9 Fixes For Windows Error Code 0x80070002

Windows 8/10 has a standard feature of searching for the latest windows updates when the system is connected to the internet. Also, users can also opt for manual installation in place of automatic updates.

So regular windows updates can help users experience the latest Microsoft service and application features such as Office and Outlook. It also provides solutions to bugs and system security maintenance.

Most Windows users have faced an error saying “An error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer. Error(s) found Code: 80070002 Windows Update encountered an unknown problem” when downloading & installing the latest Windows Updates. This 0x80070002 error occurs due to corrupt update files. 

What Does Error Code “0x80070002” Mean?

The 0x80070002 error occurs when some files in the update are mission or corrupt. Also, another reason behind this error is because of inconsistency i.e the Windows Update files in the Computer are inconsistent with the database instructions in the Update package.

Solutions To Fix Windows Error 0x80070002

1. Restart The Windows Update Service
2. Check the Time Settings
3. Check The Updates Installed On The Computer
4. Run SFC & DISM Commands
5. Run The App Troubleshooter
6. Perform A Clean Boot
7. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Security Software
8. Disable Proxy Connection
9. Sign In With Local Account

Solution 1- Restart The Windows Update Service.

As it is discussed in the previous heading “What does error code 0x80070002 mean?”, the main reason behind this error is due to corrupt or incomplete update files stored in your system.

Technically Restarting the Windows Update service and clearing any corrupt or all of the saved update files in the SoftwareDistribution folder can help most users solve the problem of 0x80070002 error. 

Now, this solution needs to be executed  in three major steps:

Step 1- Stop the Windows Update.

Step 2- Erase the temporary update files in the SoftwareDistribution folder.

Step 3- Restart the Windows Update.

Step 1- Stop Windows Update Service

• Open the Windows Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R. 
• Type “services.msc” in the Run search box and click on the Ok button.
• Now that you have opened the Services administrative tool on your Windows, search for the local service named Windows Update from the list of services.
• Double-click on the Windows Update service and click on the Stop option.

Step 2- Delete Temporary Update Files In Software Distribution Folder

• Launch “My Computer” or “This PC” and open drive C(the drive in which the Operating System is installed).
• Navigate to Windows->SoftwareDistribution.
• Inside the Software Distribution folder, search for DataStore and Download folder. Now delete all files and folders in these two folders.

Step 3- Restart Windows Update Service

• Follow the previous process of opening the services administrative tool and searching for the Update service.
• Double-click on the Windows update and click on the Start option.

Solution 2- Check the Time Settings

The incorrect time & date settings of your system can also cause problems during Windows Update. In this situation, synchronizing your computer’s Date and Time settings with the Internet time server can solve the problem perfectly. Also, you need to change the date and time if you don’t opt for syncing with the Internet time.

Step 1- Press Windows + X to open the Power Menu and click on the Control Panel option.

Step 2- In the “View by” drop-down box, select the “Large icons” option.

Step 3- Left-click on the “Date and Time” option.

Step 4- Click on “Change date and time…” and make necessary changes if required.

Step 5- Click “Change time zone…” and select the appropriate Time zone according to your location.

Step 6- Go to the “Internet Time” tab and left-click on the “Change settings” option.

Step 7- Click on the check box option “Synchronize with an Internet time server” and select the site you want to synchronize time, then click on the “Update now” option.

Step 8- Click on Ok and restart your computer for the settings to take effect.

After restart, launch the Windows Update and check for updates again. If the 0x80070002 error message occurs due to incorrect date and time settings, then following this solution can solve this problem quickly and easily.

Solution 3- Check The Updates Installed On The Computer

Some users have faced the 0x80070002 error after installing the penultimate update version. So checking the already installed update(s) and uninstalling it if there are any problems. 

Step 1- Open the Control Panel on your computer.

Step 2- Navigate to Programs-> Programs and Features.

Step 3- Click on the “View installed updates” option located on the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 4- Tick the checkbox for the latest update(s) installed and click on the Uninstall button.

Step 5- Restart the computer when Uninstallation is finished.

Now launch Windows update and check for updates again.

Solution 4- Run SFC & DISM Commands

The corrupt system files are another major cause for the error 0x80070002 to occur in your Windows computer. For this, you can use the Windows Utilities like the SFC(System File Checker) and DISM(Deployment Image Servicing & Management).

Windows 10 has various tools and utilities that help repair the Windows system. DISM is one tool that checks and repairs the online and offline Windows image files that have become corrupt or need any repair.

Step 1- Open the Command Prompt in Administrator mode. To do this, click on the Start Menu icon and type cmd in the search box. Right-click on the Command Prompt and select the Run as administrator option. If you are asked for an administrator password or asked for confirmation then type the password or click on Allow.

Step 2- Now input the command line “sfc /scannow” in CMD and hit the Enter button. Keep the Command Prompt open until the command execution is completed.

(Note- Upon completion of the command, SFC will present you with the result of the check. Also, a list of corrupted system files can be found in a log file named cbs.log located in the directory path: C:\Windows\Logs\CBS)

Step 3- Type the following command and hit Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Step 4- Close the Command Prompt window and run the “Check for updates” again.

Solution 5- Run The App Troubleshooter

Windows Operating System comes with various troubleshooters that users can use to detect and troubleshoot errors. In a similar situation, Windows users can also use the Windows Update Troubleshooter app to fix the 0x80070002 error.

Step 1- Open the Windows Settings app on your system.

Step 2- Navigate to Update & Security->Troubleshoot->Additional troubleshooters.

Step 3- Here under the “Get up and running”, click on Windows Update->Run the troubleshooter.

Step 4- Now wait for the Troubleshooter to diagnose and fix the errors. Then restart your computer and try the Windows Update to see if the error message is still present.

Solution 6- Perform A Clean Boot

The solution to perform a clean boot on your system starts by disabling all non-Microsoft startup applications and services. Why is this? Because there is a possibility that the presence of third-party applications will add barriers when you are attempting to install the latest Windows Updates and face the 0x80070002 error.

Step 1- Open the Run Dialog box by pressing Windows + R, type “msconfig” and click on Ok.

Step 2- In the System Configuration window click on the Services tab. Here click on the check box “Hide all Microsoft services”.

Step 3- Now click on the “Disable All” button.

Step 4- Go to the Startup tab and click on the “Open Task Manager” option.

Step 5- Disable all non-important startup applications i.e Right-click on an application and select the Disable option.

Step 6- Close the Task Manager Window, Click on Apply, and then on Ok in the System Configuration Window.

Solution 7- Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Security Software

Sometimes third-party Antivirus tools can also prevent your system from installing the latest updates. In this situation, it is necessary for you to temporarily disable the third-party antivirus tool and launch the Windows Update again.

Also in addition to the antivirus tool you need to disable VPN, anti-malware tool, firewall, etc.

Solution 8- Disable Proxy Connection

A Proxy connection on your computer can also cause Windows Update errors. How? First, a proxy connection act is a server connecting the users to web pages or web addresses online. It acts as an intermediary between your system and the internet.

Additionally, the Proxy Servers features an extra firewall and web filter, thus filtering out the bad stuff that is trying to enter into your system. This way, it can guarantee a high degree of privacy to your Personal computer. 

Therefore there are some cases in which the Proxy server can block the connection between your system and the Update server connection and an error occurs while downloading the Update package.

Step 1- Open the Control Panel on your computer.

Step 2- Go to Network and Internet-> Internet Options.

Step 3- Click on the LAN Settings option in the Connections tab.

Step 4- Uncheck the option box “Use a proxy server for your LAN”.

Step 5- Click on Ok to close the LAN Settings window. Click on Apply and then on Ok to apply the settings.

Solution 9- Sign In With Local Account

You can also face the Windows Update error when installing the latest updates with administrator rights. So accessing Windows with Local Account credentials will have enough rights to make changes to the physical computer, including installing the latest Windows updates.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)