How to fix Windows Update error 0x800f0831 on Windows 11

What is error 0x800f0831

0x800f0831 is a Windows 11 error that can be encountered while trying to download-install a new cumulative update onto the system. In the majority of cases, users reported this problem to occur when dealing with KB5008212, KB5005033, or KB5005190 updates. Although the reason for this specific issue is indefinite, the information collected indicates it can be related to corrupted/missing system elements, internal bugs, or conflict caused by third-party software. Whatever it is, you should try each solution we attached below ranging from easier to more complex ones. At some point, one of them should sort out the problem eventually.

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

Often deemed ineffective, in-built Windows Troubleshooter features can sometimes succeed in addressing issues related to updates. Windows has a native set of troubleshooting utilities designed to find and remove existing problems in various system areas. You can use it to detect update issues and try to fix them immediately. Here is what you can do:

1. Open Settings from the bottom taskbar.
2. Choose System on the left and go to Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters on the right pane.
3. Then, find Windows Update and click Run next to it.
4. Finish the process following the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

After this, try to perform the update again. If this does not work, go further below to try other solutions.

2. Check integrity of the system files

As stated in the introduction, one of the reasons why such errors occur is a lack of essential files within the system. We recommend you use SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scanning utilities to detect and restore absent components if any. Make sure to use both utilities as they may have a different impact on solving the problem. This is how:

Using SFC

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching loop 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 try to open the problematic program again.

Once both of these scans are performed, attempt to install the same update again.

3. Run a Clean Bootup

It could be that some third-party software is causing a conflict with your system. If you do not know which one it may be, you can enter Clean Boot mode. This mode allows users to load their system only with in-built services and applications in order to prevent incompatibility issues. As a result, this will let you know whether the issue actually related to third-party software or not. If you already suspect some third-party application, maybe the one you recently installed, to be part of the issue, try to disable or remove it completely. Otherwise, follow the steps to enter Clean Boot mode:

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 Load System Services and Load startup items are two only options selected.
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 managed or failed to succeed in what you wanted, 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.

4. Reset Windows Update components

You can also try resetting Windows Update settings. Statistically, this method has proven itself quite effective when handling a vast range of 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 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 deprive too much of your 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 as 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 a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

If you still desire to have the update installed and disappear naturally, you can download the problematic update from Microsoft Catalog and install it manually. To do this, simply go through the steps listed below:

1. Open Settings from the bottom taskbar.
2. Then go to Windows Update on the left pane.
3. On the right side of the window, choose Update history.
4. After this, find and note the most recent update (usually starts with “KB” and is on top of the list).
5. You can also find this out by noting the name of the failing update (in case it displays).
6. Once done, search and download the noted update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

6. Use Media Creation Tool

If there is still no ringing in favor of having the issue resolved, then our last recommendation comes down to trying Media Creation Tool – a great Microsoft utility designed to reinstall Windows and also act as an alternative tool for obtaining the latest available updates against traditional methods. Follow the instructions 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 combat the 0x800f0831 error.

Summary

We hope these 6 methods or even less were just enough to resolve the 0x800f0831 error and let the update get finally installed. Should you need any help with anything else, feel free to look for the corresponding article on our website to obtain \instructions for solving other problems or removing viruses.