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Fix Windows Update Error 0x80073701 (Window 10/11)

Windows Update enables you to obtain and install security updates that shield your computer from harmful malware and other forms of assaults. Nevertheless, it may sometimes create major difficulties, which will ultimately result in an error notice with directions on how to fix the situation. When attempting to upgrade to Windows 10 or 11, you could run into issues such as the Windows Update error 0x80245006, which is one of these problems. If you are also having a similar issue, then this guide might assist you in finding answers on how to fix Windows Update Error 0x80073701 on Windows 10/11.

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How to fix Windows Update Error 0x80073701 on Windows 10/11?

If you are attempting to install the most recent updates on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine, but you keep receiving the windows update error 0x80073701, you should follow the instructions that are outlined below.

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter:

The troubleshooter for Windows Update is a built-in utility that can assist users in repairing typical issues that arise with Windows Update. It’s possible that upgrades won’t fix every problem, but they should address a good number of them. To use the troubleshooter, do the following steps in order:

Launch the “Settings” program, and press the Windows key and the letter I together.
To access the “Update & Security” section of the app, choose that option from the “Settings” menu. If you are using Windows 11, go instead to “Settings -> System.”
Simply go to the “Troubleshoot” area using the menu on the left.
Navigate your browser’s window to the right and click the link labeled “Additional troubleshooters.”
After making your selection, click the “Run the troubleshooter” option after selecting “Windows Update.”

This will launch the Windows Update application, which will then begin looking for problems that are pertinent to the current installation. It will take some time for the troubleshooter to do its job, but if it discovers and resolves any issues, you will be informed of this.

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2. Run System File Checker:

If you are attempting to update Windows and get the Windows update error 0x80073701, the problem is most likely by a damaged system file. You can try using the utility known as System File Checker to fix any system files that are either missing or corrupted and then see if this resolves the problem. The instructions that are provided below will walk you through using this tool:

To run an application, right-click the “Start” button and choose “Run” from the resulting menu.
Launch it as administrator, enter cmd into the dialogue box, and then hit the Ctrl, Shift, and Enter keys simultaneously.
In the window for the Command Prompt, type this command: sfc /scannow
To begin carrying out the instruction, use the “Enter” button.
After the procedure is complete, you should restart your computer and then attempt to install Windows Update again.

3. Utilize the DISM Tool:

In the event that executing the System File Checker tool does not resolve the issue, you may attempt fixing the issues with your Windows Update components by using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool instead.

Conduct the command prompt session with the Administrator privileges, as indicated above.
After entering a window for the Command Prompt, type the following command line and then hit the Enter key: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
If the problem persists after successfully running the command above, you should restart your computer to investigate further.

4. Perform a reset of the components of Windows Update:

It might be possible that a component of Windows Update is either broken or not installed at all, which is causing this Windows update error 0x80073701. In the event that this is the case, you may attempt to reset the Windows Update components. You will need to delete the “SoftwareDistribution” and “catroot2” directories in order to get rid of any temporary files that could be causing the issue and to coerce Windows into downloading new ones. To use this tool effectively, follow these steps:

Start the Command Prompt application with the Administrator privileges once again.
In the box labeled “Command Prompt,” enter each of the following commands, and then hit Enter after each one:
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
Using the following command, rename the folder that is now labeled “SoftwareDistribution.” Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Alter the name of the folder labeled “catroot2” as follows: Ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
In order to restart the services that you terminated before, type the following instructions and click Enter after each one:
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc

To determine whether or not the Windows update was successful, you will need to restart your computer.

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5. Perform troubleshooting using the Clean Boot mode:

If you’ve been having trouble fixing an issue that’s been caused by Windows Update, there’s a strong possibility that completing a clean boot will solve the problem. When you start Windows with a minimum collection of drivers and initial applications, you are doing what is known as a clean boot. Using this method might assist you in troubleshooting problems by removing software conflicts.

To launch the Run command, use the Windows key plus R.
After you have typed msconfig into the text area, click the “OK” button.
When the window for configuring the system appears, pick “Selective startup” from the “General” tab by clicking on it.
Remove the checkmark from the box labeled “Load startup items.”
Make sure you are on the “Services” tab.
Click “Disable all” after selecting “Hide all Microsoft services” from the drop-down menu. To save your changes, click the “OK” button.
Click “Open Task Manager” after selecting the “Startup” option in the menu that appears.
Make sure that you are on the “Startup” tab while you are using Task Manager.
Select the individual starting services you want to deactivate, and then click the “Disable” button.

Check to see whether the problem has been fixed after you have finished the actions outlined above.

Why do I get the Window error code 0x80073701 when I try to update Windows?

When attempting to upgrade their operating system, many Windows users come across the dreaded error code 0x80073701 that is associated with Windows Update. The issue might have been caused by a number of different factors, but the most probable explanation is that system files have been corrupted. Other possible causes include malicious software, files that are already damaged, or Windows Update components that are either broken or missing.

Conclusion

So, this is how you can fix the Windows Update Error 0x80073701 on Windows 10/11. We’ve included five different ways of doing so and tried to keep the steps as simple as possible. But if you still encounter any issues, you can leave them in the empty comment area below. We’d love to be of assistance to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What would happen if I do not install the latest updates for Windows?

It is possible that your computer may become vulnerable to dangers such as malware if you do not install the most recent Windows updates. You also run the risk of missing important security fixes that might safeguard your data, as well as encountering issues with the system’s speed and reliability.

How can I stop Windows from automatically downloading and installing updates?

If you do not want your operating system to automatically update, you may stop the automatic updates feature in Windows 10 to prevent it from doing so. This is particularly helpful if your internet connection is poor or restricted, or if you want to read up on an update before downloading it, since any of those situations may prevent you from installing it immediately.
1. Make a search for the Services program by clicking the Search button in Windows, and then launch it after you find it.
2. Scroll down until you find “Windows Update,” then right-click on it and pick “Properties” from the context menu.
3. On the “General” tab, choose “Disabled” from the “Startup type” drop-down menu by clicking on the drop-down menu’s drop-down arrow.

How can I remove an update that Windows has installed?

Uninstalling the Windows update could be a good idea if you notice that your computer is performing more slowly than normal or if you are having other problems with it.
1. Launch the “View update history” window by navigating to “Settings -> Update and Security -> View update history” in Windows 10.
2. Choose “Uninstall updates” and then choose the update that you wish to delete from your computer’s installation.
3. Go to “System -> Windows Update -> Update History” if you’re using Windows 11 and want to see your update history.
4. Simply choose the update from the drop-down menu that appears after clicking the “Uninstall updates” link at the bottom of the page.
In addition, if you feel like you need a break, you may temporarily suspend Windows Updates.

Published On : January 18, 2023 by: Anjali Latwal/Category(s) : Windows