Windows 10 and Windows 11 have had their share of problems. The operating system has had over 1200 security vulnerabilities just in 2022. Microsoft quickly moves in to fix many of these security holes in the system, so it’s essential you stay up to date. Yet, Windows updates can bring their own problems as well. This tutorial shows what to do when an update does more harm than good.
Note: if a problem here is marked as “FIXED,” it means Microsoft has rolled out an update that fixes the problem, and the solution is simply to make sure your system is fully updated. If a problem is not yet “FIXED,” then either read that entry for workarounds to that specific problem or scroll down the page for advice on how to roll back updates.
[Fixed] December 2022 Windows 11, Version 22H2 KB5020880
Problem: Update fails to download or install.
The 2022-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 11, version 22H2 (KB5020880), was launched on December 13, 2022. Many users have experienced issues due to installation failures, which means problems downloading and installing the updates successfully. If you’re unable to see a “Pending Restart” screen as shown, the update is not working for you.
To solve the problem, launch the Windows Update Troubleshooter from “System -> Troubleshoot -> Other troubleshooters.”
Once the Troubleshooter runs, it will check for and fix any issues that were preventing installation. Those problems are mostly down to the security settings, missing or corrupt files, and problems with Service Registration. Other issues are connected to Windows Network Diagnostics, IsPostback_RC_PendingUpdates, WaaSMedicService, and BITS service.
The best way to get past Windows 11 installation failures is to download the Windows 11 installation assistant. Once you run the .EXE file, the new update will easily run on your screen.
[Fixed] December 2022 Windows 11, Version 21H2; KB5019980 and KB5021234
Problems: Task Manager appearance | Audio issues in Xbox | Sign-in failures | Intel drivers compatibility
It’s been reported that Windows 11’s earliest version 21H2 has a few minor problems in the accumulated build KB5021234.
For example, the Taskbar may not display in the expected colors. This may not seem important if you’re using Windows 10, but the best thing about Windows 11 is how beautifully the Taskbar blends with your wallpaper.
Other issues may include sign-in failures for KB5019980 that can be fixed using a minor patch update in “Check for Updates.” Some users have reported audio issues in the Xbox app and a secure boot failure when migrating from Windows 10.
Most of these issues have been resolved in KB5020044, so if you’re upgrading to a higher version, you’re good to go. Otherwise, you will need to roll back your Windows 11 version to a previous build (check the option at the bottom of the list) or use the Windows 11 installation assistant online.
Tip: improve your gaming sessions by connecting your Xbox Series S/X controller to your Windows PC.
Error Code 0x800f0831
Problem: update fails to install.
Before moving onto the update problems relating to specific Windows updates, let’s cover one of the more common errors that may occur when you try to update Windows 10 or 11.
Essentially, the above error code means your update has failed, but there are several things you can do to troubleshoot this problem:
- If there’s a conflict with your VPN or proxy server and you’re using a VPN or proxy, make sure it’s completely disabled when trying to update Windows. You may even need to uninstall and reinstall the software.
- Scan for corrupt system files.
- For this and other update errors, you can try finding the update you’re trying to install in the Microsoft Update Catalog and install it manually from there.
[Fixed] December 2022 – Issues in Windows 10 Version 22H2 – KB5021233
Problems: Sign-in failures | OneDrive problems | Taskbar disappears | Blue screen issues.
The Windows 10 version 22H2 is a minor optional update released on September 20, 2022, available via the online Update Assistant. There have been a few issues with this update, such as sign-in failures related to Kerberos authentication, the OneDrive app closing suddenly, and most worryingly, the desktop and Taskbar disappearing from the screen for a few seconds.
Microsoft has addressed these issues in its builds from October 25 – December 13, 2022 such as KB5018482, KB5019959, and KB5020953. The following solutions are in order:
- Clean restart your Windows 10 device.
- Opt for Microsoft out-of-band (OOB) updates from November 18, 2022 onward, available from “Check Your Updates.”
- If you see a blue screen with error 0xc000021a, run the Advanced Startup from “System -> Update & Security -> Recovery,” and in its Command Prompt under “C:\Windows,” type C:\windows\system32\hidparse.sys. After the system repair is done, type exit and restart your Windows 10 device.
Good to know: OneDrive not syncing properly between devices? Here’s how you can fix the issue.
[Fixed] Error 0x80070422
Problem: Updates fail to install properly.
The 0x80070422 bug is one of the oldest update errors in Windows, and it can still affect some Windows 10 devices while installing updates. It’s often accompanied by other types of messages, such as Windows update is disabled. The current approach to solving this problem is to disable IPv6 from Wi-Fi Properties.
Check whether your Windows update service is disabled (explained below).
“Retry” to ensure the update issues aren’t there any longer.
If you notice persistent failure due to the error code, go to “Control Panel Home -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center.” Double-click the available Internet connection, which will open a Wi-Fi Status pop-up window.
Click “Properties.”
Navigate to “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” and disable it.
If you’re still having issues due to the error code, enter the Command Prompt in Admin mode and the following commands one after another.
Restart your device, then check your Wi-Fi connection again. The issues due to 0x80070422 should be fixed.
[Fixed] January 2022 Issues in Windows 10 Version 21H2 – KB5009543
Problems: Slow boot | Unresponsive system | Game performance issues
The above update created some serious problems for some users, grinding their systems to a near-halt, making games work poorly and hammering their boot times. The main issues were due to corrupted files in the software distribution, and even the Microsoft Update Catalog failed to deliver results.
The issues were addressed in June 2022 under KB5005322, KB5010342, KB5014023, and later builds. If you’re still stuck behind the update timelines, Microsoft recommends that you create a restore point for your device and download the latest available Windows 10 update.
[Fixed] November 2021 – KB5007215
Problems: Remote printer problems | MSI Installer not repairing or updating apps.
Microsoft Installer (MSI) is one of the more important tools in the Windows shed. The “.msi” file format is a proprietary Windows installer package that helps install, maintain, reinstall and repair software on your PC.
As of the above update, however, MSI no longer works as it should, failing to repair and update apps. Not all apps are affected, though notably, one that was affected is Kaspersky. Once the app fails to update or repair, you may not be able to open it and would have to reinstall it.
This was an ongoing issue, where updates were causing printer problems, and users were reporting that they’re getting errors when trying to print things over a remote network.
Microsoft announced that these issues were fixed with the KB5007262 build update. To get it, update your Windows 10 version to “21H2” through the Windows Update window. Or you may directly update to “22H2” from the official Windows 10 update link.
Tip: did you know that you can use PowerShell to hide updates in Windows?
How to Fix and Avoid Broken Windows Updates
If the problem you’re encountering with a new Windows update is that the install stops at a certain percentage, or more generally, that it’s failing to install the update, try installing the update from PowerShell.
Open PowerShell as administrator. (Just type it into the Start menu search.)
In PowerShell, type:
It may ask you to install and import the NuGet provider. Press “Y” for Yes and let it install the package.
Check for the latest Windows updates by typing the following into PowerShell:
Once you’ve confirmed that there are updates to install, type:
Press “Y” or “A” to confirm that you want to install the updates.
Install Optional Updates
If you access the Windows 11 or 10 update screen by going to “Settings -> Windows Update -> Advanced Options -> Additional Options,” you will find the “Optional Updates” menu. These updates are designed specifically to address feature, quality, and driver issues for recent Windows updates. They become “proper” updates a few weeks later once they’ve been thoroughly tested.
These updates are still pretty stable, though, so may be worth a shot if a recent update has broken something on Windows.
Uninstall Windows Updates
You can uninstall smaller Windows updates (to roll back builds, see the next section) by doing the following:
In Windows 10, go to “Settings -> Update & Security -> View update history -> Uninstall updates.”
Scroll down in the main pane to the “Microsoft Windows” heading, and you’ll see all the KB and security updates for Windows 10 along with the dates they were installed. Right-click the one you want to uninstall and reboot your PC.
Windows 11 also has an option to uninstall recent updates accessible from “Settings -> Windows Update -> Uninstall updates.” Just click the “Uninstall” button next to the update you want to eliminate.
Good to know: you can try Windows 11 without completely wiping out Windows 10 by following this guide.
How to Roll Back Windows Builds
After every major update, Windows gives you a 10-day window to roll back to a previous version. It’s a useful feature and should give you enough time to judge whether you have a problematic update. Of course, this won’t recover your files if Windows deletes them, but at least you’ll be on a more stable version of the OS.
- Go to “Settings -> Update & security -> Recovery” in Windows 10 or “Settings -> System -> Recovery” in Windows 11.
- Below “Reset this PC,” you should see the option to “Go back to the previous version of Windows.”
- Click “Get started,” then follow the steps to roll back Windows. Again, this option is only available for 10 days after a Windows build update.
Check Your Windows Build
Before looking into rolling back and fixing broken Windows updates, you need to check which build of Windows you’re currently using to confirm which issues are affecting you.
Go to “Settings -> Windows Update -> Update history” (in Windows 11) or “Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update -> View Update history (in Windows 10).
In the new window, click the arrow next to “Feature Updates” to see the version of Windows you’re currently using and click “Quality Updates” to see all the smaller “KB” updates you have installed.
Pause Windows Updates
The first thing you can do to avoid getting the above update problems and more is to take over control when Windows updates. This way, you can hold off getting updates the moment Microsoft rolls them out, monitor the news for a bit to see if any major errors crop up, then manually do the update yourself.
In Windows 11, go to the “Windows Update” screen from Settings. Under “More options,” select “Pause updates” and choose the number of weeks you wish to defer updates in the future (from the default of one week to up to five weeks).
In Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, or S, you can postpone updates by checking the same option available under “Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update.” In some Windows 10 versions, it may be spelled as “defer” instead of “pause” and available under a different heading.
Tip: make your Windows 11 PC look more like Windows 10. We show you how.
Completely Block Windows Updates
If you want to block Windows updates completely for an indefinite time, disable the Windows Update Medic Service, which triggers the main Windows Update service to switch itself back on automatically. You have to disable this through Registry Editor.
Click start, type regedit and open Registry Editor.
Navigate to:
Right-click “Start -> Modify,” then change the “Value data” to “4.”
Reboot your PC, then go to the “Services” window using Win + R. You should see that “Windows Update Medic Service” is “Disabled.”
You can now disable the Windows Update service in the same window. Right-click “Windows Update -> Properties,” then in “Startup type,” select “Disabled.” Windows Update should now remain disabled until you re-enable it.
Few things on PC are more frustrating than an update – ostensibly to improve performance – borking your system, but unfortunately, Microsoft has form in this respect. Other teething issues with Windows 10 include the Start menu search not working, Microsoft Store not working, and a malfunctioning microphone. We can help you with these, too!
Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.
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