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[FIXED] Windows 10 Update Download Error 0x8024200B

What is the Error 0x8024200b on Windows 10? You might encounter it when trying to upgrade to Windows 10 from a previous version of the operating system. It can also happen when downloading or installing one or several Windows 10 updates. If you are facing this issue, this post will be of use to you.

What Causes Update Error 0x8024200b in Windows 10?

The Error 0x8024200b could be due to:

  • Poor network connectivity
  • Corrupt or missing system files
  • Problematic temporary files
  • Windows Update corruption
  • Outdated device drivers
  • Corrupt Windows images

How to Fix the Windows 10 Error 0x8024200b

If you are currently dealing with the 0x8024200b error when downloading or installing Windows updates, you will find several troubleshooting procedures in this guide. These fixes have been proven effective by other users:

  1. Run a system clean-up tool to remove temporary files
  2. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
  3. Clear the Software Distribution folder
  4. Reset the Windows update components
  5. Clear the BITS queue
  6. Download the Windows 10 Update directly from the Microsoft Website
  7. Uninstall unknown printer drivers
  8. Scan for malicious files
  9. Run Sfc /scannow
  10. Run a system restore
  11. Clean boot your OS
  12. Contact a Microsoft virtual agent

By the time you complete the following procedures, you will have been able to resolve the Windows Update error.

Fix 1: Run a System Clean-Up Tool to Remove Temporary Files

Try clearing the temporary files in your PC if you are finding it difficult to install Windows Updates. We suggest you use Auslogics BoostSpeed to carry out the system clean up. It is an industry-acclaimed tool that is backed by Microsoft.

Fix 2: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Your OS might be able to resolve the update issue automatically. The Update troubleshooter analyzes the WU component to identify what has gone wrong. It then employs a viable repair strategy to fix the identified issue.

Here is how to run the utility:

  1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I keyboard combination.
  2. Click on Update & Security.
  3. In the left pane of the new page, locate Troubleshoot and click on the tab.

Tip:

You can quickly get to the Troubleshoot tab by typing “Ms-settings:troubleshoot” (no quotes) in the Run dialog.

  1. Click on Windows Update in the right pane.
  2. Click on Run the troubleshooter and wait for the scan to complete.
  3. Click on Apply this Fix if the utility detects a problem that it can repair.
  4. Restart your computer when the process is complete. You can then test whether the WU error has been resolved.

Fix 3: Clear the Software Distribution Folder

In Windows 10, the Software Distribution folder is located in the Windows directory and is used to store temporary files required for the installation of Windows updates. Clearing the contents of this folder may be sufficient in resolving the WU Error 0x8024300B:

  1. Open the Run dialog and by pressing Win + R keys on your keyboard.
  2. Type “Services.msc” (no quotes) in the text box and click OK or press Enter.
  3. Scroll through the list of services in the Services window and locate Windows Update. Right-click on it and select Stop from the context menu to disable the service temporarily.
  4. Close the Services window. Then, open File Explorer (Press the Win + E keyboard combo) and navigate to: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.
  5. Clear all the contents in the folder.
  6. Invoke Services.msc again, as shown in Step 2.
  7. Locate Windows Update. Right-click on it and select on Start from the context menu to start the service.
  8. Restart your computer and try installing WU again.

Fix 4: Reset the Windows Update Components

Corrupt WU components are likely the cause of the error code you are facing. In a situation like this, you have to reset all associated Windows components and delete the folders where the temporary files are stored.

There are two methods you can use to carry out this fix:

  • Reset Windows Update using a command line
  • Reset Windows Update using an agent script

We’ll look at how to perform both methods.

Reset Windows Update Using a Command Line

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window. You can do this by pressing the Windows + X combination and clicking on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
  2. Click Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt is displayed. The prompt requests to give Windows Command Processor administrator privileges.
  3. Once you are in the Administrator: Command Prompt window, the first action to take is stopping all services that are related to Windows Update, including Windows Update Services, Cryptographic services, BITS services, and MSI Installer. Simply run each of the following lines one after the other:
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptSvc
  • net stop bits
  • net stop msiserver

Note:

Press Enter when you type or copy and paste each line before moving on to the next one.

  1. Once you’ve completed Step 3, rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders, which are used by WU, by running the following commands:
  • ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
  • ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

Renaming the folders forces the system to create fresh folders.

  1. Now, you have to re-enable the Windows services we stopped in Step 3. Run the following commands:
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptSvc
  • net start bits
  • net start msiserver
  1. Close the elevated Command Prompt window and restart your computer.

Reset Windows Update Using an Agent Script

  1. Visit the Microsoft Technet page at https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Reset-Windows-Update-Agent-d824badc.
  2. Download the Reset Windows Update Agent script.
  3. Extract the contents of the downloaded zip file and double-click on the ResetWUENG executable. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the script that resets your Windows Update components.
  4. After the process completes successfully, restart your computer and check whether you can now download and install WU.

Fix 5: Clear the BITS Queue

Clearing the BITS queue of current jobs can help:

  1. Open an elevated command prompt. You can do this by typing “CMD” (no quotes) in the Start menu’s search bar. Then, right-click on Command Prompt and click on the Run as Administrator option.
  2. Click the Yes button when UAC (User Account Control) requests to grant Windows Command Processor admin privileges.
  3. Type or copy and paste “bitsadmin.exe /reset /allusers” (Do not include the quotes) and hit Enter to run it.
  4. Check whether the WU issue has been resolved.

Fix 6: Download the Windows Update Directly from the Microsoft Website

You can download the cumulative update manually and apply it to your system. First, you will have to find the latest update number. You can then search for it in the Update Catalog.

Follow the easy steps below to get the KB number:

  1. Open the Settings app. You can do this by going to the Start menu (Press the Win key) and click on the gear icon that represents Settings. Alternatively, you can quickly open the Settings app using the keyboard combination (Win + I).
  2. Click on Update & Security. Then, click on View Update History.

Once you have obtained the KB number, the next step is to download and install the standalone package manually. Here’s how:

  1. Launch your browser and visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website at https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/
  2. Enter the KB number you got earlier in the search field.
  3. Identify the patch that matches your Windows build and architecture.
  4. Click the Download button once you have found the pending cumulative update for your OS.
  5. Click the top link.
  6. Go to the location in your computer where you saved the downloaded setup file.
  7. Run the setup file by double-clicking on it. Then, wait for the process to complete.

Fix 7: Uninstall Unknown Printer Drivers

Some users reported that the Event Viewer indicated that the 0x8024200B error code is related to multiple printer drivers. Some outdated printer drivers that are not fully compatible with Windows 10 migrate into the new OS after a system upgrade. The drivers cause frequent update failures.

You can fix the issue by installing other pending Windows updates other than the particular one that keeps failing. If that doesn’t work, go to the Device Manager and uninstall the incompatible drivers:

  1. Open the Run dialog and type “Devmgmt.msc” (no quotes) and click OK to open the Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Print Queues drop-down and right-click on any driver that has a yellow exclamation mark on it.

Note:

You might also find the incompatible driver under the Other Devices category.

  1. Click on Uninstall driver from the context menu.
  2. Afterward, restart your computer.

Fix 8: Scan for Malicious Files

According to some users, the Error 0x8024200B appeared on their PC due to Trojans and other malware. Run a full system scan with Windows Defender to arrest malicious items that are hidden in your computer and causing unexpected issues.

If you have a third-party antivirus program on your PC, disable it temporarily and try running WU again. If your antivirus program causes compatibility issues on your computer, we suggest you get Auslogics Anti-Malware instead. Microsoft backs the software application. A certified Microsoft Silver-Application developer developed it. Auslogics Anti-Malware is a strong and reliable tool that can detect and eliminate even the most stubborn viruses.

Fix 9: Run Sfc /Scannow

You might be dealing with some corrupt/missing system files. To see if that is the case, run the System File Checker:

  1. Turn on your Internet connection.
  2. Right-click on the Windows icon to open the Power-user menu. Alternatively, you can press the Windows Key + X.
  3. Click on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
  4. When the UAC prompt comes up, click Yes to confirm that you want to grant Windows Command Processor administrator privileges to your computer.
  5. When the Administrator: Command Prompt window opens, enter (Type or copy and paste) “sfc /scannow” (Don’t type the quotes) and hit Enter on your keyboard.

Note: If you are to type the command, note that there is a space between ‘sfc’ and ‘/scannow.’

  1. The scan might take a while to complete. It could be up to 15 minutes. So, make sure that you have enough battery power or plug your computer to charge.
  2. You have to run a DISM scan if SFC finds problems that it cannot resolve. Simply type “Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” (no quotes) and hit Enter to execute it.
  3. When the DISM scan is complete, run sfc /scannow again.
  4. Restart your computer and check whether you can now download and install your Windows updates.

Fix 10: Run System Restore

Performing a system restore makes your operating system regain its previous state when there were no issues. Here is how to get it done:

  1. Log into your PC with your administrator account.
  2. Go to the Start menu and type “System Restore” (no quotes) in the search field.
  3. Click the same option from the search results.
  4. Click the System Restore button when the System Protection window opens. Then click OK.
  5. Click Next and select a restore point.

Note:

When you initiate a restore point, it revokes the system settings, installed apps, and other changes that were made after the restore point was created.

You can click on ‘Scan for affected programs’ to see the apps that will be removed after you initiate the restore.

  1. Click Next and confirm your chosen restore point. Then, click Finish.
  2. Restart your computer after the process is complete. Then check if the WU issue has been resolved.

Fix 11: Clean Boot Your OS

Conflicting apps might cause the 0x8024200B error. Perform a clean boot to find out if that is the case and identify the culprits:

  1. Open the Run accessory (Press the Win key + R).
  2. Type “Msconfig” (no quotes) in the text field and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
  3. Switch to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
  4. Disable each of the running applications one after the other.
  5. Afterward, close the Task Manager and restart your computer.

Fix 12: Contact a Microsoft Virtual Agent

You can always reach out to a Microsoft Virtual agent for support. They can determine the cause of the error you are dealing with and help you fix it. Visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/contact/virtual-agent/?partnerId=smc&flowId=twitter-va-deeplink&userInput=windows%20update%20error.

We hope that the solutions we presented in this guide have enabled you to get past the Windows 10 Update Download Error 0x8024200B. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to share them with us in the comments section below.