10 Solutions For Windows 10 Update Error 0x800703f1

Some of the Windows 10 features are prone to errors. For instance, many users have complained about getting errors while updating Windows. There are many complaints and criticisms for the update feature on tech and support forums.

We will now begin discussing the possible workarounds for Windows 10 update error 0x800703f1 that will be helpful until Microsoft brings out a more stable bug fix.

Why Did I Get Windows 10 Update Error 0x800703f1?

Windows 10 update error 0x800703f1 can occur due to numerous reasons such as:

  • Installing third-party antivirus software
  • Corrupted Windows Update Service
  • Corrupted system files
  • Corrupted or outdated Windows drivers

Fixes For Windows update error 0x800703f1

  1. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
  2. Remove Antivirus Software or Temporarily Disable It
  3. Uninstall Latest Windows Updates
  4. Run SFC And DISM Scans
  5. Reset Windows Update Components Via Command Prompt
  6. Check Your Drivers
  7. Perform Clean Boot
  8. Remove Nvidia Drivers and Nvidia GeForce Experience
  9. Disable Windows Defender
  10. Perform A Clean Installation of Windows 10

Solution 1. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has an integrated Troubleshooter capable of fixing some problems or helping you identify the cause for the update error code 0x800703f1.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key, and I key. This will open the Settings app.

Step 2. Navigate to the Update & security section and open it.

Windows Update Troubleshooter

Step 3. Click on the Troubleshoot option given in the left pane.

Step 4. On the right pane, click on the Run the troubleshooter button.

Step 5. Follow the on-screen instructions and allow Windows to complete troubleshooting.

Step 6. Restart your computer and inspect if the error 0x800703f1 is fixed. If not, please consider the following solutions.

Solution 2. Remove Antivirus Software or Temporarily Disable It

Sometimes the third-party antivirus installed in your PC could interfere with the computer and cause error code 0x800703f1.

You should disable the antivirus software or remove it entirely from the system. This will help you fix Windows 10 update error 0x800703f1.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and the X key.

Step 2. Click on the Task Manager option.

Step 3. Navigate to the Process section, and scroll down to locate the third-party antivirus software currently installed in your system.

Step 4. Right-click on the antivirus process and click on the End task option.

Step 5. Close all windows and restart your system. Check if the error is resolved.

If disabling the antivirus doesn’t fix the problem, you can remove it and then perform the upgrade and check if it’s possible.

If the issue gets fixed by removing the antivirus, you should consider an alternative antivirus or use Windows Defender for protecting your system.

Solution 3. Uninstall Latest Windows Updates

If recently you have installed a Windows update, it is possible that the update wasn’t installed properly and hence is malfunctioning.

Windows 10 allows users to uninstall updates from within Windows. However, when the user cannot usually access Windows, they can roll back updates using safe mode or the Windows Recovery Environment.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key, and I key. This will open the Settings app.

Step 2. Navigate to the Update & security section and open it.

Step 3. Tap the Update history link.

Step 4. Go to the Uninstall Updates option. You can see all the installed updates in your system that Windows monitors. It also includes updates for specific applications.

Fix  Windows 10 0x800703f1 error

Step 5. Select the update you think is causing trouble. Since the updates are categorized by program and date, you can choose the first item from the list. It is the most recent Windows Update to remove it.

Step 6. If your update is significant, you will be able to see an uninstall button in the toolbar. Minor updates usually don’t show the uninstall button.

Step 7. Please follow the on-screen wizard instructions to complete the uninstallation.

Step 8. Restart the windows and check if the error is fixed. If the error persists, please consider the below-given alternatives.

Solution 4. Run SFC And DISM Scans

Corrupt or missing system files could be a probable cause for Windows to throw the error 0x800703f1 while updating windows.

Luckily, Windows offers two powerful tools, the System File Checker (SFC) tool and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool, to help you fix the system file errors.

Run System File Checker (SFC) Tool

Windows offers a system utility tool called System File Checker (SFC) scan to fix the missing or corrupted system files effectively and safely.

Step 1. Press the Windows icon key and type cmd in the search box that appears.

Step 2. Double click on the command prompt option and select Run as Administrator. You can also click on the run as administrator from the options given on the right side of the search results.

Step 3. In the open window, type the sfc /scannow command in the command line to run system file checker.

type sfc/scannow

Step 4. Press the enter key and allow the SFC scan to complete. It will take some time, so have patience and do not abort the process as it will damage the system further.

Step 5. After the scan completes, exit the window and restart your PC.

Now try to update windows. If it throws no error 0x800703f1, it means the issue is fixed.

Run Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Tool

If the error code 0x800703f1 isn’t fixed using the SFC scan above, you should attempt to run the DISM tool.

Step 1. Press the Windows icon key and type cmd in the search box that appears.

Step 2. Right-click on the command prompt option and select Run as Administrator. You can also click on the run as administrator from the options given on the right side of the search results.

Step 3. In the open window, type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess command in the command line. Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows repository with the location of the media directory.

Run DISM: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

Step 4. Hit enter key and allow the scan to complete. It will take some time, so have patience and do not abort the process as it will damage the system further.

Step 5. After the scan completes, exit the window and restart your computer.

Now try to update windows. If it throws no error 0x800703f1, it means the issue is fixed. If not, move on to other solutions.

Solution 5. Restart Windows Update Components Via Command Prompt

Due to corrupted windows update components, the error 0x800703f1 might occur. To fix the bug, you must restart all windows 10 components manually using a command prompt (admin).

Step 1. Press the Windows icon key and type cmd in the search box that appears.

Step 2. Right-click on the command prompt option and select Run as Administrator. You can also click on the run as administrator from the options given on the right side of the search results.

Run prompt as an administrator

Step 3. In the open cmd window, run the following commands.

-> net stop wuauserv

-> net stop cryptSvc

-> net stop bits

-> net stop msiserver

-> ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

-> ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old

-> net start wuauserv

-> net start cryptSvc

-> net start bits

-> net start msiserver

Step 4. Restart windows to allow the above changes to take effect.

Once the system is restarted, try to perform a Windows update. If it works, hurrah!!, else try the following fix to find a better solution.

Solution 6. Check Your Drivers

Windows updates fail often due to problematic drivers. You must keep your drivers updated to ensure that they are compatible with Windows.

Update Driver Automatically

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and X key. Please search for the Device Manager option from the list and tap it.

Step 2. Locate the driver which you wish to update and right-click on it.

Step 3. Select the Update driver option.

Step 4. Select the Search for new drivers online option in the next window.

This will update the driver. Alternatively, you can download third-party software such as DriverFix, Auslogics Driver Updater, etc., to keep your drivers updated. If updating the driver doesn’t work, you can roll back to the previous driver update.

Roll Back Driver

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and X key. Search for the Device Manager option from the list and tap it.

Step 2. Locate the driver which you wish to update and right-click on it.

Step 3. Select the Properties option.

Step 4. Progress to the Driver tab and click on the Rollback driver button if available.

Solution 7. Perform Clean Boot

Windows updates fail when any recently installed third-party applications interfere with the windows update and give error 0x800703f1.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and R key to open the run dialog box.

Step 2. In the Open: label box, type msconfig and hit OK or press enter.

Step 3. Navigate to the Services tab in the System Configuration window and tick the Hide all Microsoft Services check box.

Step 4. Click on the Disable all button and switch to the Boot tab.

Step 5. In the Boot options section, tick the Safe Boot checkbox and tap the Minimal radio button.

Step 6. Hit the Apply button. Click OK.

Allow your computer to restart in safe mode. Now restart Windows update.

Solution 8. Remove Nvidia Drivers and Nvidia GeForce Experience

Nvidia drivers could sometimes cause the window update to fail. Hence, uninstalling them can help you fix the error 0x800703f1.

For this, you need to remove any Nvidia or related software from your PC and restart windows to remove any leftover files.

Perform Windows update and check if it works. Reinstall the Nvidia drivers after the update.

Solution 9. Disable Windows Defender

By temporarily disabling Defender, you can fix the error 0x800703f1. The security programs sometimes interfere with Windows update processes, so disabling them can help resolve the issue.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key, and I key. This will open the Settings app.

Step 2. Navigate to the Update & security section and open it.

Step 3. Select the Windows Security option from the left pane.

Step 4. Click on the Open Windows Defender Security Center button on the right pane.

Step 5. In the Windows Defender window, click on the Virus & threat protection option.

Step 6. Click on Virus & threat protection settings and click on turn off the real-time protection toggle.

Turn off real-time protection

Restart windows update and check if it works. If not, follow the next solution.

Solution 10. Perform A Clean Install of Windows 10

In the event that none of the solutions so far have worked for you, you can perform a clean install of Windows 10 to fix any bugs with the Windows operating system.

It is pivotal that you back up all the data and other essential applications because they will be deleted from the computer. Make sure to back up the system in an external hard drive before you proceed with this solution.

To begin with, you need to create a Windows 10 bootable disk/drive. You should use a different PC for this purpose as your Windows is corrupted.

Step 1. Go to Microsoft Windows 10 Download page and click on the Download tool now button to download the media creation tool.

Step 2. Install the downloaded software and run it.

Step 3. Click on For another PC option and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Step 5. Download an ISO file for Windows that can be burned on your USB or DVD.

Step 6. Burn the ISO file on the DVD or USB

Once the bootable drive is ready, follow these instructions for a clean installation of Windows on your machine.

Step 1. Boot your computer and continuously press the F8 key to enter the BIOS settings.

Step 2. Next, change the boot order such that the computer boots from a USB. Save these settings and exit the BIOS.

Step 3. Insert the Windows 10 bootable USB or DVD in your system and restart your pc.

Step 4. Windows will ask for your language and other preferences. Enter them and click on Install Windows. Patiently follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation.

Step 5. Agree to the Window license terms and choose the Custom installation option.

Step 6. Choose the partition in which Windows 10 will be installed and format it.

Step 7. Click on the Next button and keep following the instructions until the installation wizard is finished.

Step 8. Once the Windows 10 boots, try to check if the Windows update is working.

FAQs

How Do I Fix Error 0x800703f1?

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
Remove Antivirus Software or Disable It
Uninstall Latest Windows Updates
Run SFC And DISM Scans
Restart Windows Update Components Via Command Prompt
Check Your Drivers
Perform Clean Boot
Remove Nvidia Drivers and Nvidia GeForce Experience
Disable Windows Defender
Perform A Clean Windows 10 Install

What Does 0x800703f1 Error Mean?

0x800703f1 error is a Windows update error usually associated with service registration failure that leads to Windows update getting stuck.

How Do I Fix Error 0x8e5e03fb?

You can fix error 0x8e5e03fb in Windows 10 by ensuring that the date and time are correct, placing the computer in clean boot, installing pending updates, running Windows Troubleshooter, or disabling any security software temporarily and re-enabling after fixing the issue.

Q4. How Do I Fix Error 80070422?

1. Check Windows Registry
2. Disable IPv6
3. Restart Services
4. Advanced Windows Update Troubleshooting
5. Restart the Computer
6. Run The Troubleshooter For Windows
7. Fix Windows Update Service