How to Fix Windows Update Error: Windows 10/11 Guide

Windows Update failures are frustratingly common, and error 0x80070103 specifically signals a driver version conflict that Microsoft has documented extensively. The good news: most cases resolve without a reinstallation, using tools already on your machine or targeted command-line fixes.

Official Tool: Windows Update Troubleshooter ·
Common Error Code: 0x80070103 ·
Microsoft Support Page: Troubleshoot problems updating Windows ·
Fix Methods Listed: 7 Ways from Action1 ·
Upgrade Error Code: 0xC1900101

Six distinct approaches dominate the current landscape of Windows Update troubleshooting — from built-in Microsoft tools to manual component resets — each addressing different root causes.

How do I fix a Windows Update error?

The first line of defense against any Windows Update failure is the built-in troubleshooter. Microsoft designed this tool specifically for situations where the update process stalls, fails, or loops without resolution. According to Microsoft’s official support documentation, the troubleshooter can automatically detect and repair common issues related to the Windows Update service, its components, and associated registry settings.

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

• Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run
• Wait for the troubleshooter to complete its scan
• Apply any recommended fixes and restart your PC when prompted

The built-in troubleshooter handles driver update problems that cause errors like 0x80070103 in the majority of reported cases, according to Microsoft Support guidance. If the troubleshooter completes without finding issues but the problem persists, proceed to manual fixes.

Restart and retry update

Sometimes the fix is as straightforward as giving the update process a fresh start. Restarting your computer clears memory-resident processes that may be holding onto corrupted update state. Per technical documentation from Action1, a simple restart and subsequent retry of the Windows Update process resolves a notable percentage of temporary update failures.

To restart and retry: save all open work, select Start > Power > Restart, wait for your PC to fully boot, then navigate to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates again.

What causes a Windows Update to fail?

Understanding the root cause helps you apply the right fix the first time. Windows Update failures typically stem from one of two categories: driver conflicts or corrupted update components. Each requires a different approach to resolve effectively.

Driver issues

Driver conflicts represent the single most common cause of Windows Update failures, particularly error code 0x80070103. According to Microsoft Q&A technical discussions, this error occurs when Windows Update attempts to install a driver that is already present on your system at the same version or an older version than what the update catalog offers. Your PC essentially tells Microsoft “I already have this” while the update service tries to push a newer version anyway.

The version mismatch between device-reported driver and Windows Update catalog version triggers the conflict. This commonly affects USB drivers on HP, Dell, and Lenovo hardware, according to community reports from ElevenForum users experiencing the error since the Windows 11 22H2 update rollout.

Corrupted components

When the Windows Update service itself has corrupted data — whether from a failed previous update, unexpected shutdown, or software conflict — the update process cannot complete even when drivers are fine. Per Microsoft Q&A documentation, corrupted components can prevent the update service from communicating properly with Microsoft’s update servers.

The implication: driver conflicts and component corruption require different fixes, so identifying which category you’re facing saves time and prevents unnecessary troubleshooting steps.

Why does my PC keep saying update failed?

When the Windows Update Troubleshooter runs successfully and finds no issues, but your PC still displays update failures, the problem typically lies deeper in the service layer or requires a service restart to clear stuck processes.

Restart Windows Update service

According to guidance documented by Action1, restarting the Windows Update service clears memory-resident processes that may be holding the update in a failed state. The service can become stuck after a failed update attempt, and simply restarting it often allows subsequent update checks to proceed normally.

• Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
• Scroll down to locate Windows Update in the services list
• Right-click and select Restart
• If the service won’t restart, right-click and select Stop first, then start it again
• After restarting, run Windows Update again from Settings

If restarting the service doesn’t resolve the issue, a full reboot of your computer may be necessary to fully clear the stuck state, per multiple community-reported solutions.

Run troubleshooter again

After restarting the service or rebooting, running the Windows Update troubleshooter a second time can catch issues that weren’t apparent on the first scan. Per Microsoft’s support documentation, some update failures involve timing issues that the troubleshooter only detects after a service restart or system reboot clears the initial stuck state.

The pattern: a single run of the troubleshooter isn’t always conclusive. Multiple passes, combined with service restarts, give you the best chance of identifying intermittent conflicts that cause repeated failures.

How to fix Windows Update error 0x80070103?

Error code 0x80070103 specifically indicates a driver version conflict. The Windows Update catalog is trying to install a driver your system already has in an equal or newer version. Multiple approaches exist to resolve this, ranging from the simplest to more involved fixes.

Use Windows 11 tools

For Windows 11 specifically, the Settings-based troubleshooter offers the most streamlined path to resolution. Navigate to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, locate Windows Update, and select Run. According to Microsoft Support documentation, this tool can automatically identify and resolve driver conflicts that trigger 0x80070103 without requiring manual intervention.

If the troubleshooter doesn’t resolve the error, download the Windows Update Show/Hide Troubleshooter (wushowhide.diagcab) directly from Microsoft to hide the specific problematic driver update. Per NinjaOne’s technical documentation, this tool allows you to temporarily prevent the conflicting driver from being offered again while you resolve the underlying issue.

How to fix Windows Update error on Windows 11?

Windows 11 introduced a refined Settings interface and dedicated troubleshooting pathways that differ from Windows 10. While the underlying update mechanisms remain similar, the access paths and available tools have been reorganized. For Windows 11 users specifically, several targeted approaches can resolve persistent update failures.

Windows 11 Update troubleshooter

Windows 11 consolidates troubleshooting under the Settings > System > Troubleshoot pathway. According to Microsoft Support documentation, the Windows Update troubleshooter in Windows 11 can detect issues including corrupted service data, conflicting group policy settings, and driver version mismatches that cause update failures.

The troubleshooter in Windows 11 performs automatic repairs on the Windows Update components, resets the update history database, and can clear temporary update files that may be interfering with the process.

Check for issues detected

After running the troubleshooter, Windows 11 displays a summary of any issues it found and resolved. Review this summary carefully — it tells you exactly what was wrong and what action the troubleshooter took. Per Microsoft’s support guidance, this information is crucial for understanding whether the root cause has been addressed or if additional steps are needed.

If the troubleshooter reports “No issues found” but updates still fail, you may be dealing with a hardware-level driver conflict that requires manufacturer-specific resolution. In such cases, checking your device manufacturer’s support site for updated drivers — rather than relying solely on Windows Update — often resolves the conflict.

“HP USB drivers have caused 0x80070103 errors on multiple HP systems. Installing drivers directly from the HP support website rather than through Windows Update resolves the version conflict.”

— Community-reported solution from technical forums documenting HP-specific driver conflicts

The takeaway: hardware vendors sometimes publish driver versions that conflict with Microsoft’s catalog, so direct manufacturer downloads bypass the version mismatch triggering the error.

Steps to reset Windows Update components

When standard fixes don’t resolve the issue, resetting Windows Update components manually clears corrupted service data and forces a fresh connection to Microsoft’s update servers. This approach targets the underlying infrastructure rather than individual update failures.

1. Open Windows Terminal as Administrator (right-click Start > Terminal (Admin))
2. Stop the Windows Update service by typing: net stop wuauserv
3. Stop the Windows Update Medic Service (if available) by typing: net stop wuauserv
4. Clear the Windows Update cache by typing: del %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution\Download\* /q
5. Restart the Windows Update service by typing: net start wuauserv
6. Run Windows Update again from Settings

Per Microsoft Q&A documentation, these commands reset the Windows Update components by clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder where update files are temporarily stored. The services must be stopped before clearing this folder and restarted afterward for the reset to take effect.

What this means: if you’ve tried restarting your PC, running the troubleshooter, and restarting the service without success, the component reset is your next escalation step. It addresses cases where corrupted update metadata prevents the update process from starting at all, independent of driver conflicts.

Clarity section

Quotes section

“Select Start > Settings > System. Select Troubleshoot and choose Other troubleshooters. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter to detect and fix common update problems.”

— Microsoft Support documentation (Windows Update troubleshooting instructions)

“Restart the Computer and Run Windows Update Again — a simple restart and subsequent retry of the Windows Update process resolves a notable percentage of temporary update failures.”

— Action1 (Windows Update service restart guidance)

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