The error code 0x80004005 occurs now and then on Windows due to different reasons. Today, my focus will be only put on Windows Update error 0x80004005, which shows up when you are installing some updates. What is cause for this error? And more importantly, how to fix the error properly in different ways?

To tell the truth, Windows Update is one of the most obvious novelties of Windows 10 which influences the overall experience greatly (another is the UI changes). It is positive change that you can’t ignore.

Windows Update Error 0x80004005 Occurs

Yet, just as every coin has two sides, the update may lead to a series of errors – 0x80004005 is one of them. What does Windows Update error 0x80004005 mean? Actually, it means that your update will be interrupted (in other words, it will prevent you from updating). How terrible it is!

Well, the good news is this error can be fixed no matter it happens on Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10:

  • Windows 7 update error 0x80004005
  • Error code 0x80004005 on Windows 8
  • Error code 0x80004005 Windows 10 network
  • 0x80004005 Windows 10 installation
  • 0x80004005 Windows 10 network share
  • Windows Store error 0x80004005

In the next part, I will take Windows 10 as an example to show to how to fix the error.

What if you have finished Windows Update successfully, but find some files are lost? Please go to recover them immediately:

Recover Lost Files After Windows Update with Four Methods
Recover Lost Files After Windows Update with Four Methods

Do you know how to recover lost files after Windows update? This post shows you several methods to get them back.

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Windows 10 Update Repair

You may ask: how do I fix error 0x80004005. Certainly, I provide several useful methods for you to settle down Windows 10 update error 0x80004005. Please read them carefully before you start fixing the problem yourself.

Method 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

The Troubleshooter is a basic system tool of Windows. A variety of troubleshooting tools have been added to unified Troubleshoot menu of Windows 10 since the Creators Update. Of course, the Windows Update Troubleshooter is one of them.

How to use this tool to scan for the update-related errors:

  1. Click on the Start button from the lower left corner.
  2. Press and hold the scroll bar to scroll down to find Settings.
  3. Click on Settings option and choose Update & Security (Windows Update, recovery, backup) from the pop-up window.
  4. Select Troubleshoot from the left-hand pane.
  5. Click on the Windows Update area on the right-hand pane.
  6. Click on the Run the troubleshooter button appeared after last step.
  7. Wait for the scan.
  8. Follow the instructions given by Windows after the scan.

detecting problems

Method 2: Reset Windows Update Related Folders

This method contains two things:

The main function of the SoftwareDistribution folder is to save all the files needed sometimes to install Windows Update on your computer; while the Catroot2 folder is necessary for the Windows Update process and it saves the signatures of the Windows Update package.

Stage 1: stop the Windows Update service and Background Intelligent Transfer Service service:

  1. Click on the search icon on taskbar and type command prompt.
  2. Right click on Command Prompt from the result.
  3. Choose Run as administrator.
  4. Type net stop wuauserv and press Enter.
  5. Wait a few seconds.
  6. Type net stop bits and press Enter.
  7. Wait a few seconds.

stop the services

Stage 2: delete SoftwareDistribution folder:

Now, go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and then delete all the files and folders you can find in it.

delete contents of SoftwareDistribution

Stage 3: reset the Catroot2 folder.

  1. Repeat the step 1~3 in Stage 1.
  2. Type net stop cryptsvc, md %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old, and xcopy %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old /s commands one by one and press Enter at the end of each.
  3. Delete everything you can find in the catroot2 folder.
  4. Type net start cryptsvc and press Enter.
  5. Then, the catroot folder when you restart Windows Update.

Besides, you can also try the following ways to fix the Windows Update error 0x80004005.

  • Replace the dpcdll.dll file.
  • Download and install update manually
  • Run System File Checker
  • Perform a clean reinstall
  • Check your PC drivers
Tip: Guess you may be interested in Windows 10 Update Troubleshooting: Problems And Fixes.

As for how to fix Windows 10 error 0x80004005 unspecified error, please click here.

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