The 0x800f0835 error while trying to install Windows updates is pretty common—annoying, and kind of confusing because it can pop up for a bunch of reasons. Maybe the update files got corrupted, or your cache files are out of whack, or there’s some missing system component. Sometimes Windows gets stuck because its own components are outdated or broken, which makes sense since Windows updates tend to rely on a lot of the core files being in order. It’s kind of a pain, but troubleshooting this usually involves a few standard steps to clear out the junk and get the update back on track.
So, here’s the goal: fix that pesky error, get your system updated, and hopefully not break a sweat doing it. These fixes cover everything from automated tools to manual file repairs, and you might find some tricks work better on your setup than others. Just remember, Windows sometimes acts weird the first time you try these—rebooting is a common step after each fix, because Windows loves to stubbornly cling to its broken state. Now, let’s get into some practical ways to tackle this.
How to Fix the 0x800f0835 Error During Windows Updates
Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter to Catch What it Can Fix
This built-in tool is a good first shot. It runs a bunch of automated scans and repairs that often fix simple issues—like corrupted update files or cache problems—that cause the 0x800f0835 error. It’s kind of weird, but it usually just takes a couple of minutes.
- Open Settings via the Start Menu or by pressing Win + I.
- Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
- Click on Windows Update, then hit Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the prompts, and once it finishes, restart your PC. Sometimes that’s enough to clear the hiccup.
On some setups, it might not solve everything right away, but it’s a good starting point. Often, this step will trigger the fix or give you a better idea of what’s wrong.
Clean Up Temporary Files and Cached Windows Update Files
Cache files can get corrupted or just clutter up, which messes with the update process. Clearing them out with Disk Cleanup often helps. This is quick and doesn’t risk breaking anything.
- Press Windows + S, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.
- Pick the system drive, probably C:.
- Check boxes for Temporary Files, Windows Update Cleanup, and any other unnecessary files.
- Click OK, then Delete Files.
- Restart and try the update again—sometimes that fixes the cache conflicts.
If the error sticks around, another thing to try is resetting the Windows Update cache manually because corrupt cache data is a common culprit.
Stop Update Services, Clear Cache, and Restart Them (PowerShell or Command Prompt)
This involves stopping the update services, renaming the update cache folders, then restarting everything fresh. Not pretty, but it works when things are really stuck.
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Just quick search for cmd, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
- Type these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
Net Stop bits Net Stop wuauserv Net Stop appidsvc Net Stop cryptsvc
- Next, rename the cache folders:
Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak Run %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
- Then, restart the services:
Net Start bits Net Start wuauserv Net Start appidsvc Net Start cryptsvc
- Finally, reboot and see if the updates install now.
This resets things without deleting crucial files, sort of like hitting refresh, and it often clears corruption in update cache files.
Try Manually Downloading and Installing the Update
If automatic methods refuse to work, sometimes just manually grabbing the update is faster. Head over to the Microsoft Update Catalog, search for your update number, like KB5044273, and download the right version for your system.
- Pick the x64 version if you’re on a 64-bit system or the correct architecture for your CPU.
- Save it somewhere easy to find, like a new folder in C:\Update.
- Open Command Prompt as admin, then run:
DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath=C:\Update\filename.cab - Replace filename.cab with the actual file name you downloaded.
- Boot up again after (because Windows might need to finalize things).
This is usually straightforward but makes sure you get the correct update and version.
Run SFC and DISM to Repair System Files
If nothing else works, your Windows system files might be broken or corrupted. Running SFC and DISM can fix that. Not sure why it works, but repairing system images sometimes fixes the root cause.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
sfc /scannow- Once that finishes, run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Expect some time here—especially with DISM—and, of course, reboot afterward. After that, try updating again and see if the error still shows up.
Optional: Clear Update Server Settings in Registry
This is kind of niche, but if your PC’s part of a larger organization or has registry tweaks, the update server settings might be messing with things. Removing entries named WUServer and WIStatusServer can reset your update source back to Windows. Just be cautious—editing the registry has risks, so only do this if you’re comfortable.
- Press Win + R, type Regedit, and hit Enter.
- Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate. - Look for WUServer and WIStatusServer. If found, right-click and delete them.
- Close the registry editor, restart, and try updating again.
Use Windows Update Assistant for a Robust Fix
If all else fails, the Windows Update Assistant can force the latest version of Windows onto your machine. Good for stubborn issues, especially if you need the latest security patches and features without all the fuss of troubleshooting.
- Head over to the Windows Update Assistant page.
- Click Update now to download the tool.
- Run it, follow the steps, and let it do its thing. It should bypass the usual update hiccups most of the time.
Repair System Using Installation Media (or ISO)
Worst case, if nothing else works, you can repair Windows without losing data using a bootable ISO or USB. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Download the Windows ISO using the Media Creation Tool.
- Open the tool, accept the license, and select Create installation media.
- Choose to create an ISO file instead of a USB drive.
- Mount the ISO by right-clicking and selecting Mount.
- Open the mounted drive, run setup.exe, and opt for Repair your computer.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
- Follow the prompts and let Windows try to fix the problem.
Kind of a last-ditch effort, but it often does the trick if all else fails.
Hopefully, some of these methods will help to fix the 0x800f0835 error and get Windows updates back on track. Sometimes, Windows just needs a little nudge to get the components talking again. Good luck, and don’t get too frustrated—these things can be stubborn, but they’re fixable.
Summary
- Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Clear cache files using Disk Cleanup and command-line tools
- Manually download updates from Microsoft catalog
- Use SFC and DISM tools to repair system files
- Clear registry entries if applicable
- Try Windows Update Assistant or repair via ISO
Wrap-up
Once you get past the initial frustration, troubleshooting this error becomes manageable. It’s mostly about cleaning up what’s broken and making sure the system’s core files are in order. If one fix doesn’t work, move on to the next—sometimes, it’s a combination of solutions that finally does the trick. Fingers crossed, this helps speed things along and gets your Windows updated without too much fuss.