10 Ways to Fix Windows Update Failed Error Code 0x80070003

Takes a bit of work but worth it

Windows Update Error Code 0x80070003 prevents you from downloading and installing the latest updates. The cause of the issue isn’t always clear, especially if you just get this cryptic code.

Unlike many Windows update error codes, fixing error code 0x80070003 usually means resolving an issue on your local PC. Once you remove the underlying problem, updates should work as expected.

The Main Causes of Error Code 0x80070003

If you see this error when attempting a Windows Update, there are four main reasons:

Error Code 0x80070003 Variations

Curiously, the 0x80070003 code accompanies several specific human-readable error messages, suggesting it’s a family of related errors rather than a particular problem.

“We couldn’t install this update, but you can try again (0x80070003)” is probably the most common one, and restarting the system often makes the error go away.

“Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80070003” is a little tougher to figure out, and a mere restart of the operating system probably won’t fix the issue. Most of the fixes offered here are aimed at resolving this error.

Other errors with the same code aren’t related to Windows Update directly. For example, “Error 0x80070003 the system cannot find the path specified” usually happens because of a disconnected or damaged drive. This article will only focus on the Windows Update errors with this error code.

1. Restart Windows

As always, the first thing you should do is restart your PC and rerun the update. If you haven’t restarted your system in a while, some services needed by Windows might have frozen or closed. Restarting your system will either resolve the problem or indicate that the problem is more permanent.

2. Disable Third-Party Firewall and Antivirus Software

These programs might interfere with Windows updates if you’re using something other than Windows’ included antivirus andfirewallsoftware. To rule this out, disable them and attempt the update again.

3. Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 10 and 11 have various specialized troubleshooters that can fix errors in Windows without complex manual troubleshooting. In this case, the troubleshooter you’ll want to run is the Windows Update Troubleshooter, but the specific location of the app differs depending on which version of Windows you’re using.

Windows 10 users should go toStart>Settings>Update & Security>Troubleshoot >Additional troubleshooters. Then underGet up and running, selectWindows Update>Run the troubleshooter.

Windows 11 users should go toStart>Settings>System>Troubleshoot>Other troubleshooters. Then underMost frequent, selectWindows Update>Run.

After running the troubleshooter, assuming that it changed anything, restart your computer and see if the update issue is resolved.

4. Try The Update Assistant

If the troubleshooter does not work and you’re running Windows 10, you can try theWindows 10 Update Assistantto force updates using an external program.

5. Clear The Software Distribution Folder

If there’s an issue with the temporary update files generated throughout your update history, you can clear the download folder where they are stored:

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Try Windows Update again and see if the problem is resolved.

6. Manually Stop and Restart the Windows Update Service

The main service that makes updates work is the Windows Update Service. You can manually stop and restart this service to try and get it working again.

Try updating again.

If you prefer to use the Command Line, here’s how to achieve the same result:

Now try updating again.

7. Check For Corrupted System Files

To check that your current Windows installation is still clean and whole, it’s a good idea to check your system files for corruption. You can do this by running the System File Checker (sfc /scannow) or DISM tool from the Command Prompt.

Check out our guide tofix corrupt system filesor ouradvanced guides for the SFC and DISM commandsfor more information on these procedures.

8. Free Up Drive Space

Windows Update needs room to work. If your system hard drive is too full, the temporary update files have nowhere to go. If you’re low on space, you can uninstall some large apps or delete media files, move them to external drives, and generally clean up your unused data or caches.

If you’re unsure how to get more free space in Windows, check out15 Ways to Free Up Disk Space in Windows 10.

9. Check The Registry For Errors

A misconfigured Windows Registry is often behind this error.

Warning:There’s always a measure of risk when modifying the Registry. If you haven’t worked with it before, check out ourguide to using the Windows Registry. And alwaysback up your Registrybefore making any edits.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WIMMount and press Enter

10. Reset Windows Update Components Manually

While the Windows Update Troubleshooter usually resets Windows Update components automatically in the background, if it fails to resolve your problem, you may want to attempt resetting them manually. This should be a last resort since it’s a complex process with many steps.

Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat”

Note:In case you’re wondering, “BITS” is theBackground Intelligent Transfer Serviceand “cryptsvc” isCryptographic services.

regsvr32.exe atl.dll

regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll

regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll

regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll

regsvr32.exe browseui.dll

regsvr32.exe jscript.dll

regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll

regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll

regsvr32.exe msxml.dll

regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll

regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll

regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll

regsvr32.exe softpub.dll

regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll

regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll

regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll

regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll

regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll

regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll

regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll

regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll

regsvr32.exe ole32.dll

regsvr32.exe shell32.dll

regsvr32.exe initpki.dll

regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll

regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll

regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll

regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll

regsvr32.exe wups.dll

regsvr32.exe wups2.dll

regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll

regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll

regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll

regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll

regsvr32.exe muweb.dll

regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll

Type net start bits and pressEnter.

Type net start wuauserv and pressEnter.

Type net start cryptsvc and pressEnter.

For good measure, restart your computer and then try Windows Update again.

Sydney Butler is a social scientist and technology fanatic who tries to understand how people and technology coexist. He has two decades of experience as a freelance computer technician and more than a decade as a technologies researcher and instructor. Sydney has been a professional technology writer for more than five years and covers topics such as VR, Gaming, Cyber security and Transhumanism.Read Sydney’s Full Bio

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10 Ways to Fix Windows Update Failed Error Code 0x80070003#

The Main Causes of Error Code 0x80070003#

Error Code 0x80070003 Variations#

1. Restart Windows#

2. Disable Third-Party Firewall and Antivirus Software#

3. Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter#

4. Try The Update Assistant#

5. Clear The Software Distribution Folder#

6. Manually Stop and Restart the Windows Update Service#

7. Check For Corrupted System Files#

8. Free Up Drive Space#

9. Check The Registry For Errors#

10. Reset Windows Update Components Manually#

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