In case you’re experiencing difficulties trying to perform an update installation on Windows, there are ways to work around the issue.

Here are some solutions that can help you fix the update installation issues.

There issues usually trigger the following error: “There were some problems installing updates but we’ll try again later“.

There were some problems installing updates[FIX]

  1. Run Windows Update troubleshooter
  2. Run DISM tool
  3. Manually reset Windows Updates components
  4. Run a System File Checker scan
  5. Temporarily disable your antivirus security software
  6. Download updates manually

Looking for the best tools to fix Windows update issues? Here are our top picks.

Solution 1: Run Windows Update troubleshooter

The Windows Update troubleshooter automatically detects, and fixes most incorrect settings on your computer that brings the message ‘there were some problems installing updates but we’ll try again later’.

Sometimes you can’t perform an update installation if your computer can’t find the correct IP address when trying to resolve a URL for Windows Update website, or for Microsoft Update website.

This error, usually coded as 0x80072EE7, may occur if the hosts file contains a static IP address, so running Windows Update troubleshooter resolves any issues that prevent you from updating Windows.

Follow these steps to run Windows Update troubleshooter:

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Choose Update & Security.update & security settings
  3. Select Troubleshoot from the left pane.
  4. Expand the Windows Update troubleshooter and click Run the troubleshooter.run windows update troubleshooter

Does this let you continue with your update installation? If not, try the next solution.

Working with Windows Troubleshooter is a nightmare? Try these user-friendly troubleshooting tools!

Solution 2: Run DISM tool

If you still can’t perform an update installation on Windows 10, run the DISM tool, or Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool.

The DISM tool helps fix Windows corruption errors when Windows Updates and service packs fail to install due to corruption errors, like if you have a damaged system file.

Here’s how to run the DISM command on your PC to check if it helps you when you can’t install updates on Windows:

  1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking.
  2. Open Command Prompt as admin.
  3. In the command line, copy-paste the following lines and press Enter after each:
    • DISM /online /Cleanup-Image / ScanHealth
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthdism scan windows 10 slow
  4. After it’s done, reboot your PC.

Once the repair is complete, reboot your computer and try to perform an update installation again.

Learn everything there is to know about DISM from our detailed guide!

Solution 3: Manually reset Windows Updates components

Disclaimer: this solution contains steps that are part of modifying the registry. Please note that serious problems may occur if you do this incorrectly. Ensure you follow these steps correctly, and carefully.

Back up the registry before you modify it, then restore it if a problem occurs.

Follow these steps to manually reset the Windows Updates Components:

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type cmd.
  2. Right-click on the Command Prompt and choose to run it as an administrator.
  3. In the command-line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
      • net stop wuauserv
      • net stop bits
      • net stop cryptsvc
      • Ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistributionSoftwareDistribution.bak
      • Ren %systemroot%system32catroot2catroot2.bak
      • net start wuauserv
      • net start bits
      • net start cryptsvc
  4. Close Command Prompt and navigate again to Task Manager to ensure that the Windows Update service abnormal resource consumption is reduced.

Try running Windows Updates again to check if the issue has been resolved.

Note: it isn’t recommended to uncheck the update option Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows. Windows Updates downloads and installs updates required to run Windows efficiently.

Epic guide alert! Everything you need to know about the Windows Update Reset Script is right here!

Solution 4: Run a System File Checker scan

A System File Checker scan checks or scans all protected system files, and then replaces the incorrect versions, with the genuine, correct Microsoft versions.

Here’s how to do this:

  1. Click Start
  2. Go to the search field box and type CMD
  3. Select Command Prompt
  4. Right click and select Run as Administrator
  5. Type sfc/scannowStatus invalid image format sfc
  6. Press Enter
  7. Restart your computer

If the update installation issue persists, try the next solution.

Check out this guide to become an expert on working with System File Checker!

Solution 5: Temporarily disable your antivirus security software

You can uninstall third-party software on your computer such as computer cleaner or antivirus to check whether it can fix the issue.

Note: for antivirus, temporarily disable it because you need it to prevent your computer from security threats.

Immediately after you’re done fixing the update installation issue, re-enable your antivirus.

Solution 6: Download updates manually

If none of the previous steps proved to be a definite solution, we suggest navigating to Microsoft’s Update Catalog and downloading recent updates manually from there.

Just navigate to the web page, here. Enter the name of the troublesome update and download it.

Then, just install the update like you would any other application. This should resolve the problem for good.

Did any of these solutions get your update installation working? Let us know in the comments section below.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2017 and has been since completely revamped and updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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