How to fix Windows Update error 0x80072ee2

What is Windows Update error 0x80072ee2

We know how frustrating it feels to receive unforeseen errors when trying to update your system. The effect may last long enough to piss you off and outdate your PC due to a lack of new updates. While there are many update errors making their presence known each week, today we are going to take a look at the 0x80072ee2 error code that appears after searching for updates. Luckily, the issue has been already researched and successfully solved. From most recent laboratory reports, it turned out corrupted files and values of Registry and Update folders responsible for proper update function are the most frequent reasons for its appearance. It should take no longer than 15-30 minutes for you to resolve the 0x80072ee2 error and continue installing updates without slip-ups. You can use our instructions also for 0x8024400A and 0x8024400D errors since they originate the same way.

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

Some errors like 0x80072ee2 can be solved with the basic Window Update Troubleshooter. This is an in-built utility designed to find and remove potential reasons for problems with updating. Despite its application does not result in a successful resolution that often, it is still worth trying this easy, yet sometimes effective method. Windows will scan out your system for potential problems and try to fix them eventually. Learn how to do this via the instructions below:

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.

If this did not help, go next to other solutions below.

2. Run Changes in Registry Editor

Registry Editor is a special environment containing entries and values of many processes implemented in Windows. If you know the potential issue, you can access the registry and edit or delete some values to restore proper and default settings. This is what we are going to do in this method. Follow these instructions carefully to not miss anything important.

At first, we have to stop Windows Update services to prevent any damage or conflict whilst running manipulations with registry values. We would also suggest clearing all SoftwareDistribution files to make Windows restore them from scratch. Follow each step in the order presented below:

1. Press Windows key + R buttons, copy-paste services.msc, and press Enter to open it up.
2. Find Windows Update from the list, right-click on it and choose Stop to terminate it for a while.
3. After this, navigate to SoftwareDistribution folder through this path C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all contents from it. You can also paste the path to run dialogue by pressing Windows key + R buttons again.
4. Now, return back to Windows Update service we found above, right-click on it, and select Start.

By the end of running these four steps, it is time to run the necessary changes within Registry Editor.

5. Press Windows key + R buttons like we did already and copy-paste regedit. Allow the UAC window if prompted.
6. Once you are in Registry Editor, go through this path

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

7. After clicking on Windows Update, find two entries called WUServer and WUStatusServer. Right-click on them and choose Delete.
8. Restart your PC and try to install updates again. Now it should be working without problems.

3. Check integrity of the system files

Corrupted or missing elements that are involved in various system features can be the cause of update issues. Below, we are going to use both SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) to check if such a problem exists. Both scans will show their capabilities of detecting and restoring 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.

4. Reset Windows Update components

After trying three of the abovementioned solution, you should be satisfied with the results and not read this guide anymore. If this is the opposite, try to restore all Windows Update components from scratch. Some procedures taking place in this method are similar to what we did in the 2nd solution but even have deeper impact and solution potential. The entire process 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 using this method. The first requires typing and executing each console command in a manual sequence. The other is done using 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 advanced and complicated, it will not take too much time and knowledge. Just follow the sequence listed 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 over manual typing as they allow you to execute all the necessary commands at once. If you ever stumble into similar issues in the future, you can execute the already-created .bat file and 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.

5. Download problematic updates via Update Assistant

As it comes from the name, Windows 10 Update Assistant is an official utility designed to help people get the latest updates available for their system. It works great as a solution for people who are in a struggle with updating the system in a traditional way. The utility is free of charge and does not take too much time to download. Simply follow these steps below:

1. First, visit the official Update Assistant page and tap on the Update now button.
2. Then, open the downloaded file and click Update now again.
3. Windows will check if your PC is compatible within a couple of seconds. After this, click Next and wait until Windows updates your PC.
4. At the end, click Restart now to let Windows complete the installation of updates.

This is it. After performing these steps, your PC should be up-to-date and face no issues as previously.

As an additional method, you can download the problematic update yourself directly from Microsft Update Catalog. For this, you’ll have to know the name of update which experiences issues installing:

1. Press Windows key + 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 update (on top of the list).
5. You can also find this out by noting the name of failing update (in case it displays).
6. Once done, search and download the noted update from Microsoft Update Catalog.

Summary

At some point, constant update errors may become the last drop in the ocean to make your mood faulting. We hope it did not go that far and you finally managed to resolve the 0x80072ee2 Windows error. We would be happy to see your feedback on which solution helped and hear if you experienced any issues while performing the steps.