settings. The whole procedure involves restarting BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update services as well as renaming some update folders (SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2). These folders contain special signatures for Windows Updates. Based on this, we will force Windows to delete corrupted elements and create update components from scratch. You are going to use the console to run the necessary commands. This is more advanced, but will not take too much time and knowledge to do it. Follow the steps below:

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Copy-paste this list of commands one-by-one clicking Enter after each. (This action will disable services responsible for Windows Updates)

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

Then, we have to rename the above-mentioned folders. Simply paste these commands by clicking Enter after each.

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

Finally, all left to do is to turn the disabled services back. So apply these commands likewise previously.

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Now we are all done with it. Go to the Windows Update center and try to perform the installation again.

3. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan

Some update errors may pop up due to corrupted or insufficient files. The SFC scan allows to detect and recover lacking vitals using the console. This method can be seen in almost any tutorial regarding Windows errors, so try it out and see the result.

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once the console is opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
4. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.

4. Run DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is quite similar to running an SFC scan. However, it may be more attentive in finding corrupted data that SFC could miss. Thereby, let’s try to run it using Command Prompt as we did already.

1. Open Command Prompt as we did in the previous step.
2. Copy and paste this command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
3. Click Enter and wait until Windows ends the scanning and fixing.
4. Once done, restart your PC and install the update again.

5. Recreate the Wups2.dll file

As we mentioned in the beginning, it is Wups2.dll forcing the issue in most of the cases. There is a way to re-register it via some console commands. Here is how:

1. Open the Command Prompt as Administrator just as we did above.
2. Then, insert this set of commands one-by-one clicking Enter after each.

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 you have done this step, close the console, restart your PC, and try to install the update again.

6. Try to download a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

In cases when Windows struggles to establish a server connection and download the necessary update, it runs into an error like 0x80080008. To work around this problem, you can download the update directly from Microsoft Website. Here are the steps:

1. Press Windows + I at the same time.
2. Then navigate to Update & Security.
3. On the right side of the window, choose View update history.
4. After this, find and note the most recent KB update (on top of the list).
5. Once done, search and download the noted update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

7. Disable anti-malware software

Less likely, but still possible that Windows Update Center cannot get along with your antivirus. If you are using a non-native defender, you should try disabling it for some time to download an update again. Third-party programs have a tendency to run into errors with some Windows processes. If this ends up being your case, try deleting the used antivirus and migrate to a more compatible one. Alternatively, you can contact the support of your antivirus and ask for their advice.

8. Scan your PC for malware

If none of the previously mentioned steps rectified the issue, you should by far scan your system for malicious programs. Some of them can damage Windows settings and lead to various problems, therefore, make sure there is no such lurking inside of your PC. If you do not know which anti-malware software to use, we recommend Malwarebytes, a trusted and high-quality program with consistently updating databases of malware and potentially unwanted apps. Download it via the button below.

Download Malwarebytes

Summary

We hope 0x80080008 is no longer bothering your experience with its constant appearance. There are lots of other update-related problems discussed and solved on our website. Whatever you are facing, type the name of the problem and see the solutions. Also, if you are dealing with malware removal issues, we have a separate section dedicated to this spectrum of topics as well.