{"id":76129,"date":"2024-02-09T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/?p=76129"},"modified":"2025-01-31T00:57:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T05:57:47","slug":"6-ways-to-fix-a-0x80073701-windows-update-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/6-ways-to-fix-a-0x80073701-windows-update-error\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Fix a 0x80073701 Windows Update Error"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Encountering a 0x80073701 error usually indicates your PC\u2019s Windows Update components aren\u2019t working correctly. There are other reasons this error occurs and prevents you from updating your system. We\u2019ll show you various ways to get around this problem and bring your operating system up to date.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some other reasons the above error occurs are that the Windows Update cache is corrupted, Windows system files are damaged, a third-party app is interfering with your updates, and more.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Windows<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

1. <\/span>Restart Your PC\n<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When an update fails to download or install, give your PC a reboot<\/a> and see if that resolves your problem. This is because your PC may have a minor glitch, which you can try to fix by restarting your system.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to save your unsaved work before powering off your computer.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Press the Windows<\/span> key or select the Start<\/span> menu icon to open the Start<\/span> menu.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Select the Power<\/span> icon in the menu.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Choose Restart<\/span> to reboot your PC.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
    \n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Launch Windows Update when your PC boots up.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      2. <\/span>Use Windows Update Troubleshooter\n<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Windows 11 and 10 include many troubleshooters to help you fix various issues on your machine. You can use the Windows Update troubleshooter when you have problems updating your operating system<\/a>. This tool automatically finds issues with your updates and helps you resolve those problems.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      On Windows 11\n<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Open Settings<\/span> by pressing Windows<\/span> + I<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Select System<\/span> in the left sidebar and Troubleshoot<\/span> on the right pane.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Choose Other troubleshooters<\/span> to view all troubleshooting tools.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Select Run<\/span> next to Windows Update<\/span> to launch the troubleshooter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
        \n
        \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Allow the tool to detect and resolve your update problems.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          On Windows 10\n<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Launch Settings<\/span> using Windows<\/span> + I<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Select Update & Security<\/span> in Settings.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Choose Troubleshoot<\/span> in the left sidebar.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Select Additional troubleshooters<\/span> on the right pane.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Select Windows Update<\/span> and choose Run the troubleshooter<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
            \n
            \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Allow the troubleshooter to find and fix your PC\u2019s update problems.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              3. <\/span>Clear the Windows Update Download Cache\n<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              One fix to use when your updates fail to download or install is to delete your Windows Update cache<\/a>. This is because certain downloaded update files might be corrupted, causing your issue.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Windows will re-download the required files after you\u2019ve cleared the cache. Note that you\u2019ll use the same steps on both Windows 11 and Windows 10 to remove the update cache.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. Open the Run<\/span> dialog box by pressing Windows<\/span> + R<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Type the following in the box and press Enter<\/span>: services.msc <\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. Find the Windows Update<\/span> service on the list, right-click the service, and choose Stop<\/span>. Keep the Services<\/span> window open as you\u2019ll return here to start the service again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                \n
                \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                  \n
                1. Open the Run<\/span> dialog box again, type the following, and press Enter<\/span>: C:\\Windows\\SoftwareDistribution\\ <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                2. Select all files in the folder by pressing Ctrl<\/span> + A<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                3. Right-click a selected file and choose Delete<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                  \n
                  \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                    \n
                  1. Empty your Recycle Bin<\/span> so your Windows Update cache is gone for good.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  2. Return to the Services<\/span> window, right-click Windows Update<\/span>, and choose Start<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  3. Run Windows Update and update your PC.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    4. <\/span>Reset Windows Update on Your PC\n<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                    If you continue to get a 0x80073701 error while updating Windows, reset your PC\u2019s update components<\/a> to fix your problem. Your update components might be facing issues, and resetting those items should resolve your issue.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    You\u2019ll use a batch file to reset the Windows Update components on your Windows 11 or 10 PC.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \n
                    1. Download the reset batch file for Windows 11<\/a> or Windows 10<\/a>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    2. Right-click the downloaded file and select Properties<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    3. Select the Unblock<\/span> option and choose Apply<\/span> followed by OK<\/span>. Then, close the Properties<\/span> window.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                      \n
                      \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                        \n
                      1. Double-click the batch file.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      2. Select Yes<\/span> in the prompt.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      3. Wait for your computer to restart, then try to update your system.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        5. <\/span>Repair Windows\u2019 Damaged System Files\n<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                        If Windows\u2019 core files are damaged, that might be why you can\u2019t update your system. Such core-level corruption happens for various reasons, including other apps\u2019 interference and virus or malware infection.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        In this case, use your PC\u2019s built-in SFC (System File Checker) tool to find and replace the broken system files with working files<\/a>. This tool automatically detects the damaged files; only little interaction is required from your end.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                        1. Open the Start<\/span> menu, find Command Prompt<\/span>, and select Run as administrator<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        2. Choose Yes<\/span> in the User Account Control<\/span> prompt.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        3. Type the following command in CMD<\/span> and press Enter<\/span>. This command will download the files required to fix your system\u2019s damaged files.

                          DISM.exe \/Online \/Cleanup-image \/Restorehealth<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                          \n
                          \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                            \n
                          1. Next up, run the following command to fix your system\u2019s corrupted files: sfc \/scannow <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          2. Restart your PC.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                            6. <\/span>Clean Boot Your Windows PC\n<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                            If your Windows update still fails to download or install, a third-party app might be causing interference. One way to verify that is to clean boot your PC<\/a>, where your system only loads the essential files to boot up your computer.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              \n
                            1. Open the Start<\/span> menu, find System Configuration<\/span>, and select the item with that name in the search results.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            2. Access the Services<\/span> tab in the System Configuration<\/span> window.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            3. Enable the Hide all Microsoft services<\/span> option and choose Disable all<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                              \n
                              \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                                \n
                              1. Access the Startup<\/span> tab and select Open Task Manager<\/span>.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              2. Right-click each item that has Enabled<\/span> in its Status<\/span> column and choose Disable<\/span>. This ensures no startup apps run when you clean boot your system. Then, close Task Manager<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
                                \n
                                \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
                                  \n
                                1. Select OK<\/span> in System Configuration\u2019s Startup<\/span> tab.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                2. Reboot your computer.\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                3. Try to update your Windows system as usual. If the system updates, your third-party apps are likely the culprit. In this case, remove those apps from your PC\u2019s Settings app.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                  Get Around a 0x80073701 Error to Update Windows Successfully\n<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                  It\u2019s important to keep your Windows system up to date, but errors like 0x80073701 prevent you from installing the latest updates<\/a>. Using the above methods, you can fix that particular issue and get Windows to download and install the available updates without any hiccups. We hope the guide helps you.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                  Encountering a 0x80073701 error usually indicates your PC\u2019s Windows Update components aren\u2019t working correctly. There are other reasons this error occurs and prevents you from updating your system. We\u2019ll show […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":76130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[10356],"class_list":{"0":"post-76129","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-how-to","8":"tag-windows-11"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/wp-content\/pictures\/2024\/02\/windows-update.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Mahesh Makvana","author_link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/author\/mmakvana\/"},"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t