How To Fix Windows Update Error 0x80080008?

Many of the Windows 10 users have been reporting an issue while installing the Windows Update in their system. They are all receiving the Windows update error 0x80080008 while trying to perform the update. The error stops you from installing the update further and users get quite frustrated with this interruption. So, in this article we are going to give you ample methods to fix the Windows update error code 0x80080008, keep reading till the end until you find the right solution to fix the error.  

How To Fix Windows Update Error 0x80080008?  

Users think that they can get rid of this error by running the Windows update troubleshooter but they are wrong. They can get rid of it for a short while but it will re-appear when they restart the system. Therefore, to fix the error entirely, we have mentioned a few of the possible methods that you can try. 

1. Restarting Windows Update Components 

A lot of users have claimed that sometimes the windows update error 0x80080008 is caused by Windows update components, therefore restarting them has proven to solve this error. Here’s how users can restart the Windows Update Components: 

1. Firstly, you will have to launch the Command prompt on Windows desktop, simply type ‘cmd’ in the search box which is located on the lower-left corner of the screen. And then, you have to press right-click on the ‘Command Prompt’ option. Now, a pop-up will open up, select the Run as administrator option, and click ‘Yes’.
2. In the command prompt you just need to type the command that we will be provided below as it is and remember to press the ‘Enter’ key after every command: 

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 

And that’s it, there are chances that after performing this method the update error will be solved and you will be able to update Windows. If the error persists then, try the next method.  

2. Restarting The BITS Services 

BITS or the Background Intelligent Transfer Service performs a vital role in Windows Update. And therefore, if this service is not operating properly then, users are prone to get an error message while updating Windows 10. Thus, the only solution is to restart BITS to remove the Windows Update error code 0x80080008. Below are the steps to follow to restart BITS:  

1. From the keyboard, press the Windows + R key, this command will open the Run dialogue box in front of you. 
2. In the Run dialogue box, you need to enter ‘services.msc’ and click on the Enter button
3. You will have to search for BITS and once you find it, double-click on it to open its properties.
4. You need to check its service status, and if it not working or stopped for some reason, click on the Start button. 
5. Now, click on the Recovery tab and ensure that the First failure and Second failure are set to ‘Restart service’ as shown in the image below.
6. Click on the ‘Ok’ button and that’s it check for the updates. 

3. Run SFS Command 

A lot of times, as users have mentioned that Windows 10 installation files tend to get corrupted due to update failure, and therefore, the error can occur. In such times, it is recommended to run the SFS command as by using this tool one can fix the Windows Update error code 0x80080008, here’s how to do it: 

1. You will have to launch the command prompt so, type ‘cmd’ in the search box and then, right-click on the ‘command prompt’ option. And select the ‘Run as administrator’ option from the side menu. 
2. Then, as the command prompt window opens, type sfs/scannow in the command box and press the ‘Enter’ key to run the command. 

And that is it, as soon as you will run this command in your system, it will scan and repair the system files. Once all of your system files have been checked, try and run the Windows update service to verify if the error has been fixed. 

4. Disabling Third-party Antivirus Software From System 

The most common reason reported for causing this error is an Antivirus program. So, we would advise you to disable any of the third-party Antivirus software if it is installed in your system. And we ensure you that you don’t have to worry about your system’s safety as Windows 10 has an in-built strong Antivirus program – Windows defender.  

Therefore, you need to disable the Antivirus program to fix the Windows error 0x80080008 and if disabling doesn’t work, uninstall it. Here’s a short step by step guide to tell you how to uninstall a third-party app from Windows 10: 

• Firstly, open Settings > Apps > search for the third party Antivirus application > click Uninstall. That’s it!  

5. Run DISM Tool 

If running the SFS code doesn’t fix the error code 0x80080008 then you are supposed to use the DISM tool or Deployment image servicing and management tool. Below given are the steps to run the DISM code on Windows: 

1. You will have to launch the command prompt so, type ‘cmd’ in the search box and then, right-click on the ‘command prompt’ option. And select the ‘Run as administrator’ option from the side menu. 
2. In the Command prompt, type the command given – DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press the ‘Enter’ key to run the command.
3. If just in case, the DISM fails to obtain files online, the users are supposed to insert their installation USB or DVD. After inserting the media, type the following command –  

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess then press Enter. 

And remember: you are supposed to replace the “C:RepairSourceWindows” with your installation media’s path.  

6. Re-register Wups2.dll 

Wups2.dll is a faulty module that can cause the Windows update error code 0x80080008. Therefore, you must re-register this file to fix the issue. Here’s how you can do so:  

1. Open the Command prompt with administrator rights as we have been doing in every single method, you can look above for the steps. 
2. Now enter the command as given in the Command prompt and press ‘Enter’:  

REGSVR32 WUPS2.DLL /S 

REGSVR32 WUPS.DLL /S 

REGSVR32 WUAUENG.DLL /S 

REGSVR32 WUAPI.DLL /S 

REGSVR32 WUCLTUX.DLL /S 

REGSVR32 WUWEBV.DLL /S 

REGSVR32 JSCRIPT.DLL /S 

REGSVR32 MSXML3.DLL /S 

Restart Windows and try running the Windows update once again and see if the error has been fixed or not. 

7. Boot In Safe Boot Mode  

At times, the background programs cause disturbances in Windows update and lead to the Windows Update error. In such cases, users are supposed to boot Windows in Safe mode after disabling the startup programs, here’s how you can do that: 

1. Open the Run dialogue box by pressing the ‘Windows + R’ key and type MSConfig. And click ‘Ok’.
2. Head to the Services tab and you need to check the Hide all Microsoft services box.  
3. Tap on the ‘Disable All’ button and then, click on the ‘Apply’ button.
4. Now, click on the Startup Tab from tabs available on top, and click on the Open Task Manager link. 
5. You need to select all the Startup programs and then, tap on the ‘Disable’ button. 

 8. Manually Downloading The Windows Update 

And at last, if the Windows Update error 0x80080008 fails to be fixed then, we would recommend you to manually download the Windows Update and install it in your system, it’s not a complex method just follow the steps given below:  

1. You will need the KB number of the Windows update you like to download. To get the KB number, you can go to the Windows Update section or visit the Windows Update History website. 
2. Once you have got the number, visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website and enter the KB number in the search area.
3. A list of results will appear on the screen, you need to find the update that matches your system architecture and select it and click the Download button. 
4. That’s it once it is downloaded, install it in your system. But remember this doesn’t fix the core issue.

Also Read: SMITE Promo Codes for September 2021

Conclusion 

I hope this article was insightful and understandable. We tried our best to involve every possible method that can help you remove the Windows update error 0x80080008. If you still have any queries then, you can let us know in the comments below. I hope you liked reading this article.