How to fix Windows Update error 0x80070424

What is Windows Update Error 0x80070424

0x80070424 has been an update error spanning its roots from Windows XP to these days. Like many, the error pops whilst trying to install new updates with the following message: “There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80070424)”. This is where it ends with no real solution proposed by Microsoft. Luckily, further discussion on forums and troubleshooting blogs helped users form a list of solutions that can address the 0x80070424 code. As a rule, such errors occur because some files are missing or corrupted, there is a damaged or disabled configuration for some services, and third-party software causing a conflict. It is only possible to suspect which one of these reasons affects your case of occurrence. This is why you should try each available solution until the issue ends up resolved. You can find the list of them in our tutorial below.

Windows Update error 0x80070424 (sample 1)

Windows Update error 0x80070424 (sample 2)

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

This method has been reiterated in other articles of update-relatedness multiple times. Even though Update Troubleshooter is not a panacea to all update errors, we still insist on giving it a try. The troubleshooter will scan out your system for potential problems and try to fix them eventually.

1. Open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. On the right pane, locate Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.
3. Finish the process following the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

2. Check integrity of the system files

It is quite common to see missing or corrupted files around the list of potential causes. Such files may be critical for the proper work of Windows services. If some of these files are out of their native environment, more likely it will be the reason for update errors. Below, we are going to use both SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), which will detect and restore absent components, if any. Make sure to use both of the scans as they can have different influences on the error solution. This is how:

Using SFC

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.

Using DISM

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.

After completing both of these scans, attempt to run the installation of updates again. If this does not pay off, move down to alternative error solutions below.

3. Register System Files manually

In case the previous method did not resolve the issue, you can add essential system files manually. There are two .dll files that are oftentimes missing. Check if this is the case using these steps below:

1. Press Windows key + R and type these two commands one-by-one. Click OK after each.

regsvr32 Qmgr.dll /s
regsvr32 Qmgrprxy.dll /s

2. As soon as done, restart your PC and try to run the problematic update again.

4. Make sure Update services are set to Automatic

Before moving on to other methods, check if all Update services are set to Automatic and running. To do this:

1. Press Windows Key + R and type services.msc.
2. Open it up and search for Windows Update from the list.
3. Right-click on it and choose Properties.
4. Then, make sure it is set to Automatic next to Startup type. Click Apply if you changed it.
5. In case this service is Stopped, click Start and OK to close the window.

There are a couple of other important services that are responsible for proper update conditions. Background Intelligent Transfer Service and Workstation are two more services that have to be set to Automatic and running.

5. Allow updates using Registry Editor

There is a chance some values responsible for running updates are incorrectly set up, which restricts the installation. Thus, let’s check if this is the case via these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R and type regedit. Allow the UAC window if prompted.
2. Once you are in Registry Editor, go through this path

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

3. After clicking on Windows Update, find and double-click on DisableWindowsUpdateAccess from the right pane.
4. Make sure its value is set to 0 and click OK.
5. Finally, restart your PC and try to install updates again.

6. Run a Clean Bootup

0x80070424 error may also be triggered by incompatibility issues. Antimalware or any other third-party software may conflict with Windows services causing the error. The Clean bootup feature helps start-up PC only with in-built apps and services to find out whether some secondary app is causing a problem or not. To launch in Clean bootup mode, follow these steps below:

1. Press Windows key + R combination and paste msconfig.
2. Then in the opened window go to the Services tab located on top.
3. Check the box next to Hide All Microsoft Services and click on the Disable all button.
4. Now choose the General tab and select the Selective startup option. Make sure that the box is checked only next to the Load System Services.
5. Click Apply and OK. Then reboot your PC.

Now you can try to update your system whilst being in Clean Boot mode. No matter whether you failed or succeeded in installing the updates, you should turn Windows back to Normal Startup settings. To do this, simply redo all the steps you implemented above by enabling the disabled services and changing your startup option from Selective to Normal.

7. Reset Windows Update components

The penultimate solution on our list comes down to resetting Windows Update settings. This method specifically has proven itself to be very effective when dealing with update problems. 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 temporary files necessary for implementing Windows Updates. Based on this, we will force Windows to delete corrupted elements and create update-related components from scratch. Below, we will show you two ways of performing this method. The first requires typing and executing each console command in a manual sequence. The other involves a so-called batch script written in Notepad and saved as WUReset.bat. There is no real difference in which one you choose. Although the entire procedure may seem more complicated, it will not take too much time and knowledge. Just follow these steps outlined below:

Using manual steps

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

4. 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

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

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

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

Using the Batch Script

This is an alternative method to the above. A batch script is used to execute the same range of commands to reset all Windows Update components, Cryptographic services, and folders like SoftwareDistribution. It is not that hard as you could imagine, but rather easier than the previous one. All you need is a Windows Notepad and a bit of copy-paste magic. Batch scripts hold an upper hand in executing all of the steps at once without typing commands manually. If you ever stumble into similar issues in the future, you can execute the already-created .bat file to reset update components:

1. Open a new Notepad file. For this, right-click on any free area over your desktop, choose New and Text document.
2. Then paste this list of commands into your notepad:

@ECHO OFF
echo Simple Script to Reset / Clear Windows Update
echo.
PAUSE
echo.
attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2
attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2*.*
net stop wuauserv
net stop CryptSvc
net stop BITS
ren %windir%system32catroot2 catroot2.old
ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution sold.old
ren "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader" downloader.old
net Start BITS
net start CryptSvc
net start wuauserv
echo.
echo Task completed successfully...
echo.
PAUSE

3. Once pasting is done, click File > Save as and name it WUReset.bat. Make sure to set Encoding to ANSI and save the file to any location you want.
4. Finally, you can right-click on the file, select Run as administrator and enjoy automatic reset of Windows Updates.

8. Use Media Creation Tool

The final method to overcome update difficulties is using Media Creation Tool. This is a Microsoft instrument designed to obtain the latest portion of updates, especially for users struggling to do it in a traditional way. The update procedure will not touch your personal data but simply upgrade the PC. In order to do it, walk through the steps listed below:

1. At first, you have to download the utility from the Microsoft website.
2. Then, execute the downloaded file.
3. After agreeing with the Terms of use, there will be two options to choose from. Select Upgrade this PC now.
4. Choose to Keep Personal Files to ensure they will be untouched.
5. Finally, launch the process and wait until it ends.
6. Hopefully, this method helped you work around the 0x80070424 error.

Summary

We hope you are finally set and done with the 0x80070424 error. No operating system is perfect, so you are likely to deal with such errors again under similar circumstances. In case this happens again, refer to these same steps we discussed above. They are versatile enough to address many other issues related to updates.